"Doctor Faustus" di Marlowe

Doctor Faustus provides an especially interesting example of some of the ways that electronic publication expands the Doctor Faustus Doctor Faustus provides an especially interesting example of some of the ways that electronic publication expands the opportunities for scholarly research while increasing access to the play's various editions. In producing this version of Doctor Faustus, we have revised W. W. Greg's 1950 parallel text edition of the two extant versions of Doctor Faustus, the 1604 A text and the 1616 B text. Also included here is the primary source for Doctor Faustus, entitledThe English Faust Book and translated from German in 1592 by P. F. Gent. This site allows users with diverse interests and differing degrees of familiarity with Renaissance literature to examine these texts and the intricate relationships between them. Electronic publication makes it possible to view this information in various ways; through its multiple hypertextual links,this site provides immediate access to modernized spelling and punctuation, glossary definitions of terms, scholarly notes, and, in time, will display textual variants in printing. Especially interesting here is the display of the relationships between each version of Doctor Faustus and between the plays and their source. Faustus was born into lowly circumstances. He studies hard and masters all the knowledges known to man, but he is still dissatisfied. Faustus determines to study magic, the one knowledge that can break the limits of all others. He engages two master magicians to teach him. While he awaits their arrival, a good and an evil angel appear. The good angel urges him not to go through with his plans, but Faustus is determined. He learns quickly and for his first act calls up Mephistophilis, Satan's messenger. Faustus is very pleased, thinking he has control over the forces of evil, but Mephistophilis says he only showed up because Faustus had rejected God. Faustus offers to give his soul to Lucifer if Mephistophilis will wait on him for twenty-four years. Lucifer agrees. Faustus is not troubled by this pact because he does not believe in eternal life. With Mephistophilis' help, Faustus makes a great career for himself. He amazes the Pope by becoming invisible and stealing things from his hands. He calls forth the spirit of Alexander the Great for the Emperor. As his twenty-four years draw to a close, he begins to fear Satan and nearly repents. Instead, he asks Mephistophilis to bring him Helen of Troy to be his lover in his final moments. Just before his end, he reveals to his fellow scholars how he gained his powers. He is then carried off by a group of devils. Commentary Marlowe is trapped between the religious Middle Ages and the man-centered Renaissance. Faustus replaces God with his belief in man's rational ability. But the abilities he gains are a little silly and the cost to him is tremendous. Though he can see so much, he cannot see his own mistakes or eternal truths. But Continua »