Deluded Pursuit in Christopher Marlowes Doctor Faustus :: Doctor Faustus Essays

Deluded pastime in Christopher Marlowes Doctor FaustusAlthough Christopher Marlowes Doctor Faustus has outclassed every one at Wittenberg with his academic studies, he is still but Faustus, a man. Proud of his accomplishments, he desires to become a superman. His judgment clouded by the sin of his pride, he misunderstands his knowledge and dismisses the disciplines of medicine, philosophy, law, and divinity. He lusts for Gods capability to make men live forevermore or being dead raise them to life again, believing the devils liberal arts of magic and necromancy can provide the power, honour, omnipotence and, most importantly, the wealth he craves. His deluded pursuit of the immediate pleasures such wealth can yield brings upon himself the luck of eternal damnation. By conjuring the devil, Faustus removes himself from the influence of the Holy Ghost and Gods love, instigating attacks of despair, and inborn conflicts as personified by the Good and Bad Angels. Faustus hunger for imme diate ecstasy suggests immense self-torment and self-denial. Weighing his options at each instant of time, he maximizes his pleasure and minimizes his pain, apparently discounting the implications of his decisions on his prospects and happiness in the future. Rebelling against God, he invites the devils temptations, hoping to attain an offer like Satans to Jesus in the desert wilderness. One understands wherefore Satan imputes an infinite value to Christs soul. However, why does Faustus soul warrant two dozen years of service by Mephostophilis? Faustus, too, is a superior being. He consciously removes the yoke of academia, and exerts his free will. After freely entering into his contract with Lucifer, he repeatedly considers repenting. When he calls on Christ to help save hard put Faustus soul, the evil trinity of Lucifer, Belzebub, and Mephostophilis appear, possibly to tear him to pieces. Under duress, he vows, neer to name God or pray to him. However, with only one-half hr left on earth, he calls on God. Faustus, forever the horse trader, tries to draw a deal with God. He asks God, for Christs sake and blood, to limit his time in hell from a thousand to a hundred thousand years.