Faustus Comparison
British Literature
Christopher Marlowe focused his play on an English translation by P. F. which appeared under the title The History of the Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus (NAEL). Richard Burton directed a movie based on Marlowe’s play in 1967. Both artistic works reappeared important characters of history. Helen of Troy, one of the main causes that made Troy to be burned, and Jorg Faustus who seemed to have been more quack than satanist, was considered a sorceror by Luther (NAEL). One may say that those characters are part of The Tragedy of Doctor Faustus because of what their beliefs, wishes and actions were. If one considers that, one would affirm that Helen is the way to get glory and Faustus is the person who fights for that power and greatness, but for a high price.
Helen of Troy has been described in so many ways. What a character she is! Acording to Marlowe, his visions of her is that she is kind of a goddess who wished men through her beauty, “Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss” (NAEL), and one of the reasons that made Faustus to get magic, because doing that he would capture Helen’s love. Different from Marlowe’s point of view, Richard Burton showed the Devil as Helen of Troy in his movie; The Devil tricked Faustus to reaffirm his pact with him every time that Faustus was enchanted by his love for Helen. While W. B. Yeats writes in his poem No second Troy about some lady whose charms and beauty are so similiar to Helen, “Why, what could she have done being what she is? Was there another Troy for her to burn?”(Bartleby). One says that Helen of Troy is an outstanding character in history who proved that passion and power can transform men to let them be kingly people.
References • Greenblatt, S., Logan, G., & Schwyzer, P. (2003-2009). The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 8 th Edition. Retrieved April 11, 2009, from http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael/16century/topic_1/faustbk.htm •
Christopher Marlowe focused his play on an English translation by P. F. which appeared under the title The History of the Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus (NAEL). Richard Burton directed a movie based on Marlowe’s play in 1967. Both artistic works reappeared important characters of history. Helen of Troy, one of the main causes that made Troy to be burned, and Jorg Faustus who seemed to have been more quack than satanist, was considered a sorceror by Luther (NAEL). One may say that those characters are part of The Tragedy of Doctor Faustus because of what their beliefs, wishes and actions were. If one considers that, one would affirm that Helen is the way to get glory and Faustus is the person who fights for that power and greatness, but for a high price.
Helen of Troy has been described in so many ways. What a character she is! Acording to Marlowe, his visions of her is that she is kind of a goddess who wished men through her beauty, “Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss” (NAEL), and one of the reasons that made Faustus to get magic, because doing that he would capture Helen’s love. Different from Marlowe’s point of view, Richard Burton showed the Devil as Helen of Troy in his movie; The Devil tricked Faustus to reaffirm his pact with him every time that Faustus was enchanted by his love for Helen. While W. B. Yeats writes in his poem No second Troy about some lady whose charms and beauty are so similiar to Helen, “Why, what could she have done being what she is? Was there another Troy for her to burn?”(Bartleby). One says that Helen of Troy is an outstanding character in history who proved that passion and power can transform men to let them be kingly people.
References • Greenblatt, S., Logan, G., & Schwyzer, P. (2003-2009). The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 8 th Edition. Retrieved April 11, 2009, from http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael/16century/topic_1/faustbk.htm •
References: • Greenblatt, S., Logan, G., & Schwyzer, P. (2003-2009). The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 8 th Edition. Retrieved April 11, 2009, from http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael/16century/topic_1/faustbk.htm • Greenblatt, S., Logan, G., & Schwyzer, P. (2003-2009). The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 8 th Edition. Retrieved April 11, 2009, from http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael/16century/topic_1/welcome.htm • Van Leeuwen, S. (2009). Bartleby.com. Retrieved April 11, 2009, from http://www.bartleby.com/147/36.html