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Thinking of Dr. Faustus

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Thinking of Dr. Faustus
Thinking of Dr. Faustus Dr. Faustus is the greatest of Christopher Marlove's plays, in which the old German legend is freely reshaped. Faustus is a great scholar who has a strong desire to acquire all kinds of knowledge. He is bored of his present study on the academic curriculum and turn to black magic. By conjuration he calls up Mephistopheles, the Devil's servant. Faustus makes a bond to sell his soul to the Devil in return for twenty-four years of life in which he may have the services of Mephistopheles to give him everything he desires. With the help of the Devil, Faustus brings his magical art into full play, meanwhile Faustus has experienced much internal conflict, symbolized in the appearances of both Good Angel and Bad Angel In the final scene, there remains only the terrifying soliloquy in which the anguish of the hero's mind is poignantly pressed. Anyway, knowledge can bring everything and it can conquer the nature, so people can achieve their goal. Like Dr. Faustus, who travelled around world and enjoyed his life. But unfortunately, life is so short, twenty-four years almost over, and Devil will come to get his soul. At that time, Dr. Faustus noticed how important life was, and he reluctant to his 24 years. However, Devil took his soul away at last, after Faustus lose his soul, he became a dead body. Dr. Faustus is a symbol of the Renaissance, he advocates knowledge, and he thinks power and money are come from knowledge. But in that time, if a person wants to get knowledge, he has to fight with the religious, so the humanists have deep thinking, not enough strength. Therefore, in the prelude of chorus, Marlowe used the Greek legend, "His waxen wings did mount above his reach, and, melting, Heavens conspired his overthrow" impact this tragedy. In Dr. Faustus, Marlowe affirmed the human spirit "knowledge is power," but he use a tragedy to tell this legend, so that readers can be influenced, that was the succeed of this drama. Also, Dr. Faustus can challenge orthodox thinking, can contempt the authority. In the 3rd Scene, Faustus is talking about where is the hell with Mephistopheles, according to Meph, Faustus knows that Lucifer is one of the most dearly loved of God, "unhappy spirits that fell with Lucifer, Conspired against our God with Lucifer, and are for ever damned with Lucifer." Meph said. And Lucifer is in hell now, so did him. But later, Meph is showing remorse, Faustus laughed at him immediately, he said to Meph, "learn thou of Faustus manly fortitude, and scorn those joys thou never shalt possess." from here, we can see this conversation make Faustus respect to Magic. Also, it shows us during Renaissance, some intellectuals resist the traditional concept. I like this book, because Faustus can impact that intellectuals keep exploring the mysteries and universe, and it can be influential. The spirit and advantages from Faustus, caused some people`s wild interests. In conclusion, Dr. Faustus by Christopher Marlowe is the drama of a master who has a strong desire of knowledge. For years, this spirit "knowledge is the power" influenced thousands of people; however, on a hot summer day, Dr. Faustus takes knowledge and keep exploring to us.

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