Download Dr. Faustus a Tragic Hero and more Study notes English Literature in PDF only on Docsity!
Q. Discuss Christopher Marlow’s play “Doctor Faustus” as a tragic hero.
OR
Marlowe's heroes confront fate; they are not the support of destiny. Discuss with reference to Dr. Faustus.
Dr. Faustus as Tragic Hero The concept of a tragic hero is one of Marlowe's most significant contributions to the creation of English tragedy. Marlowe was the first English dramatist to comprehend that a tragic action must originate in the character's imagination. The newness, Renaissance influence, Machiavellian morals, strong and passionate expression, element of tragic inner conflict, tragic hero, popular literary type, high seriousness, bombastic language, and blank verse all contribute to the significance of the Marlovian tragedy. Prior to Marlowe, there was no such thing as a tragic hero in pre-Elizabethan English plays like Moralities and Miracles. There was no knowledge of such a requirement even among his contemporaries and early tragedy writers. Hence, Marlowe was the first to introduce such titanic and secular-minded characters as his heroes, like Tamburlaine, Barabbas, and Faustus. Thus:
"Liberating English tragedy, Marlowe widened its scope." In his tragedies, Marlowe portrays ordinary people as heroes. He picks up on everyday themes and chooses ordinary people as his heroes based on these themes. These individuals, on the other hand, stand out in their respected groups due to their unique characteristics. Barabbas is a common moneylender, Tamburlaine is a shepherd, and Faustus is a common divinity scholar. As a result, Marlowe turns his sorrow into a universal drama. A tragic hero, according to the Greeks, is a prominent person, such as a king or a prince, who falls from wealth to hardship. However, Marlowe's hero is up against hostile forces. As a result, he extracts the drama from the forte.
"Marlowe's heroes reflect the struggle of a brave soul”.
His heroes have a gigantic personalities, and they play the most important role in the plot, rising head, and shoulders above all the secondary characters and achieving a titanic stature equal to that of a superman. Among the many Lilliputians, they are just like Gulliver. "Dr. Faustus"
concentrates on Faustus throughout the play, whereas "The Jew of Malta" focuses on the "Jew" throughout the drama. As a result, the play's main focus is on the hero. Shakespeare, on the other hand, pays close attention to his minor characters. The heroes of Marlowe are ambitious and passionate individuals with tremendous but limited powers. They, on the other hand, wish to fly high in the sky. He desires:
"His waxen wings did mount above his reach.” He wants to hold the powers of the world. He says:
All things that move between the quiet poles Shall be at my command…
A sound magician is a mighty God: Here, Faustus, tire thy brains to gain a deity.” (Act I. Scene I. line-52-60)
Their enthusiasm inspires them to do great things, even if it means breaking all accepted moral standards. They have a great inclination for wickedness. Faustus seeks the utmost power of Omnipotence, even if it means sacrificing God and religion. He says:
What will be, shall be? Divinity, adieu!
These metaphysics of magicians, And necromantic books are heavenly; Marlowe's interiorization of the drama is another significant contribution. The outward conflict of the characters with nature or fate is the theme of Greek tragedies and Pre-Elizabethan plays. However, Marlowe creates inner and outside conflicts in the minds of his protagonists. His heroes' thoughts are frequently divided between two extremes. The struggle is mostly external in "The Jew of Malta" and "Tamburlaine," while it is mostly internal in Dr.Faustus.The author's goal is to illustrate Faustus' psychological state, in which, despite his desire to repent, he must continue to indulge in his passions:
Ay, and Faustus will turn to God again.
Sweet Helen make me immortal with a kiss”. Another prominent feature of Marlovian heroes is their skepticism and anti-dogmatism. They have little concern for the social norms that their actions confront. In their beliefs, they are irreligious, if not atheistic. Faustus is also anti-religious and says:
Never name God, or to pray to him, To burn his scriptures, slay his ministers, And make my spirits pull his churches down
Marlowe's major characters also do not believe in matrimonial bliss or marriage e.g., when Mephistopheles tells Faustus about marriage, he says:
Tut, Faustus, Marriage is but a ceremonial toy; If thou lovest me, think no more of it.
I'll cull thee out the fairest courtezans, And bring them every morning to thy bed:
Another key feature of Marlovian heroes is that they die as a result of their overwhelming ambition. Barabbas, like The Jew of Malta, dies as a result of his excessive craving for money, which leads to his death.
" Die, life! Fly, soul! Tongue, curse thy fill, and die!"
And same is the case with Faustus, he says:
My God, my god, look not so fierce on me!
Adders and serpents, let me breathe a while! Ugly hell, gape not! come not, Lucifer! I'll burn my books! — Ah, Mephistopheles
We might assume that Marlowe sees his heroes as people with wonderful characteristics who are elevated to prominent positions only to fall and die as a result of an overabundance of ambition. As a result, we might argue that Faustus' downfall is caused by his indomitable spirit and unquenchable desire.
Points to remember:
- A Marlovian hero is a normal person who possesses extraordinary characteristics.
- His protagonist has a commanding presence.
- He is a passionate and ambitious man.
- He is torn between two ideas.
- His morality is Machiavellian.
