Faustus and the Power of Magic - Essay Example

Faustus and the Power of Magic Abstract “Doctor Faustus” by Christopher Marlowe has stood out to be a very influential and also a much revisited historical piece. This play is a story of one man, Dr Faustus who has a liking for the study of logic, medicine, divinity and law though he decides to forsake all of them in order to practice black magic. In making this a reality he gets to a consensus with an agent of Lucifer, Mephistopheles who engages him into a covenant with the devil for twenty four years. Introduction Magic in the period of renaissance can be compared to science today in such a way that just like science it was used to explain the occurrence of particular events and occurrences. It is this science brought out as magic in Marlowe’s play The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus that makes an essential element of the identity of man in the play. It is with this view therefore that this paper chapter seeks to explore on identity as brought out in Marlowe’s play and how Faustus is in search of a historical, political and social status through which he will stand out and obtain an identity in the Renaissance society. Through the chapter, an understanding of how man’s search for identity is brought out in the renaissance period will be obtained. The identity of Faustus is hereby analyzed in relation to magic. At the end of this analysis, it will be evident that Faustus' downfall is as a result of his hunger for power and authority. This excess greed drives him into his various actions as a way of fulfilling his desire for power. This serves as an indication ambition of the Renaissance man in Renaissance age. This paper will seek to establish the aspect of renaissance in Dr. Faustus and his distinctive search for identity. The paper will look at the composition of this identity with an inner look at the age in which this is taking place. In this manner, the paper will seek to exemplify Dr Faustus as a symbol of renaissance. The aim in this case is to prove that magic is the power of Faustus. Dr. Faustus and the Renaissance man Renaissance refers to the period where learning and art were revived to mark the transition on fro the medieval times to the period of modernity. The occurrence that took place between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries began in Florence and spread to other areas of Europe and marked the assertion of human power, dignity and freedom (Mebane, 1). This period is mainly characterized by widespread rejection of traditional modes of scholasticism and focus on knowledge acquirement through new developments in art and culture. It is the foundation of the later reformation by the Protestants. Humanism is a system of thought which places the human beings at a higher level than the divine matters or the supernatural matters in terms of importance. Humanism is also the same movement that marked the turning away of the scholasticism and a revival of the ancient thoughts by the Romans and the Greeks. Like the aspect of the human worth in humanism, individualism is more of a moral deportment, an ideology or a social outlook that insists on the individual person’s moral worth. The individual is the object of focus in individualism (Swart, 78). Renaissance is a term that is used to depict some kind of “reawakening” or “rebirth”. It is a term that was widespread during the Dark Age and spread continually in Italy during the 14th century (Burke, 14). This is a period that created a storm in mankind in almost every sector. New discoveries were made during this period. Carious people are known to have raised their voices between against Christian theologies as well as dogmas. There are times that he has been seen to “practice more than heavenly power permits’ (Marlowe, 7–8). Dr Faustus is a Renaissance hero. He is really passionate of gaining and also of getting more knowledge. To him, knowledge deserves to be both superior as well as supreme. With a care free attitude towards the customs of religion, he wants to become the superior God. He is a person who is also in love with Black Magic through which he feels that he will have the ability of exercising power over everyone else. He is ignorant of the warning s that is being posed by Mephistophilis and in turn wants to get prepared to have a war with Evil angels. He is a person who has an excessive fondness of the sensual pleasures and is requesting Mephistophilis to get him a German for his wife (Marlowe, 3). The play goes on and explains that his “intellectual pride” led Faustus to consider the study of magic, or “cursed necromancy” in spite of the fact that it jeopardizes “his chiefest bliss” (Marlowe, 27); which is the chance of receiving eternal life after death. From the behavior and the traits of Dr Faustus, it is possible to portray the complete characteristics of Renaissance. He is against the traditions and the ethics of these traditions by clearly indicating his love for sensual pleasures, knowledge, riches and also power. He is against the church in general (Marlowe, 35-43). It is through the characteristic of Dr. Faustus portrays and symbolizes the spirit of Renaissance. This is also portrayed through the deeds that he performs by the use of the Black spirits (Priniciss 34). In the novel, Marlowe brings out the character of Dr. Faustus as being full of intelligence, learned and as extreme having greed for power. The doctor’s character is ideally that of humanism though Marlowe also brings him as also being damned an aspect that creates satire in the renaissance humanism ideals. Renaissance humanism is defined as the main philosophy concepts that relate to human being’s central position and dignity as beings that are able to think and make decisions. This thought also places emphasis on the need for complete developments of the various powers of an individual rather than mere specialized or technical training. This was analyzed and defined in relation to ease in the ability to reduce the common Christian that is ideal of the intrinsic corruption as well as keeping away from the present, world that is flawed with focus and anticipation being on heaven (Marlowe, 83). Magic in Dr. Faustus Magic can be defined as the science or art of manipulating unseen forces with an aim of causing change both within the physical and the spiritual realm (Russell 7). Magic was a usual undertaking during the renaissance era as it created a greater highlight on the real control of natural forces by linking demons’ or sprits’ power with the mind of human beings (Russell 8). During that time, magic intended to cause harm or that was bad was referred to as black magic while that intended for good was white magic. While white magic was used to gain entrance into a world of divinity, black magic invoked demons and evil spirits. Dr. Faustus’ kind of magic was the black magic which was intended for wickedness. In his work, Marlowe brings out black magic as being the cause of the doctor’s downfall. The doctor’s quest for knowledge about magic as well as his greed for power becomes the cause of his complete destruction eternally and morally (Levack 257). Interpretations of Dr Marlowe’s play, “The tragedy Dr Faustus “considers it to be a tragedy of a man who wants to go past the confines of the human being knowledge. Faustus’s tragedy is that one of the religious failure of eternal happiness. Tragedy on its own, a literal type, is mainly concerned with particulars of pain, of anguish in life and human being separation and finitude (Princiss, 36). As a matter of fact Doctor Faustus is therefore so centered; Faustus opts for cursed necromancy at the cost of eternal happiness. Faustus chronicle has become a legend that embodies the beings wish for knowledge. This is a myth that is frequently looked upon like the personification of a satanic mission for prohibited knowledge, critics have observed in, `` Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus” a Renaissance humanist strength striving against traditional chains. Still Marlowe’s life, in light of “tragic heroes” during his plays, supposedly reveals the Renaissance fight for freedom. According to “Basil Willey”, the traditional approaches towards science were mainly Mephistophelian as well as the Faustus legend; they exposed the traditional fear of satanic influence of science. At the onset of “The Advancement of Learning Bacon” is faced with the medieval origin of the natural science as the prohibited knowledge. Marlowe’s Faustus was evident shortly before “the advancement of learning” furthermore Faustus legend bears witness to the potency of that fascinated fear which the Middle Ages thought of as natural science (Ruickbie,15). During the Renaissance there was an unstable distinction between the white and black magic. Both accounts of magic were acceptable in the Christian Doctrine but scholars have argued that there is a difference among the two. White magic is viewed as natural science if used during legitimate ends. White magic also known as natural magic thrived throughout the Renaissance which was used as a way of getting access to the divines through the natural word. Dr Faustus used black magic which means using supernatural powers intended for an evil purpose. Black magic was perceived as idolatry in early Christianity history. Black magic was acknowledged in the Old Testament however paganism was viewed as sin. Christians viewed the exercise as demonic, nonetheless these types of magic continued to thrive during the Renaissance period (Ruickbie, 17). Magic is a theme which contributes to Dr. Faustus. Faustus’ downfall started when he had love for knowledge, this led him to use magic. Faustus loved the praises people gave him as they viewed him as a genius; this made him have the need for special powers. He took pleasure while playing tricks on the people; he even went ahead to use these powers onto a dragon. He ordered the demons using this magic; furthermore during his last hours he got Helen of Troy to be his comforter. Faustus use of magic was a sign of “demoralization”. He wanted to be powerful like the devil and not a plain mortal anymore (Ruickbie, 18). Dr. Faustus as a depiction of Renaissance Dr. Faustus can be described as a symbol of renaissance. From the look of his behavior, Dr. Faustus is weighing between the good and the bad, the right things against the wrong things, repentance and the external damnation. He reawakens his faith in God after he gets an idea of renouncing the devil and getting back to God. He conflicts what he does with what he says like from the statements “I am hardened, I shall not repent” (Marlowe, II, 18) and “I am resolved, I shall not repent” (Marlowe, II, 19). These two statements are contradictory to each other, hard to be understood and it seems that this is the character that is making him seemingly desirable to both God and Lucifer (Hamlin, 263). The conclusions for the Renaissance man can be made from knowledge, wealth and power of knowledge which were the touchstones on which he would use to gauge every aspect of life. The main components of these were the aspects of worldliness as well as individualism. The traits were manifested through various ways such as; learning without fetters; yearn for knowledge, love and beauty, sexual exploitations and a love adventure. According to Faustus, he claims that he wants to achieve something that “‘Stretcheth as far as doth the mind of man” (Marlowe, l. 63). Considering the Renaissance love for the aesthetic side of life such as the adoring of the physical beauty, pleasures for senses and characterized by an imaginative life, Dr. Faustus fully represents re naissance and also the problems found in life. Dr. Faustus is not satisfied with the conventional knowledge and he longs to become one of the deities. He claims to have gone far beyond the human convention and wants to go further still through a transformation into a “mighty god”, “a deity” (Marlowe, II. 64, 65). To him, medicine, law, logic and knowledge of divinity are not sufficient. This is evident when he says that “…Both law and physics are for petty wits...” by desiring to become a super human, he has a belief of magic. During the period of renaissance, there was a certain curiosity in the intellects. There were some extra developments in the world of technology and scientific discoveries which surpassed material advances. This was an age that seemed youthful and all things seemed possible. It is before this period that there was an opening for an imaginative world. As expressed in Dr. Faustus, mankind was at an age which sought to attain the infinite (Snydre, 572). Dr. Faustus bargains with the devil to achieve some of his goals. In order to attain whatever he really desires, he is ready to pay any kind of price including fair or foul play. He rebelled against God as well as the religion, went against the laws of the land and also to defy the man. This denial brings him to a deep mental conflict. To Dr. Faustus, knowledge is power and can enable one to be gratified with the sensual pleasures in life just like any other man in Renaissance. He worships beauty and has been in a long term agreement with the devil to have the most beautiful woman for his wife (Loganet al., 16) Rasmussen and Bevington have it that Dr. Faustus is a resistance of the old religious ideas by the new ideas. He however emphasizes that the religious aspects cannot be ignored. In the play he has tried to do everything that is possible in the world with neglect to religion, some thing that makes him damned. He thinks that god is jealous and does not want men to equal him and that is the reason that he throws whoever wants to equal him to hell (Rasmussen & Bevington, 46). Dr. Faustus as a renaissance tragedy In the transplantation of the myth of Faust into the moral framework of the English, the play has been a depiction of myths and drama. In the higher sense, the biggest determinant of Dr. Faustus was to be in the culture that surrounded the play’s environment. Faustus tends to reject the traditional system of belief which highly regarded divinity as the factor which gave meaning to all the knowledge as well as experience. Due to this, the alternative solution for Faustus was sorcery, magic and witchcraft. Through this he hopes to become a sought of a deity, a prophet of the world, omnipotent and an honored person. It is through these modes that Dr. Faustus behaves as a parable of the loss in spirituality in the modern world. This is a way that makes the conventional sense to be damned and also a corruption of all those who are aspiring for renaissance. What follows is a case of Faustus selling his soul to the devil which indicates the orthodox morality and more of the tragedies that he is succumbing to (Rasmussen & Bevington, 44). Faustus has shown to live his entire twenty four years fulfilling none of his promises. As he loses the dream of pursuit for power, the only solace that he remains with is the entertainment gift. The passion for beauty which is inherent in the Renaissance becomes evident in the manner that he expresses his fascination for Helen. In the course of the play, it is evident that Helen is closely associated with his failure to enjoy the sensual pleasures as well as the fear that he is having of losing his physique an also his spirit due to the encroaching judgment day. In the beginning of the play, there is a great pull of how futile man protests against the movements of time though in the latter parts, we get to see how he is confined to the earth (Marlowe, 971). Dr. Faustus is a Renaissance man who had seemingly achieved great knowledge which according to Marlowe had made him to reach a point of self actualization. The author has dealt with him in a manner that outshone him as having “overreached” the Renaissance concept through a revelation of strength and heroism while at the same point in time suffering from a humanity loss resulting from an abuse of power (Snydre, 570). Faustus at one time signs a pact with Lucifer. This is evident from the play in “he would give his soul to the devil for a shoulder of mutton, though it was blood raw (Marlowe, ll. 9–11). He has a certain yearning that convinces him that that the underworld god can make him access all the knowledge that is available including some that is forbidden something that greatly deceived him. Eh has decided to sell his soul to the devil for twenty four years and thus “live in all voluptuousness” (Marlowe, 94). In his pledge that “one drop” and “half a drop”, can act to save his soul, he goes ahead to confess his minuteness in life and the huge morality in the universe which makes him to discover the fulfillments that are in the human power pretensions as well as knowledge which is all overwhelmed by disaster (Fetzer, 45). Dr. Faustus additionally lied to himself that Hell did not exist being the second time that he was deceiving himself. He was found to believe in the “Elysian Fields”. This is an abode place for those who had been immortalized by the divine favor and also referred to as “virtuous mortals”. According to his thoughts, he would spend perpetuity learning and debating from great philosophers of the ancient times. He goes ahead to ask “Mephistopheles” what the hell is. The answer that he got scared him so much that he decided to get back to the God that he had erstwhile renounced (Fetzer, 49). Conclusion From the above discussion, it has been possible to establish the connection between the thought of Faustus and the concepts of black magic as it happened during the Renaissance period. Faustus has been depicted as a person who has a conviction towards the evil and the manner in which he used magic as a weapon to showcase identity. He is a person who has been seen to forsake divinity and instead befriend the evil ways. Renaissance has been established in the paper as an era where magic was widely practiced. It can therefore be clearly instituted that Faustus is a product of Renaissance who sought to stick to the underworld and defer any scholarly progress during this period. 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