Discuss Doctor Faustus as a tragic hero

Answer

Discuss Doctor Faustus as a tragic hero.

A tragic hero is a character of high status who possesses a fatal flaw leading to their downfall. Christopher Marlowe’s (1564-1593) “Doctor Faustus,” written in 1592 or 1593, presents its protagonist, Doctor Faustus, as a tragic hero. Despite his brilliance and potential, Faustus’s excessive pride, ambition, and misguided pursuit of knowledge bring about his tragic fall. His character fulfills the criteria of a tragic hero, making his story a powerful cautionary tale.

High Status and Great Potential: Doctor Faustus is introduced as a highly educated man. He is a scholar who excels in theology. Faustus is proud of his intellectual achievements. However, his brilliance makes him impatient with traditional forms of knowledge. He dismisses logic, medicine, law, and theology, calling them inadequate. His desire for limitless knowledge leads him to necromancy, the practice of magic. Faustus says,

‘Tis magic, magic that hath ravished me.

This marks the beginning of his tragic journey.

Tragic Flaw: Hubris and Ambition: Faustus’s downfall is driven by hubris (excessive pride) and ambition. He wants to become more than a mere human. He desires power akin to that of a god. He says,

A sound magician is a mighty god.

This pride blinds him to the dangers of his choices. He willingly makes a pact with Lucifer, trading his soul for 24 years of power and knowledge. Despite warnings from the Good Angel, the old man, and even Mephastophilis, Faustus refuses to repent. His tragic flaw prevents him from seeing the consequences of his actions until it is too late.

Inner Conflict and Missed Opportunities: Throughout the play, Faustus struggles with inner conflict. He is often torn between repentance and his commitment to Lucifer. He has moments of doubt and fear. He questions his decisions and their outcomes. Despite moments of doubt, Faustus’s arrogance keeps him from seeking forgiveness. The Good Angel and the Evil Angel symbolize this internal struggle. Faustus consistently chooses the path of damnation.

Downfall and Final Realization: As the end approaches, Faustus begins to understand the gravity of his situation. Faustus pleads,

Mountains and hills, come, come, and fall on me
And hide me from the heavy wrath of God!

His desperation reveals his fear of eternal damnation and regret for his choices. In his final moments, he expresses remorse and a desire to renounce magic. This fact shows his acknowledgment of his mistakes. He says, “I’ll burn my books.” However, his realization comes too late. He is dragged to hell by devils, marking the tragic culmination of his flawed journey.

A Cautionary Tale: Faustus’s story serves as a warning against excessive pride and the reckless pursuit of power. The chorus in the epilogue sums up his tragedy:

Cut is the branch that might have grown full straight,
And burned is Apollo’s laurel bough.

This metaphor reflects Faustus’s wasted potential. Despite his brilliance, his flaws lead to his downfall, fulfilling the role of a tragic hero.

Catharsis: Doctor Faustus also evokes catharsis, the emotional purging experienced by the audience at the end of a tragedy. As Faustus faces his inevitable doom, the audience feels both pity and fear. Pity arises from witnessing his wasted potential and his ultimate regret. Fear emerges from recognizing how his flaws—which could exist in anyone—lead to eternal damnation. The combination of these emotions allows the audience to reflect on their own choices and moral values.

In conclusion, Doctor Faustus embodies the characteristics of a tragic hero. His high status, fatal flaw, internal conflict, and ultimate downfall align with the classical definition of tragedy. Through his story, Marlowe explores themes of ambition, knowledge, and human limitations, leaving a lasting impression on readers and audiences.