Doctor Faustus : Themes
Doctor Faustus is a notable literary work by Christopher Marlowe. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Doctor Faustus.
Themes
Pride and Ambition: Faustus is very proud of his knowledge and wants to know more than anyone else. He becomes unhappy with normal subjects and chooses to study magic, hoping it will make him as powerful as God. Like Lucifer, Faustus falls because of his pride. Instead of using his powers for good, he wastes them on silly tricks and showing off. This pride and ambition led him to his tragic death.
Good vs. Evil: The theme of Good versus Evil is shown clearly in “Doctor Faustus.” Faustus is torn between choosing good (God) or evil (the devil). He was once a religious man, but leaves theology to study magic. Faustus often feels guilty and thinks of repenting. But he is tempted by the devil, with power, knowledge, or pleasure. The Good Angel tells him to return to God, but the Evil Angel pulls him toward sin. In the end, evil wins, and Faustus loses his soul.