Comment on the dramatic significance of the last scene of Doctor Faustus

Answer

Comment on the dramatic significance of the last scene in “Doctor Faustus.” [NU. 2017, 2019]

Dramatic significance means the importance of a scene, action, or dialogue in a play. The last scene (Act 5, Scene 2) of Christopher Marlowe’s (1564-1593) “Doctor Faustus” (1604) is the most important part of the play. It shows the tragic end of Faustus and teaches a strong moral lesson. It also brings out the main themes of the play. This scene is full of Faustus’s despair, fair, and deep meaning. The dramatic significance of this scene is presented below.

Climax of the Tragedy: This scene is the climax of the whole play. Faustus is at the end of his twenty-four years’ deal with Lucifer. He is full of fear, pain, and regret. He knows that the devils will come to take his soul to hell. He cries, begs, and wants to escape his punishment, but he cannot. Faustus’s proud choices and desire for power led him to this tragic end. He thinks it is too late for him to be pardoned. He says:

“The serpent that tempted Eve may be saved, but not Faustus.”

This line from the final scene captures Faustus’s despair. As his final moment arrives, he becomes terrified. He begs time to stop, so that midnight never comes. He says,

“Mountains and hills, come, come, and fall on me

And hide me from the heavy wrath of God!”

This line shows Faustus’s fear. Hence, the last scene of the play captures Faustus’s fear, pain, and regret, and gives the play an intense climax.

Moral Lesson: The last scene also gives a strong moral message. Earlier in the play, Faustus had many chances to repent. The Good Angel and the old man repeatedly warn Faustus. However, he did not take them seriously. In fear, he begs for God’s mercy. He says,

“O I’ll leap up to my God! Who pulls me down?”

This means hell is already