Comment on the inner conflict experienced by Doctor Faustus

Answer

Comment on the inner conflict experienced by Faustus.

Inner conflict refers to a character’s mental struggle. In Christopher Marlowe’s (1564–1593) masterpiece “Doctor Faustus” (1604), Faustus experiences inner conflict. He is torn between choosing good and evil. He struggles to decide whether to continue necromancy (which gives unlimited power and knowledge) or repent to God. Faustus’s failure to repent makes him a truly tragic character. Faustus’s inner conflict also makes the audience feel pity for him. Let us witness his inner conflict broadly.

Faustus’s Pride and Conscience: From the beginning, Faustus is torn between his pride and conscience. Faustus is a great scholar. He is a master of religion, medicine, and law. But he wants more power and more knowledge. He wants to be like God and control the world. So, he defies God and chooses necromancy. He says:

“A sound magician is a mighty god.”

Faustus sells his soul to the devil for 24 years of unlimited power. This decision creates a big conflict inside Faustus. On one side, he is excited about unlimited power, wealth, and knowledge. On the other hand, he feels guilty and scared of going to hell. Sometimes, he even tries to pray to God for forgiveness. But his pride or temptations stop him. This inner conflict makes Faustus a human and a truly tragic character.

Good Angel and Evil Angel: In the play, Marlowe uses the Good Angel and the Evil Angel to show Faustus’ inner conflict. The Good Angel represents Faustus’s conscience. He begs him to repent and seek God’s mercy:

“Repent, yet God will pity thee.”

The Evil Angel represents temptations. He tells Faustus to enjoy his power and forget about hell. This shows the two sides of Faustus’s mind: one wants to do the right thing, and the other wants to continue with his sinful path.

Faustus’s Struggle to Repent: Throughout the play, Faustus struggles to repent. He gets many chances to repent. The Good Angel and the