Charles Spencer
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB 5th Hour
February 9, 2011
Is Faustus a villain or a victim? Discuss the reasons for his fall.
As the denotation of the term 'villain' is a cruel and malicious person devoted to wickedness, it is evident by the description of Faustus that he is not a villain. To say that he is a victim however would be to assume that he is a victim of something or someone. There is no direct antagonist to Faustus in the play, aside from his own negative attributes. Faustus is a victim of himself and his own shortcomings, which eventually causes his downfall. As evident from the time when Faustus regrets selling his soul, up until before he repents in the conclusion of the play, it is evidently shown that Faustus is stubborn. Even though he regrets his decisions, he feels he can not go back and repent. This stubbornness is also related to Faustus's overconfidence, which is another contributing factor of his downfall. In the situation where Faustus has the opportunity to repent for the first time, Faustus is in a situation where he can learn more. He has years ahead of him with Mephastophilis and there is more he wishes to learn. Faustus is portrayed as confident that there is no Hell, and no Sin, even though he has sold his soul to the Devil. His downfall in the end reflects those of the morality plays such as everyman, showing the high stance religion had in society at the time.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Doctor Faustus LRJ: Entry Five
Charles Spencer
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB 5th Hour
February 9, 2011
Discuss the relation of Faustus's encounter with the Seven Deadly Sins to the overall story.
Shortly after selling his soul to the devil, Faustus is introduced to the living personifications of the seven deadly sins: Pride, Covetous, Envy, Wrath, Gluttony, Sloth, and Lechery. Faustus has a unique reaction towards the introduction of every one of the seven sins, which shows how they shine through in Faustus's own persona. Each reaction also represents how the sin is related to the later events in the story. To some of the sins, Faustus praised, to some he felt disgusted, and others he simply dismissed. To Pride, he validated Pride's own self pride, "Thou art a proud knave indeed..."(Marlowe 47, 123). These words of validation and almost praise coming from Faustus show the audience his acceptance of his own large ego, and his pride, as evidenced by his boasting of his achievements. To Covetous, Faustus simply moves on with no remark. This is evident that Faustus has not accepted that he is indeed covetous of knowledge. Covetous says, "...might I now obtain my wish, this house, you and all, should turn to gold, that I might lock you safe into my chest..."(Marlowe 47, 126-128) which is the imagery of Faustus's feeling towards knowledge; knowledge is his 'gold'. Faustus then order's envy out, which makes the audience assume that he refuses to acknowledge his own envy of higher powers such as God and Lucifer. To Wrath, Faustus see's no reason to react, which is appropriate as no evidence of a Wrath has been seen in Faustus's persona. To Gluttony, Faustus reacts with anger "Choke thyself, glutton!" (Faustus 48, 158) which is also an ironic reaction, as Faustus himself can relate to such gluttony, wanting all such knowledge to better himself and only his country. Also, it is relevant that in Gluttony's self description he depicts how has lost everything, acting as effective foreshadowing to the inevitable event of Faustus losing everything in the end. To Sloth Faustus pays no attention to, as he is not known for his laziness. To the final Deadly Sin, Lechery he also shows no reaction, as he is distracted by Lucifer's interruption.
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB 5th Hour
February 9, 2011
Discuss the relation of Faustus's encounter with the Seven Deadly Sins to the overall story.
Shortly after selling his soul to the devil, Faustus is introduced to the living personifications of the seven deadly sins: Pride, Covetous, Envy, Wrath, Gluttony, Sloth, and Lechery. Faustus has a unique reaction towards the introduction of every one of the seven sins, which shows how they shine through in Faustus's own persona. Each reaction also represents how the sin is related to the later events in the story. To some of the sins, Faustus praised, to some he felt disgusted, and others he simply dismissed. To Pride, he validated Pride's own self pride, "Thou art a proud knave indeed..."(Marlowe 47, 123). These words of validation and almost praise coming from Faustus show the audience his acceptance of his own large ego, and his pride, as evidenced by his boasting of his achievements. To Covetous, Faustus simply moves on with no remark. This is evident that Faustus has not accepted that he is indeed covetous of knowledge. Covetous says, "...might I now obtain my wish, this house, you and all, should turn to gold, that I might lock you safe into my chest..."(Marlowe 47, 126-128) which is the imagery of Faustus's feeling towards knowledge; knowledge is his 'gold'. Faustus then order's envy out, which makes the audience assume that he refuses to acknowledge his own envy of higher powers such as God and Lucifer. To Wrath, Faustus see's no reason to react, which is appropriate as no evidence of a Wrath has been seen in Faustus's persona. To Gluttony, Faustus reacts with anger "Choke thyself, glutton!" (Faustus 48, 158) which is also an ironic reaction, as Faustus himself can relate to such gluttony, wanting all such knowledge to better himself and only his country. Also, it is relevant that in Gluttony's self description he depicts how has lost everything, acting as effective foreshadowing to the inevitable event of Faustus losing everything in the end. To Sloth Faustus pays no attention to, as he is not known for his laziness. To the final Deadly Sin, Lechery he also shows no reaction, as he is distracted by Lucifer's interruption.
Doctor Faustus LRJ: Entry Three
Charles Spencer
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB 5th Hour
February 9, 2011
1. What is the function of the Chorus in Faustus? What kinds of information does the Chorus deliver, and what does that tell you about the state of Marlowe's dramatic skill and the sophistication of the theatrical audience?
The use of a Chorus in theatrical literature is very common from ancient playwrights to the time of Marlow and even modern productions. Specifically in Dr. Faustus, the single member chorus serves a personal explanatory and expository purpose for the audience. Unlike in other tragedies such as Antigone, the chorus in Dr. Faustus has no interaction with the characters in the plot. The chorus instead talks to the audience, and shows the audience a context of the story. For example, in the Prologue, the chorus sums up nearly everything Faustus is going to monologue about in the first scene, giving the reader a taste of what to come. The literary prowess in the voice of the chorus indicates Marlowe is extremely talented with foreshadowing events that will later occur in the play, leaving the viewer interested and engaged. "...heavens conspir'd his overthrow; For, falling to a devilish exercise, and glutted now with learning's golden gifts..."(Marlow plg, 22-24). By foreshadowing and negatively describing Faustus's actions, Marlowe is engaging the audience's senses and giving them a taste of the play. The ability of Marlowe to do this shows that the audience of the time may be less adept at picking up foreparts of the play and need such information to be directed at them.
2. How does a modern film producer introduce the same information and what would the effect of having a Chorus be is a modern movie?
In recent and modern films the producers often find stealthy and alternative ways to introduce such background information about the protagonist/antagonist. Such ways include prequels, dreams, conversations with other characters, and sometimes what would be introduced by the chorus is left out completely, making the film utterly impossible to follow. It is rare when there is a chorus figure that outright states such information to the audience, however there sometimes is a narrator or something of the sort doing so. Such a role adds an easier ability to follow the plot and even the colloquialisms in the film.
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB 5th Hour
February 9, 2011
1. What is the function of the Chorus in Faustus? What kinds of information does the Chorus deliver, and what does that tell you about the state of Marlowe's dramatic skill and the sophistication of the theatrical audience?
The use of a Chorus in theatrical literature is very common from ancient playwrights to the time of Marlow and even modern productions. Specifically in Dr. Faustus, the single member chorus serves a personal explanatory and expository purpose for the audience. Unlike in other tragedies such as Antigone, the chorus in Dr. Faustus has no interaction with the characters in the plot. The chorus instead talks to the audience, and shows the audience a context of the story. For example, in the Prologue, the chorus sums up nearly everything Faustus is going to monologue about in the first scene, giving the reader a taste of what to come. The literary prowess in the voice of the chorus indicates Marlowe is extremely talented with foreshadowing events that will later occur in the play, leaving the viewer interested and engaged. "...heavens conspir'd his overthrow; For, falling to a devilish exercise, and glutted now with learning's golden gifts..."(Marlow plg, 22-24). By foreshadowing and negatively describing Faustus's actions, Marlowe is engaging the audience's senses and giving them a taste of the play. The ability of Marlowe to do this shows that the audience of the time may be less adept at picking up foreparts of the play and need such information to be directed at them.
2. How does a modern film producer introduce the same information and what would the effect of having a Chorus be is a modern movie?
In recent and modern films the producers often find stealthy and alternative ways to introduce such background information about the protagonist/antagonist. Such ways include prequels, dreams, conversations with other characters, and sometimes what would be introduced by the chorus is left out completely, making the film utterly impossible to follow. It is rare when there is a chorus figure that outright states such information to the audience, however there sometimes is a narrator or something of the sort doing so. Such a role adds an easier ability to follow the plot and even the colloquialisms in the film.
Doctor Faustus LRJ: Entry 1
Charles Spencer
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB 5th Hour
February 9, 2011
1. What is knowledge? Where does it come from? What are its uses?
Knowledge is the relationship that humans have with the world around them. Knowledge comes to be when humans encounter new things day to day. Its denotation is one's acquaintance with facts, principles, or truths; describing a personal interaction between humans and the world around them. There are many philosophical uses of knowledge, more than simply using what you know in daily life. Many steps taken in ones' life are made to ultimately gain knowledge.
2. What similarities or differences do you discern in the excerpt that you read from Doctor Faustus? Is knowledge out there somewhere, waiting to be found? Do we create knowledge? What motivates research? What ethical questions arise? What is the relationship between the issues in this play and 20th-21st Century issues like splitting the atom and genetic cloning?
In Doctor Faustus Faustus himself portrays knowledge to be something of physical persuasion, however unreachable it may be. To Dr. Faustus, the acquisition of knowledge is for a selfish purpose. He wishes to find new forms of knowledge that are supposedly noble of his learning. "This study fits a mercenary drudge Who aims at nothing but external trash, Too servile and illiberal for me"(Marlow 10, 34-36). Referring to the doctrine of Law, Marlow shows Faustus portraying himself as better than and past such earthen concepts like law; he uses words like trash, and servile to display Faustus's almost disgust for these terms. Furthermore, knowledge is not created by humans alone; knowledge is more the product of a reaction between humans and the world is around them. Through nearly all of their acts, humans gain knowledge, whether it be touching a hot stove or reading a textbook, and this process causes curiosity, which makes one want to know more and more. This then, in turn, instantiates the question: What are the limits of knowledge? In Faustus, there is a relation between the barrier at the end of physical knowledge he reaches and controversy today. Just as Faustus turns to black magic to learn about the unknown, there are those that feel as though cloning and stem cell usage are violations of nature, and that they cross over the line of what is naturally meant to be known and explored, causing controversy related to that of Faustus's inner battle.
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB 5th Hour
February 9, 2011
1. What is knowledge? Where does it come from? What are its uses?
Knowledge is the relationship that humans have with the world around them. Knowledge comes to be when humans encounter new things day to day. Its denotation is one's acquaintance with facts, principles, or truths; describing a personal interaction between humans and the world around them. There are many philosophical uses of knowledge, more than simply using what you know in daily life. Many steps taken in ones' life are made to ultimately gain knowledge.
2. What similarities or differences do you discern in the excerpt that you read from Doctor Faustus? Is knowledge out there somewhere, waiting to be found? Do we create knowledge? What motivates research? What ethical questions arise? What is the relationship between the issues in this play and 20th-21st Century issues like splitting the atom and genetic cloning?
In Doctor Faustus Faustus himself portrays knowledge to be something of physical persuasion, however unreachable it may be. To Dr. Faustus, the acquisition of knowledge is for a selfish purpose. He wishes to find new forms of knowledge that are supposedly noble of his learning. "This study fits a mercenary drudge Who aims at nothing but external trash, Too servile and illiberal for me"(Marlow 10, 34-36). Referring to the doctrine of Law, Marlow shows Faustus portraying himself as better than and past such earthen concepts like law; he uses words like trash, and servile to display Faustus's almost disgust for these terms. Furthermore, knowledge is not created by humans alone; knowledge is more the product of a reaction between humans and the world is around them. Through nearly all of their acts, humans gain knowledge, whether it be touching a hot stove or reading a textbook, and this process causes curiosity, which makes one want to know more and more. This then, in turn, instantiates the question: What are the limits of knowledge? In Faustus, there is a relation between the barrier at the end of physical knowledge he reaches and controversy today. Just as Faustus turns to black magic to learn about the unknown, there are those that feel as though cloning and stem cell usage are violations of nature, and that they cross over the line of what is naturally meant to be known and explored, causing controversy related to that of Faustus's inner battle.
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