History Theatre / DoctorFaustus

'''''The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus''''' is 16th-century English playwright Creator/ChristopherMarlowe's take on the classic legend of {{Faust}}, or, as he calls him, Dr. John Faustus. Marlowe, who in his own time was considered something of a rebel and an atheist (which is to say, someone who did not practise the faith exactly as the law said it should be practised; the word could apply to someone who was simply sceptical of the scripture as it was given, someone who blasphemed, or even a Catholic), represents Faustus as a typically Renaissance figure, seeking above all things knowledge -- and the expansion of personal wealth and power that knowledge brings. His play is the first version of the story to present the central figure as an AntiHero, who is somehow magnificent even in the midst of his crimes, exactly because his desires have no limits.

* AntiHero: In fact a ByronicHero, 200 years before Byron.

%%* DealWithTheDevil: Pretty much the story's entire plot, and quite possibly the TropeCodifier.
%%* DownerEnding

* EvilIsPetty: Faustus gains great demonic power and immediately.... punches the Pope. This is the point, Faustus gains great power at a horrific cost and squanders it all away, showing that the problem is not the lack of knowledge or ability but the man wielding it.

* BlackMagic
* BreakTheHaughty

* ByronicHero

* DealWithTheDevil: Pretty much the story's entire plot, and quite possibly the TropeCodifier.
* DownerEnding

* KidWithTheLeash: Even though he's an adult.
* MagicIsEvil

* NobleDemon: You could make an argument for Mephistopheles.

* RageAgainstTheHeavens: Arguably.

* ReligionIsWrong: The story has Mephistopheles and Hell, but Faustus begins the drama by rejecting religion and Mephistopheles implies that hell and damnation means something different from how Christianity has concieved it.

So you're a doctor in [[TheRenaissance post-medieval]] [[HolyRomanEmpire Germany]] who's getting tired of the dreary drudgery of everyday life. What to do when saving the lives of your patients no longer brings you a feeling of satisfaction and joy? Why, turn to [[BlackMagic satanic magic]] and [[DealWithTheDevil summon a devil]] to use as your own personal slave, of course! [[EvilIsNotAToy We're sure you can guess what happens next.]]

* AerithAndBob Justified. Humans have plain names (Robin, John), and demons [[CaptainObvious do not]].

* FalseReassurance: Mephistopheles is totally honest, but his words (the famous "why this is hell" speech) are vague enough that Faust can stupidly interpret them however he wants to.

* SycophanticServant: When Faustus is considering rescinding on their bargain, Satan appears before him to parades the Sins before him and ask whether they're delightful. [[YesMan Faustus agrees, emphatically, that they are]]. Because, under the circumstances, disagreeing would be a terminally bad idea.

So you're a doctor in [[TheRenaissance post-medieval]] [[HolyRomanEmpire Germany]] who's getting tired of the dreary drudgery of everyday life. What to do when saving the lives of your patients no longer brings you a feeling of satisfaction and joy? Why, turn to [[BlackMagic satanic magic]] and [[DealWithTheDevil summon a devil]] to use as your own personal slave of course! [[EvilIsNotAToy We're sure you can guess what happens next.]]

'''''The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus''''' is 16th-century English playwright Creator/ChristopherMarlowe's take on the classic legend of {{Faust}}, or, as he calls him, Dr. John Faustus. Marlowe, who in his own time was considered something of a rebel and an atheist, represents Faustus as a typically Renaissance figure, seeking above all things knowledge--and the expansion of personal wealth and power that knowledge brings. His play is the first version of the story to present the central figure as an AntiHero, who is somehow magnificent even in the midst of his crimes, exactly because his desires have no limits.

* DoNotDoThisCoolThing: Okay, so the moral is: if you deal with the devil, things will not end well for you. But, boy–it does look like it might be fun to have all the forces of darkness at your disposal for a little while, doesn't it?

* EvilIsNotAToy - you made a DealWithTheDevil to have magic powers in exchange for taking your soul in a few short years... really, why act surprised? [[WhatAnIdiot What did you THINK was going to happen?]]

* FlatEarthAtheist: Despite just summoning a demon from Hell and proceeding to sell his immortal soul to the Devil, Faustus insists to Mephilstopheles' annoyance that Hell and damnation are metaphorical.

* SpecialPersonNormalName: Faustus's first name is [[DramaticPause . . .]] John.

* SycophanticServant: Faustus. When Faustus is considering rescinding on their bargain Satan appears before him and parades the Sins in front of him and asks him aren't these so delightful and [[YesMan Faustus agrees emphatically]] (as in "please don't kill me") always agree with the scariest person in the room.

* NobleDemon: You could make an argument for Mephistopheles.

* GetTheeToANunnery: Tons and tons. One of the minor characters mentions that he'd use magic to transform into a flea and crawl into women's plackets, quite literally slits in skirts.

* SycophanticServant: Faustus. When Faustus is considering rescinding on their bargain Satan appears before him and parades the Sins in front of him and asks him aren't these so delightful and [[YesMan Faustus agrees emphatically]] (as in "please don't kill me") always agree with the psychopath.

'''''The Tragicall History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus''''' is 16th-century English playwright Creator/ChristopherMarlowe's take on the classic legend of {{Faust}}, or, as he calls him, Dr. John Faustus. Marlowe, who in his own time was considered something of a rebel and an atheist, represents Faustus as a typically Renaissance figure, seeking above all things knowledge--and the expansion of personal wealth and power that knowledge brings. His play is the first version of the story to present the central figure as an AntiHero, who is somehow magnificent even in the midst of his crimes, exactly because his desires have no limits.

kill me") always agree with the psychopath.

* SycophanticServant: Faustus. When Faustus is considering rescinding on their bargain Satan appears before him and parades the Sins in front of him and asks him aren't these so delightful and [[YesMan Faustus agrees emphatically]] (as in "please don't

* TheRenfield: Faustus. When Faustus is considering rescinding on their bargain Satan appears before him and parades the Sins in front of him and asks him aren't these so delightful and [[YesMan Faustus agrees emphatically]] (as in "please don't kill me") always agree with the psychopath.

* AerithAndBob Justified. Humans have [[PlainName plain names]] (Robin, John), and demons [[CaptainObvious do not]].

* PlainName: Faustus's first name is [[DramaticPause . . .]] John.

* SevenDeadlySins: Faustus meets them in AnthropomorphicPersonification form at the beginning.

If you're a child of TheNineties, there's a distinct possibility the first encounter you've had with this play was watching ''{{Wishbone}}'', a PBS children's show. No, seriously.

'''''The Tragicall History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus''''' is 16th-century English playwright ChristopherMarlowe's take on the classic legend of {{Faust}}, or, as he calls him, Dr. John Faustus. Marlowe, who in his own time was considered something of a rebel and an atheist, represents Faustus as a typically Renaissance figure, seeking above all things knowledge--and the expansion of personal wealth and power that knowledge brings. His play is the first version of the story to present the central figure as an AntiHero, who is somehow magnificent even in the midst of his crimes, exactly because his desires have no limits.

* FlamingDevil: Mephistopheles' interaction with Faust contains a fair amount of implied homosexuality on the former's part (such as Mephisto stating that Heaven "is not so fair as [Faustus] or any man that breathes on earth." Stage productions sometimes turn the subtext into text.

* FalseReassurance: Mephistopheles is totally honest, but his words (the famous "why this is hell" speech) are vague enough that Faust can stupidly interpet them however he wants to.

* GetTheeToANunnery: Tons and tons. One of the minor characters mentions that he'd use magic to transform into a flea and crawl into women's plackets, quite literally [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean slits in skirts.]]