Marlowe’s presentation of magic in Dr Faustus
Marlowe’s presentation of magic serves to illuminate its danger and corruptive influence as
Faustus demonstrates the consequences of dabbling in necromancy. It is evident that Faustus
has humanistic intentions with necromancy and desires to use it to obtain unlimited powers.
However, the clear inability to do this and the swift degradation of Faustus in terms of how he
uses magic, serves to indicate the reality of misusing magic and its dangerous consequences.
Marlowe presents magic as deceiving and a corrupting influence, consequently resulting in
man’s downfall. From the beginning of the play, Marlowe indicates the importance and danger
of magic through the pun ‘falling to’ in the Chorus alluding to the fall of man in the story of
Adam and Eve, highlighting Faustus’ fate. It is evident that Faustus’ crucial mistake is him over-
reaching and aspiring to become ‘a mighty god’ which exposes hubris and furthermore links
Faustus to the Renaissance man, believing limitless human potential. Faustus’ desire to get to
the limit of every subject illustrated through the finite words ‘depth’ and ‘end’ in his first
soliloquy, which leads him to believe that necromancy is what will give him a god-like status,
suggesting its deceptive nature. Through the swift degradation of Faustus the idea that magic
will be his downfall is increasingly emphasised. From Faustus’ ability to experience a privileged
aerial tour of Europe witnessing scenes ‘gorgeous to the eye’ to his petty revenge on the knight,
his foolishness for believing magic to be charming and harmless is highlighted. This is illustrated
through the liquid ‘l’ sound repeated in Faustus’ second soliloquy making magic seem exciting
not dangerous. Faustus’ inability to realise the dangers of magic is further evident in his
ordering Mephistopheles who enters in a disturbingly ugly form to go return an ‘old friar’
demonstrating how Faustus does not want to confront the seriousness of what he is doing
which ultimately leads to his downfall. Furthermore, the commentary from Faustus’ own
conscience and from allegorical figures such as the good angel gives the impression of
necromancy as simply hellish powers. Moreover, Marlowe’s indication of the dangers of magic
is arguably seen in the suggested link between Faustus and the fall of man as he is presented as
taking a risk through magic and it is evident that he is toying in dangerous territory when he
conjures devils on stage. This would have been very real for an Elizabethan audience, and the
terror created by the pretend conjuring of devils can be seen in an early performance in Exeter,
when the actors thought that there was one more devil on the stage then should be causing the
audience to be spooked and flee.
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Marlowe’s presentation of magic serves to illuminate its danger and corruptive influence as
Faustus demonstrates the consequences of dabbling in necromancy. It is evident that Faustus
has humanistic intentions with necromancy and desires to use it to obtain unlimited powers.
However, the clear inability to do this and the swift degradation of Faustus in terms of how he
uses magic, serves to indicate the reality of misusing magic and its dangerous consequences.
Marlowe presents magic as deceiving and a corrupting influence, consequently resulting in
man’s downfall. From the beginning of the play, Marlowe indicates the importance and danger
of magic through the pun ‘falling to’ in the Chorus alluding to the fall of man in the story of
Adam and Eve, highlighting Faustus’ fate. It is evident that Faustus’ crucial mistake is him over-
reaching and aspiring to become ‘a mighty god’ which exposes hubris and furthermore links
Faustus to the Renaissance man, believing limitless human potential. Faustus’ desire to get to
the limit of every subject illustrated through the finite words ‘depth’ and ‘end’ in his first
soliloquy, which leads him to believe that necromancy is what will give him a god-like status,
suggesting its deceptive nature. Through the swift degradation of Faustus the idea that magic
will be his downfall is increasingly emphasised. From Faustus’ ability to experience a privileged
aerial tour of Europe witnessing scenes ‘gorgeous to the eye’ to his petty revenge on the knight,
his foolishness for believing magic to be charming and harmless is highlighted. This is illustrated
through the liquid ‘l’ sound repeated in Faustus’ second soliloquy making magic seem exciting
not dangerous. Faustus’ inability to realise the dangers of magic is further evident in his
ordering Mephistopheles who enters in a disturbingly ugly form to go return an ‘old friar’
demonstrating how Faustus does not want to confront the seriousness of what he is doing
which ultimately leads to his downfall. Furthermore, the commentary from Faustus’ own
conscience and from allegorical figures such as the good angel gives the impression of
necromancy as simply hellish powers. Moreover, Marlowe’s indication of the dangers of magic
is arguably seen in the suggested link between Faustus and the fall of man as he is presented as
taking a risk through magic and it is evident that he is toying in dangerous territory when he
conjures devils on stage. This would have been very real for an Elizabethan audience, and the
terror created by the pretend conjuring of devils can be seen in an early performance in Exeter,
when the actors thought that there was one more devil on the stage then should be causing the
audience to be spooked and flee.
(Preview ends…buy to see the whole essay…)
