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Transcript

The Tragical Life of Dr. Faustus

Antagonist

Protaganist

The protagonist is Faustus, a tragic hero. With all of Faustus’ ambition, he seems to waste his powers on small tasks. Rather than creating meaning that coincides with the great powers that he has traded his soul for, he uses the magic to develop fame and fortune: his true motives.

Supporting Characters that align with the protagonist:

1. The old man.

2. The Good Angel.

3. Scholars

The main goal of the antagonist, Lucifer, is to shun Christ. He does this by convincing Faustus to sell his soul in exchange for twenty four years of magical powers. Lucifer along with Mephistophilis keep Faustus from repenting.

Supporting Character that align with the antagonist:

1. Mephistophilis.

2. The Evil Angel.

3. The Seven Deadly Sins.

Theme

Rising Action

If one is ambivalent toward god, then sin will overcome them.

Falling Action

1. Faustus conjures Mephistophilis.

2. Faustus changes his mind and decides to rejoice in god while contemplating in his study before meeting with Lucifer.

3. Good Angel and Evil Angel visit Faustus.

4. Faustus makes the deal with the devil to sell his soul to him in exchange for twenty four years of magic and Mephistophilis at his disposal.

5. Faustus meets the seven deadly sins, Pride, Covetousness, Wrath, Envy, Gluttony, Sloth, and Lechery.

Time

the Story takes place during the early years of the age of exploration, approximately the 1680s.

1. Faustus sends the scholars to pray for him.

2. Faustus begs for God’s mercy.

3. Faustus accepts his fate.

Inciting Incident

Place

Contents

Germany

The plot begins when Faustus makes the initial decision after dining with Cornelius and Valdes to begin practicing magic.

World of the Play

Conclusion

I. Exposition

II. Plot

III. Characters

IV. Theme

V. Personal Reaction

VI. Poetics

The preliminary situation revolves around the idea that Faustus is studying medicine and decides that he would like to expand his knowledge beyond common practice by learning magic. Doctor Faustus struggles with whether or not to pursue magic and the driving forces which lead him to his decision.

Climax

Mood and Atmosphere

The world of the play is changed because Faustus has made a final decision. In the beginning he chose to read the magic books which the Good Angel warned him not to, and at the end he proclaims that he wished he never had. Throughout the plot Faustus was seemingly ambivalent towards this idea of good and evil. As a result of his ambivalence, Faustus finds himself in a position of sin. It is the conclusion that he decides that he was wrong to reject Christ.

The play has an atmosphere of doubt.

The climax of the story is when Faustus reveals his practice and deal to three scholars the day before he is to be taken to hell. This is a symbol that he has finally made his choice to repent.

Personal Reaction

Poetics- Tragedy

Poetics- Imitation

Poetics- Unity of Time

Faustus is not a pleasing script to read; however, perhaps the play would have been more suited towards my dramatic tastes. In reading the script, the reader is overcome with a sense of Faustus’ damnation immediately in the introduction. From the opening chorus, the manner in which Faustus chooses to reject God and read on in the magic book, to how one of the scholars figures that it is too late to help his dear friend. The concept that Faustus’ fate is already determined is discouraging to the reader and ultimately makes the middle of the play irrelevant to the central plot. Even though Faustus sometimes considers rejoicing in Christ, his fear and steady ambivalence keeps him from doing so.

Faustus is a classic tragic hero. He possesses great power and ends up accepting his tragic fate.

There is a successful imitation of how good and evil are perceived, especially in terms of the link between the scholars and their faith in Christ.

Faustus has an obvious lapse of twenty four years which the audience is aware of throughout the script.

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