Dr Faustus by Christopher Marlowe

The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, to give it its full title, is a play by Christopher Marlowe. It was first published in 1604, at least twelve years after its first performance, although the basic tale is much older.

Having decided he has accumulated all he can of conventional knowledge, Doctor Faustus turns to magic in a quest for greater truths. Before long, he ends up selling his soul to the devil – the famous “Faustian pact” that’s entered the language. Dr Faustus gradually realises his terrible mistake. He apparently repents, but finally dies, the devil coming to collect his soul, and his friends the dismembered body.

A classic that never dates

Is Doctor Faustus a tragic hero or a terrible example? It’s not clear. But with its themes of sin, Satanism, death, damnation and magic, the play naturally holds great appeal for modern students, as well as theatre lovers across the ages.

In addition, Dr Faustus is a good choice for anyone studying Shakespeare, as he and Marlowe were contemporaries. Both wrote for the same acting company and influenced each other’s work. Certainly, as an Elizabethan tragedian, Marlowe is considered second only to the great man himself. Notoriously, there are even those who believe that Marlowe actually wrote Shakespeare’s plays, his early death notwithstanding.

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