Christopher “Kit” Marlowe’s play “Doctor Faustus” follows Faustus, a German theologist who makes a deal with the devil in exchange for 24 years of servitude from the demon, Mephistopheles.
As a part of his pact, Faustus gained the knowledge of the universe and the ability to summon demons. For a majority of the play, Doctor Faustus considers the question of whether the pursuit of salvation is worthwhile or better abandoned for the pursuit of pleasures.
In the final act, 24 years after his deal with the devil, Faustus gets dragged down to hell. “Doctor Faustus” was written in 1588-1592 and was first published in 1604. It is an oddly comedic play despite the dark subject matter, as Faustus uses his almost unlimited power to prank the pope and trick other people around him. I found “Doctor Faustus” to be extremely intriguing because it explores elements that may initially seem stereotypical and filled with tropes, yet this play was the origin of several of these tropes. Overall, it was a very entertaining play to read, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is curious. Rating: 8/10
