Originally
as I read Doctor Faustus in
a the literal sense, I was genuinely bothered and perplexed by
Faustus's act of selling his soul to the devil. I couldn't imagine
what drove him to go to such extreme measures. Eventually, I found
peace in a more figurative reading, but I also settled on the idea
that Faustus just couldn't handle uncertainty.
This
uncertainty that Faustus tries to shake begins as soon as he
signs the bloodily- instated contract. What does he do immediately? He
asks about Hell – he wants to know about something unknown. Faustus must have been aware that, in Heaven, souls would be privy to
“knowing all,” but he wasn't willing to wait to find out if he'd
ever even get there. So Faustus decides to find another route to a
state of “enlightenment:” through the devil.
Now
I know I mentioned this a few weeks back when we were actively
discussing this play, but I never completely voiced my final thoughts
on the subject. And the more I think about it, the more I believe
that, given what we learn about Faustus's character, this scholarly
character was not keen on anything
abstract or ambiguous. After all, as an intelligent fellow in the
business of learning, it would seem easy for him to neglect to leave
room for the spiritual aspect of faith.
And this proves to be what ultimately ends up getting him into
trouble.
Faustus
displays a lack of faith inasmuch he refuses to trust that God would
allow his salvation before his “great sin” (the contract), but
also after. He fails to believe God will protect him should he
attempt to repent; and although the demons threaten to tear him apart
should he try to flee Hades's grasp, was this not that his final fate
anyway? What did he have to lose? He had Heaven to gain if his
redemption was accepted and only to fall back on his future in Hell
if not!
In
this piece, it is clear that well-educated and intelligent Faustus
aspires to know all. It is no fluke these characteristics are
present for they are vital for his character development. To use a
cliché, knowledge is power to Faustus. He believes he can take
authorial power over his fate, taking it into his own hands. But in
the end, does Faustus believe that eliminating uncertainty is
really worth the cost?
I love this reading because it's so universal to humanity. We all struggle on some level about the uncertainty of what happens after death and we all have to come to some kind of conclusion in how we feels, whether our believes take the form of specific religion, atheism, or agnosticism. This post definitely helps me under Faustus much better!
ReplyDeleteI've always loved the mythology relating to the unknown and our desperate desire to know all. One of my favorite stories is that of the cyclops. I don't remember where I heard it, but the cyclops (as a people) wanted to know the future and prayed to the gods for the ability. The gods made a deal with them, stating to see the future they would need to lose part of their worldly sight, so they gave up one of their eyes (they used to have 2, now only have 1). But the only future they could see was the time and place of how they were to die. At their birth they were given the foresight of their doom. I think this plays into Dr. Faustus' story, as you never get something for nothing. And once you have it, was it worth the price you had to pay?
ReplyDeleteDr. Faustus's need for knowledge and wanting more is what ultimately causes his demise. If he did not dabble in dark magic and sold his soul, he wouldn't be in hell for all of eternity.
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