Helpful Score: 2
Faustus, a brilliant scholar, sells his soul to the devil in exchange for limitless knowledge and powerful black magic, yet remains unfulfilled. He considers repenting, but remains too proud to ask God for forgiveness His indecision ultimately seals his fate.
Faustus' story serves as a warning to those who would sacrifice righteous living for earthly gain. But Marlowe's play is also a deeply symbolic analysis of the shift from the late medieval world to the early modern world--a time when the medieval view that the highest wisdom lay in the theologian's contemplation of God was yielding to the Renaissance view that the highest wisdom lay in the scientist's and statesman's rational analysis of the world around them. Caught between these ideals, Faustus is both a tragic fool destroyed by his own ambition and a hero at the forefront of a changing society. Marlowe thoughtfully examines faith and enlightenment, nature and science--and the terrible cost of the objects of our desire.
Faustus' story serves as a warning to those who would sacrifice righteous living for earthly gain. But Marlowe's play is also a deeply symbolic analysis of the shift from the late medieval world to the early modern world--a time when the medieval view that the highest wisdom lay in the theologian's contemplation of God was yielding to the Renaissance view that the highest wisdom lay in the scientist's and statesman's rational analysis of the world around them. Caught between these ideals, Faustus is both a tragic fool destroyed by his own ambition and a hero at the forefront of a changing society. Marlowe thoughtfully examines faith and enlightenment, nature and science--and the terrible cost of the objects of our desire.
The classic story of a man who sold his soul to the devil in return for success.
We all know Faust: from Goethes dramatic poetry, Manns novel, Gounods opera, Perrots ballet, to the music of Liszt and Wanger. Marlowes play (1604-1616) predates and forms a basis for all. But, this play itself is based on an older legend: anonymous German prose of 1587 titled Historia von D. Johan Fausten. Adaptations of the central theme exist in multiple versions in every medium of entertainment. What makes this particular publication interesting is that it contains excerpts from the source legend. One can hardly say that they are familiar with Faust unless they have first read Marlowe.
Faustus, a brilliant scholar, sells hsi soul to the devil in exchange for limitless knowledge and powerful black magic, yet remains unfulfilled. He considers repenting, but remains too proud to ask God for forgiveness. His indecision ultimately seals his fate. A classic.
A great book, hard to read at times though.
Got this book for my son for school, who performed it as a play. He gave it the rating.
