'Doctor Faustus' is a sixteenth century play by Christopher Marlowe, Shakespeare's contemporary and closest rival. Based on the German legend 'Faust', this story includes many themes including religion and self-fulfilment, so as you can imagine it makes for great reading at school rather than for pleasure. This is another book I had to learn about for A-level along with 'The Great Gatsby' (reviewed previously), and despite the contrasting differences in setting between then and now I still think this is quite a thought-provoking read. The titular character John Faustus is a brilliant German scholar in various fields, but after all this mastery he still wants ...  Read the complete review

This review is an attempt by myself to turn to a more classical subject than Iron Maiden and Pot Noodles, and as there were no reviews written for this play I decided to try my hand. You can rest assured that all the observations are not taken straight from websites, as I studied this play for AS-level English Literature and my book is full of scribbled notes. This early 17th century play was written for the stage but not performed widely until after the author Christopher Marlowe's death. Its themes of heaven, hell and damnation were common to a lot of the plays of the time, but it was also deemed inappropriate and blasphemous in places by the heavily ...  Read the complete review

Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe was one of the texts that I had to read for my English degree last year and one of only a few that I actually fond myself enjoying somewhat. Before I picked up the text, which is a play, I already knew quite a bit about because of the allusions made towards it in John Webster's Duchess of Malfi, which I had read the year before. This on its own should be a testimony to the play and the cultural impact that its performance and subsequent publication had. It is however its authors predecessor's (Shakespeare) works that are most well known. Christopher Marlowe is himself however quite a character. He was born in ...  Read the complete review

Faustus, by Christopher Marlowe, written in c.1588-90 is based on the classic German folk-tale of 'Faust'. The plot in its most basic form takes the construct of a scholar (Faustus) who at the 'level of every art' wishes to 'heap up gold' and take up the black arts. Thus the summoning of Mephistopheles in an act of Necromancy occurs. Consequently, in the desperate search for power, Faustus sells his soul to the devil for 24 years of Mephistopheles service. This play will provide something of a surprise for those who dislike or are new to 16th century drama, as it reads like a modern play, with a really gripping story, humour, horror and a great opportunity ...  Read the complete review