Faust Has Dinner With The Pope (Doctor Faustus - Christopher Marlowe)

Member Name: janharper

Product:	Doctor Faustus - Christopher Marlowe
Date:	03/08/09 (28 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A good read

Disadvantages: Very short

The only reason I actually read Doctor Faustus is because it is required reading for the course I am doing. At first I didn't think it would be very good reading, but I was pleasantly surprised. This is a short play written by the Elizabethan writer Christopher Marlowe.

The play itself was not performed until after Marlowe's death and it was considered by the Catholic Church to be blasphemous.

Most people will know the story, or at least know of Faust. Doctor Faustus, in the story, is a brilliantly clever German doctor who sells his soul to the devil for power and knowledge. He seeks the ability to conjure up what he wants by using magic.

There are scenes portraying Lucifer, arguing evil and good angels, the Seven Deadly Sins and Faustus teasing the Pope and calling up the spirit of Alexander the Great. These are very powerful scenes which are often quite humorous.

The Chorus is a commentary between scenes which tells the reader what is going on in the background and this too is amusing in parts.

In the end Faust tries to repent but gives up his chance of salvation for the pleasures that Helen of Troy offers him.

This play is one of the first true tragedies written in English and it did actually foreshadow Shakespeare's later work. It is dramatic and vivid and the dialogue is poetic and is a wonderful example of Elizabethan drama.

I really enjoyed reading this play and the scene where Faustus torments the Pope made me laugh. I could picture the actors on the stage and Faustus, unseen, making comments.

This is really a good read, although it is not something I would have bought if it hadn't been required reading for me. However, I would certainly recommend it to anyone who is interested in classical plays. The writing and imagery is superb.

Summary: An Elizabethan classic play that's fun and fairly easy to read