Theme of Damnation
Properly speaking the theme of a literary work is its central idea which may be stated directly or indirectly. Marlowe’s Dr.Faustus is no exception in this regard. The play has a clear theme which is indirectly stated through the representation of Faustus’ life on the stage. Beyond any doubt the central theme of the play is the eternal damnation of an insatiable scholar who falls a prey to presumption or pride caused by his excessive learning.
“Till, swollen with cunning of a self-conceit,
His waxen wings did mount above his reach,
And, melting, heavens conspired his overthrow.”
If we read and analyze the life of Dr.Faustus carefully, we shall find that Dr.Faustus earns eternal damnation through a gradual process. This process of heading towards eternal damnation is quite opposite of sudden. In simple words Faustus commits four deadly sins and paves his way to hell. These four deadly sins are the sin of presumption, the sin of blasphemy, the sin of demoniality and the sin of despair. The committal of these four mortal sins on the part of Dr.Faustus constitutes the gradual process of his damnation.
Firstly the seeds of self-damnation are sown by Faustus in form of his presumption and pride. In his pride and arrogance Faustus reminds us of Lucifer. Lucifer was created and placed above cherubim by God. This superior status caused Satan to presume unto the throne of God with the intention of thrusting God out of his seat. Upon this presumption Satan was cast down by the Lord into the darkness of Hell. Quite like Lucifer, Faustus happens to attains the status of superiority among his fellow scholars for his learning. This superior and excessive learning accounts for his pride and presumption. Proud and presumptuous Faustus ponders upon his status as a man and is almost disgusted with his human status.
“Yet art thou still but Faustus, and a man.”
Faustus arrogance and haughtiness cause him to think of becoming a demi-god.
“here tire, thy brains, to get a deity.”
In this presumptuous pursuit, Faustus is assisted and escalated by his German friends Veldese and Cornelius. They coax him to practice Necromancy which, they claim, would immortalize him.
“Go forward Faustus, in that famous art.
Be thou on earth as Jove in the Sky”
Such presumptuous and audacious fancies lead him to another sin, the sin of blasphemy. Under the spell of his vain presumption, Faustus analysis the prospects and suitability of traditional sciences and shuns them haughtily and chooses necromancy hastily.
“Philosophy is odious and obscure;
Both Law and Physic are for petty wits;
Divinity is basest of the three.
Tis magic, magic, that hath ravish’d me”
He dives further into the sin of blasphemy when he dares to defy God and abjure Trinity. Even he declares to dedicate himself of Beelzebub.
“There is no chief but only Beelzebub.”
His presumption leads him to his bargain with the devils and he writes a deed of gift with his unwilling blood. Although he goes through a spiritual conflict in form of good angel and bad angel. Here too inclines himself to evil forces and further towards damnation.
“What power can hurt me? Faustus thou art safe.”
The third sin is committed by Faustus while he is availing himself of the life of sensuous joys. The apex of these sensual joys reaches when he gratifies himself with the” Sweet embraces” of Helen, an impersonated devil. Thus by embracing a devil, Faustus commits the sin of demoniality.
“Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss.”
The last but not least, the sin of despair is committed by Faustus. When the old man comes for the final attempt on the part of forces of goodness, Faustus thinks of repentance but at the same time despairs.
“I do repent, and yet I do despair.”
At this the holy man realizes that Faustus is devoid of soul and the grace of heaven. That is how Faustus pushes himself towards lasting damnation. His ruin roots in his pride and is culminated by his despair. His hellish fall is a stern warning in general to all human beings and in particular to the forward wits.
“Faustus if gone: Regard his hellish fall,
Whose fiendful fortune may exhort the wise,
Only to wonder at unlawful things,
Whose deepness doth entice such forward wits,
To practice more than heavenly power permits.”
Properly speaking the theme of a literary work is its central idea which may be stated directly or indirectly. Marlowe’s Dr.Faustus is no exception in this regard. The play has a clear theme which is indirectly stated through the representation of Faustus’ life on the stage. Beyond any doubt the central theme of the play is the eternal damnation of an insatiable scholar who falls a prey to presumption or pride caused by his excessive learning.
“Till, swollen with cunning of a self-conceit,
His waxen wings did mount above his reach,
And, melting, heavens conspired his overthrow.”
If we read and analyze the life of Dr.Faustus carefully, we shall find that Dr.Faustus earns eternal damnation through a gradual process. This process of heading towards eternal damnation is quite opposite of sudden. In simple words Faustus commits four deadly sins and paves his way to hell. These four deadly sins are the sin of presumption, the sin of blasphemy, the sin of demoniality and the sin of despair. The committal of these four mortal sins on the part of Dr.Faustus constitutes the gradual process of his damnation.
Firstly the seeds of self-damnation are sown by Faustus in form of his presumption and pride. In his pride and arrogance Faustus reminds us of Lucifer. Lucifer was created and placed above cherubim by God. This superior status caused Satan to presume unto the throne of God with the intention of thrusting God out of his seat. Upon this presumption Satan was cast down by the Lord into the darkness of Hell. Quite like Lucifer, Faustus happens to attains the status of superiority among his fellow scholars for his learning. This superior and excessive learning accounts for his pride and presumption. Proud and presumptuous Faustus ponders upon his status as a man and is almost disgusted with his human status.
“Yet art thou still but Faustus, and a man.”
Faustus arrogance and haughtiness cause him to think of becoming a demi-god.
“here tire, thy brains, to get a deity.”
In this presumptuous pursuit, Faustus is assisted and escalated by his German friends Veldese and Cornelius. They coax him to practice Necromancy which, they claim, would immortalize him.
“Go forward Faustus, in that famous art.
Be thou on earth as Jove in the Sky”
Such presumptuous and audacious fancies lead him to another sin, the sin of blasphemy. Under the spell of his vain presumption, Faustus analysis the prospects and suitability of traditional sciences and shuns them haughtily and chooses necromancy hastily.
“Philosophy is odious and obscure;
Both Law and Physic are for petty wits;
Divinity is basest of the three.
Tis magic, magic, that hath ravish’d me”
He dives further into the sin of blasphemy when he dares to defy God and abjure Trinity. Even he declares to dedicate himself of Beelzebub.
“There is no chief but only Beelzebub.”
His presumption leads him to his bargain with the devils and he writes a deed of gift with his unwilling blood. Although he goes through a spiritual conflict in form of good angel and bad angel. Here too inclines himself to evil forces and further towards damnation.
“What power can hurt me? Faustus thou art safe.”
The third sin is committed by Faustus while he is availing himself of the life of sensuous joys. The apex of these sensual joys reaches when he gratifies himself with the” Sweet embraces” of Helen, an impersonated devil. Thus by embracing a devil, Faustus commits the sin of demoniality.
“Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss.”
The last but not least, the sin of despair is committed by Faustus. When the old man comes for the final attempt on the part of forces of goodness, Faustus thinks of repentance but at the same time despairs.
“I do repent, and yet I do despair.”
At this the holy man realizes that Faustus is devoid of soul and the grace of heaven. That is how Faustus pushes himself towards lasting damnation. His ruin roots in his pride and is culminated by his despair. His hellish fall is a stern warning in general to all human beings and in particular to the forward wits.
“Faustus if gone: Regard his hellish fall,
Whose fiendful fortune may exhort the wise,
Only to wonder at unlawful things,
Whose deepness doth entice such forward wits,
To practice more than heavenly power permits.”
Thank you so much sir.....It was brilliant and the wording is also very simple
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