Christopher Marlowe's play Doctor Faustus tells the story of a curious and ambitious man who has grown tired of focusing on all the traditional areas of study and wishes to learn something less known to others . Faustus is intrigued by magic and, after convincing his friends to teach him the dark arts, manages to summon a devil, known as Mephastophilis. In exchange for 24 years of servitude by this devil, Faustus is told that he must sell his soul to Lucifer and face death as soon as the years are served. Throughout the play, Faustus struggles with being overwhelmed by his overwhelming desire to gain knowledge of dark magic and hold power he did not have before, while also feeling remorse and the need to repent as the Good Angel and the Bad Angel they both guide him in his life. different directions, even if the evil inside him will prevail in the end. As humans we are constantly torn between right and wrong and overwhelmed by both good and evil, which makes Faustus a more human and relatable character, struggling with choosing the right path that can ultimately dictate the own future once it is too necessary to go back. late. Although the Good Angel and the Bad Angel are both physical characters within the play, they both serve to further represent the divided nature that is not only within Faustus, but within all people as the choices that we do in life are guided by both our desires and our desires. our morals, as we face the consequences accordingly. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In Marlowe's work, the good angel often tries to steer Faustus away from attraction to anything that might threaten his relationship with God and his ability to seek salvation. When Faustus encourages his friends to teach him magic and the black arts, the Good Angel tells him to "lay aside that damned book, and heap the heavy wrath of God upon your head" (1:70-72). The moral conscience within Faustus warns him to venture into the dark side, as he clearly has some reservations deep down in carrying out his goal. Realizing the power of what he has unleashed, Faustus decides momentarily to put an end to his wrongdoings, as the Good Angel encourages him to "repent, but God will have mercy on you" (5.188). Despite his thirst for dark knowledge and power beyond others, Faustus still has good within him that conflicts with his immoral tendencies. When Faustus wonders whether or not it is too late to return to God and ask for forgiveness, the Good Angel assures him that "it is never too late, if [he] will repent" (5.253). Although his inclinations towards evil have attracted him, Faustus seems to question whether it is the right path. Faustus' dark side may have a stronger hold on him, but his morality still questions his decisions throughout the play. Many times in the play, Faustus is intrigued by his potential to invoke evil and dark abilities, as he tries to calm the good within him that tells him to turn back. When Faustus is deciding between selling his soul to Lucifer or reclaiming his faith in God, the evil angel reminds him to "think of honor and riches" (5:21). Faustus is unsure which path to take, but his desire for power and recognition seems to outweigh his need for salvation, even as he stops to wonder if his dark deeds are worth it. Once Faustus becomes seemingly resolute in his decision to ask God for forgiveness, the evil angel asks him to "never repent"(5.193). Faustus is divided about which way to go, and his desires and conscience pull him in different directions. Part of him wants to turn to God, while the other, stronger part wants to continue what he started. Filled with regret and fear of losing God's favor, Faustus wishes to take everything back, but the evil angel tells him that it is “too late. If you repent, the devils will tear you to pieces” (5.252,254). The evil voice in Faustus's head speaks louder than the moral one, as he ignores the doubt he feels. Unsure of which path to take, Faustus remains on his dark path, which seems easier than undoing his mistakes which he may subconsciously think are too late to be corrected as he finds himself trapped deeper and deeper into dark undertakings. Faustus feels within himself that he has gone too far and that his soul has passed the point of repentance. Both the good and evil angels in the play help resemble the divided nature of Faustus' mind, while also demonstrating the divided nature that is within each of us, as we struggle to decide which voice within ourselves to listen to. As he deeply contemplates selling his soul to Lucifer in exchange for servitude to Mephastophilis and access to his dark desires, Faustus struggles with his thoughts as he says to himself, “'be resolute; why do you hesitate? Oh, something rings in my ears; «Recant this magic, turn again to God»» (5,5-7). Faustus is a recognizable character in this scene as his indecision and doubts prevent him from knowing which path to choose. His desires and morals are in conflict, as many times in life we find that what we want is not always what is good for us. The Good Angel and the Bad Angel enter the scene after Faustus expresses his reservations, and both try to persuade him in different directions, resembling the split way his mind guides his actions and tries to process decisions. When reading books on the dark arts, Faustus declares to his devil: "when I look at the heavens, then I repent and curse you, wicked Mephaistophiles, because you have deprived me of those joys" (5. 176-178). Faustus is deeply intrigued by the dark arts and the ability to seek other forms of knowledge not accessible to others, but he also has a sense of goodness in his heart and a feeling of remorse when his morality takes over. The evil angel enters the scene again to discuss whether Faustus should repent or not, since Faustus has dark desires that he wants to satisfy, but he is also afraid of turning his back on God (5. 188-189). We all make decisions in life where we have conflicting voices deep in our minds telling us what to do, and there will be days when we listen to the darker one and pay the consequences, and days when good wins. .Despite the good angel of his mind telling him to return to God and repent, Faustus gets the consequence of eternal damnation after the 24 years of servitude are completed by Mephastophilis. Although Faustus has had many chances to right his mistakes and ask God for forgiveness, it is hard not to feel bad for him when he finally realizes the permanence of the choice he made. His will is divided for both good and evil, which is a realistic and human portrayal of a character trying to figure out which path to take, as we all have opposing forces in our heads that don't always agree. No matter how much the evil forces in Faustus' head make him want to submit to Lucifer, the good side of him constantly questions his decision. People are rarely all evil, nor all good, and Faustus is a character who embodies both, as most people do. Here.
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