In the play “The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus” by Christopher Marlowe, the protagonist Faustus becomes infatuated with the idea of selling his soul to Lucifer in order to become very wise and magician like. Through this ordeal, he is accompanied by Mephastophilis who grants his desire of becoming a great individual. It could be assumed that Faustus had an experience that possibly occurred prior to the commencement of the play, given that he is incognizant but much full of himself. It is those characteristics from Faustus that led him to create Mephastophilis for guidance and as a intermediary for his pursuits in dark magic. This character is brought about by Faustus’ want of grandeur and drive to be great, and possibly better than God.
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Faustus is lost and not very sane and in trying to deal with this issue he is compelled to create characters like Mephastophilis. An example of this is when Faustus expresses “Lines, circles, schemes, letters, and characters! / Ay, these are those that Faustus most desires.” (51-52 scene 1). It is this soliloquy that presents Faustus state of mind. By Faustus referring to himself in the third person as he speaks, which is done throughout the play, presents the notion that he is not fully attached to himself intellectually and spiritually. Faustus categorizes characters as being things that can be created like lines or letters, and that are tangible, which is a precedent for him creating Mephastophilis. He not only thinks of characters in that way, but also desires them in some way that seems nebulous but correct. This monomania leads Faustus to create someone within himself that is also not fully him -- to create …show more content…
This interest of both being independent is something that can be pursued only for a moment. The idea comes to a halt when Mephastophilis expresses, “That I shall wait on Faustus whilst he lives, / So he will buy my service with his soul” (31-32 Scene 5). Mephastophilis then can only live as a character if Faustus lives and is capable of creating the mentally constructed entity that is Mephastophilis. It is that process of selling his soul to Mephastophilis that allows Faustus to dive into dark magic, and without the creation of Mephastophilis such events would not be unable to occur. Moreover, Mephistophilis waiting on Faustus as he lives is also a suggestion that one is the creator of the other, for it is implied that upon Faustus’ death Mephistophilis will no longer
Faustus is lost and not very sane and in trying to deal with this issue he is compelled to create characters like Mephastophilis. An example of this is when Faustus expresses “Lines, circles, schemes, letters, and characters! / Ay, these are those that Faustus most desires.” (51-52 scene 1). It is this soliloquy that presents Faustus state of mind. By Faustus referring to himself in the third person as he speaks, which is done throughout the play, presents the notion that he is not fully attached to himself intellectually and spiritually. Faustus categorizes characters as being things that can be created like lines or letters, and that are tangible, which is a precedent for him creating Mephastophilis. He not only thinks of characters in that way, but also desires them in some way that seems nebulous but correct. This monomania leads Faustus to create someone within himself that is also not fully him -- to create …show more content…
This interest of both being independent is something that can be pursued only for a moment. The idea comes to a halt when Mephastophilis expresses, “That I shall wait on Faustus whilst he lives, / So he will buy my service with his soul” (31-32 Scene 5). Mephastophilis then can only live as a character if Faustus lives and is capable of creating the mentally constructed entity that is Mephastophilis. It is that process of selling his soul to Mephastophilis that allows Faustus to dive into dark magic, and without the creation of Mephastophilis such events would not be unable to occur. Moreover, Mephistophilis waiting on Faustus as he lives is also a suggestion that one is the creator of the other, for it is implied that upon Faustus’ death Mephistophilis will no longer