Dr. Faustus key quotations

SMHPID Faustus' early praise, how he excels in his studies.

So much he profits in divinity

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GWDN: Faustus' achievement, part of heroic build up, religious allusions.

Grac'd with doctor's name

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TSWCOASC: Change of tone in the prologue, Faustus' greed, ambition that leads to his fall, 12 syllables, breaks iambic

Till, swollen with cunning of a self conceit

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HWWDMAHR: Icarus allusion (context, audience = aware), Faustus' fall. Alliteration of W sounds = fall

His waxen wings did mount above his reach

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AMHCHO: The fall of Faustus from heaven, continues Icarus allusion, inevitable damnation

And melting, heavens conspired his overthrow

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HSUCN: Stark contrast to Faustus excelling at divinity (study of God), Faustus' corruption

He surfeits upon cursed necromancy

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B,S: Broken rhyming couplet to end the prologue, unemphatic conclusion to a heroic build introduction of Faustus

Nothing so sweet as magic to him... before his chiefest bliss... in his study sits

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YATSBFAAM: Faustus' soliloquy, Marlowe presents Faustus' excess of ambition to be more. Everyman nature in tone, Aristotalean tragedy, hero = relatable

Yet art thou still but Faustus, and a man.

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WMDAED: Faustus reasons that everyone is a sinner and the punishment. Old Testament view of God, punishment over forgiveness

We must die an everlasting death.

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NBAH: Faustus' attraction to the dark arts, paradoxical , scares an Elizabethan audience

Necromantic books are heavenly

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HGHWUTH: Good angel / bad angel first appears, Good angel appeals to Old Testament punishment imagery to deter Faustus. Only alarms audience and Faustus

Heap God's heavy wrath upon thy head

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GFFITFA: Bad angel appeals to Faustus' greed / ambition, hamartia, temptation.

Go forward Faustus, in that famous art

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TMMTHRM: Faustus' corruption to necromancy, repetition and fast paced sounds shows an urgency

Tis magic, magic that hath ravish'd me

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TFNFBR: Faustus readies himself to defy God and actually conjure, he knows this is wrong has to reassure himself (3rd person)

Then fear not Faustus, be resolute

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TUTAOM/FF: Faustus' arrogance when seeing Mephostiphilis' true form for the first time. Context: mocks Catholicism

(Thou art) too ugly to attend on me ... (return a) Fracsiscan Friar

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VIMHW: Faustus thinks his conjuring is heavenly, ironically. Mixes up hellish conjuring with heavenly virtue. (11 syllables - excess?)

I see there's virtue in my heavenly words.

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STGL/MOA/PA: Mephostophilis (context) can never tell a lie, like Lucifer, he makes it clear that he does not serve Faustus: should scare Faustus but it doesn't.

Servant to great Lucifer / Mine own accord / Per accidens

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RTNOG/WFIHTGHGS: Further reduces Faustus' conjuring, Faustus is made to appear less and less powerful. This is the first evidence of Faustus below something.

(When we hear one) rack the name of God / We fly, in hopes to get his glorious soul.

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WTIHNAIOOI: Monosyllabic, emphatic, pathos, Mephosophilis pays the eternal price, Faustus will too. But Faustus' hamartia, ambition leads to ignorance.

Why this is hell, nor am I out of it.

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TTEJOH: Mephostophilis gives Faustus the most precious knowledge he could want, of heaven, that it really is as good as it is storied to be.

Tasted the eternal joys of heaven.

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TWTTH/IBDOEB?: Mephostophilis asks Faustus whether he really thinks Mephostophilis would lie about such an amazing heaven. The punishment M. now faces, which could be Faustus.

Tormented with ten thousand hells / in being deprived of everlasting bliss?

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FMF/STJTSNP: Faustus reassures himself he does not need the eternal bliss or joy of heaven, he places himself distinct from God, (AO5) he believes he is already damned, and he doesn't seem to care.

Faustus manly fortitude / scorn those joys thou shalt never possess

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HIAMSATBS/IGTAFM: Hyperbolic. Faustus is corrupted by temptation/ambition, all the things he can have. Ironically M. never gives a hyperbolic list of power and wealth but Faustus does, M. only tells Faustus of damnation.

Had I as many souls as there be stars / I'd give them all for Mephostophilis.

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IKHWGHSTTDFASOMTIWBR: Comic sub-plot, dramatic light relief after seeing devils. Wagner ironically insightful into Faustus giving away his soul / reduces the intelligence of Faustus.

I know he would give his soul to the devul for a shoulder of mutton though it were blood-raw

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ITTTTTADAC..OA: More mirroring of main plot in comic sub-plot, dramatic light relief for audience but audience is able to see how terrible Faustus' idea to sell his soul really is.

I'll teach thee to turn thyself to a dog, a cat, a mouse, a rat or anything.

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NFMTBD/CTNBS?: Catharsis? Faustus has not signed his soul over yet, but considers his damnation. Everyman, relatable

Now, Faustus, must thou be damn'd and canst thou not be sav'd?

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NGNBNGFF: Faustus' internal conflict, convinces himself to go forward as 'God serv'st thine own appetite'

Now go not backward; no Faustus, be resolute

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GFFITFA: Bad angel repeats his previous line when he appeared, he convinces Faustus to go forward, playing to Faustus' previous thoughts. Calls prayer, contrition 'fruits of lunacy' - God as a deceiver

Go forward Faustus in that famous art.

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SFTOHAHT/NFTOHAOF/W! The last lines of each angel, the good angel appeals to forgiveness / love, bad angel appeals to temptation. Last line is with the bad angel, influences Faustus the most.

Sweet Faustus think of heaven and heavenly things / No, Faustus, think of honour and of wealth / Wealth!

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CE/HF!WSIF?/HF! YFSNF: Latin, finality of signing over his soul (Note just earlier his blood congeals - a sign?) immediately after Faustus isn't thrilled, but realises his fate. If he flies to God "he'll throw thee down to hell"

Consummatum Est / Homo Fuge! Whither should I fly? / Homo fuge! Yet Faustus shall not fly.

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ITHAF/MIBACT : Contrasting dismissals of Faustus and Mephostophilis, Faustus with his overriding pride believes hell is a fable, Mephostophilis on the other hand condemns Faustus for wanting marriage after he has signed his soul over. (A03 soul=love)

I think hell's a fable / Marriage is but a ceremonial toy.

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CTWM/THDMOTJ: Faustus continuous internal conflict leads him to blame Mephostophilis for his inevitable damnation, failing to take responsibility = hamartia, but his realisation of his fate = catharsis. He needs to connect the two

Curse thee, wicked M. / Thou has depriv'd me of those joys.

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IHWMFMTMFM: Faustus is unable to swallow his pride, or feel like the ordinary man (Faustus = renaissance man = golden age). He believes if there is a heaven, he should be more than entitled.

If heaven was made for man, twas made for me

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TADTOH / TTHDDFS: Mephostophilis' frustration at Faustus asking who made the world, Faustus can only think or know of hell, he cannot ask of divinity (contrast to earlier) as this is 'against our kingdom', Faustus then again blames Mephostophilis.

M: Thou art damn'd; think of hell / F: 'Tis thou hast damn'd distressed Faustus' soul.

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WATFBAMCTD?: Incredible pathos, catharsis is starting to take place. Faustus knows his fate, but he still struggles to accept responsibility as this is during the horse-courser scene. Faustus cannot be forgiven yet.

What art thou, Faustus, but a man condemn'd to die?

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TFTDTAFE / DDDDIMT: Faustus continues his acknowledgement of his fate, audience becomes more aware of his internal conflict, no good angels, bad angels, or mephosophilis to shape his mind. (M. appears 2 scenes after this, a significant break)

Thy fatal time draws to a fatal end / Despair doth drive distrust into my thoughts.

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OGFLTDA / TMTWCTSTH : Old man's insights, assumes the role of the good angel (could say Faustus is the bad angel?) only offers wisdom and clarity. Old man = he's experienced tough times. Faustus has opportunity in the dying scenes to repent.

O gentle Faustus leave, this damned art. / This magic that will charm thy soul to hell.

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DATFDDAD!: Emphatic, alerts the audience, real catharsis, final catharsis. But Faustus hasn't listened to the old man, instead of looking to God, he looks away, cutting himself off. Then mephosotophilis finally appears, giving him a dagger.

Damn'd art thou, Faustus, damn'd; despair and die!

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HCHRWARV: Mephostophilis assumes his true role as a servant of hell, here to collect Faustus' soul - mirroring the earlier scenes. This is a sad, horrible moment for the audience, who see real damnation.

Hell claims his right, and with a roaring voice.

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SHMMIWAK / HLSFMSSWIF: Faustus finally gets his 'heart's desire', a beautiful woman. But this isn't real love, nothing is real for Faustus, it has all been a road to damnation. Helen (Classical Allusion), the most beautiful woman, claims his soul.

Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss. / Her lips **** forth my soul, see where it flies!

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HIDFHIITL: Faustus wishes to remain with the beauty of Helen, the only heaven he may ever access, which isn't actually real. But this shows the fall Faustus has had, the pathos of such a renaissance man being reduced to this.

Here I dwell for heaven is in these lips.

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OISIS! BTTA / OSBCILWD: Faustus wishes to be reduced to nature, he is terrified of his eternal damnation, catharsis: his pride is reduced as now he wishes to be air, water, anything but damned

O it strikes, it strikes! Body turn to air / O soul, be chang'd into little water drops.

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IBMB - AM!: Ambiguous and destructive end, Mephostophilis left Faustus earlier in his moment of catharsis, only to return to take his soul. Faustus would destroy what means most to him, knowledge, to not be damned / screwed over my M.

I'll burn my books - Ah, Mephostophilis!

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CITBTMHGFS: Didactic epilogue, talks straight to the audience. End of Faustus' potential to be a great man, he cuts himself off from God, from heaven. Metaphor for life.

Cut is the branch that might have grown full straight.

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FIGRHHF: very laconic, the end of the tragedy is extremely painful, there seems no hope. Morality play elements, the epilogue reinforces to the audience not to be like Faustus.

Faustus is gone: regard his hellish fall.

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Dr. Faustus key quotations

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