Dr. Faustus Consumed by Pride in Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus

Dr. Faustus Consumed by Pride in Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus

In this theoretic play, Christopher Marlowe presents a man that is well educated, but is in search of more than what education can give to him. Dr. Faustus is a man possessed by himself, blown up in pride, and blinded by his own intellect. This blind, self- centered man challenges the ideals of death and the Devil. The first scene opens with Dr. Faustus in his study, he is seated, and then he begins to speak in depth of what he wants to do. He talks of his graduation from the different levels of education. With his words there is an air of hubris, he wants all to notice him, and what he has accomplished. He claims that logic has overcame him, more of a pun or a sarcastic reach on his audience. He goes on to say, should logic be disputed or is it the main thought in the end. And without logic then what is there? So he finally contends that he has read it all and that he knows all the logic that he needs to know.

A greater subject is needed now to fill the needs of Dr. Faustus. He wants something which will challenge his knowledge. So he looks to the medical field to fill his desires. But he has seen where the philosopher leaves off and the physician begins. Faustus in his vain wit says, I become a physician, to make lots of money, and to be known for creating some wondrous cure. But this does not fit for Faustus either. He states in the end there is medicine and it is only sustains our body to health. And then he asks himself, have not I obtained such knowledge, and isn't the common knowledge that he already has all that he needs? Once again he asks himself, I have cured whole cities and his work hangs on the wall in the form of a writing to show all o...

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...nerals, is what is required to be a magician. He tells Faustus that he can not have any doubt, that he will be an expert in the craft, and all the oracle of Apollo will be his. What more could you want, than to have the power to dry the sea, and bring you every treasure from the wrecks that lay at the bottom of the sea. Faustus agrees and is now more convinced that he wants to conjure up the spirits so that he can have all that they have spoken. In the final part of scene one they conspire to find a place to perform the ritual and get all the things that they need to call up the spirits. But first Faustus wants to dine with them and before he will rest again he will bring forth the spirits that will give him all the power that he desires. Thus, we see now that Faustus pride has taken over completely and that he will stop at nothing to get what he wants at any cost.