Christopher Marlowe's Dr. Faustus

The following sites were discovered by students in my Masterpieces of English Literature class at Florida Southern College (Spring 2006).

The Origins of Dr. Faustus

This site basically gives a history of how Dr. Faustus became a legend. It talks about how he became a black magician and how he was able to gain powers through the devil.

-Colleen Marinelli

i just thought that the third website was interesting. it explains where the name Faust comes from. it really doesn't do anything for the play but i thought it was interesting and could be used for general knowledge.

-Brent Walker


The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus (Link no longer functioning)

Doctor Faustus is one of Marlowe's major dramas in which the hero is searching for power.  In Doctor Faustus, Faustus is searching for forbidden knowledge, and he ultimately sells his soul to Lucifer to obtain the power of magic.

-Justin Massing

from the Marlowe Homepage: Dr. Faustus

This website compares the original writings by Christopher Marlowe and P.F. Gent's book entitled 'The English Faust Book.' also in this website they have a section that shows the differences in spelling and punctuation between the texts they also have a section on scholarly notes.

-Christina Hunter

DCMDVA-art.org: review of Dr. Faustus (no longer available)

Dr. Faustus a greedy character, interested in only money, power, and pleasure, sells his soul to the devil in order to receive these powers. After doing much damage, Dr. Faustus tries to do good again but realizes its too late.

-Sinan Feidy

Book Rags.com: Dr. Faustus book notes

Dr. Faustus is a smart educated man; he has a lot of knowledge and power. He craved too much power and decided to sell his soul to the devil for more. He set goals to himself and never was able to complete them, which is a shame. He pretty much gave his soul away for nothing. It was all in his head. He took the power he had within himself to chose his own course of life.

-Laura Antley

Teacher First: Christopher Marlowe: Synopsis of Dr. Faustus

the first link explains the play scene by scene giving a short synopsis of the play itself. it shows which are the scenes that are suppose to be taken seriously and also where the comic scenes are located.

-Brent Walker

Literature, Art and Medicine Database: Literature Annotations: Dr. Faustus

the second website is a summary of Faust. it explains all about his studies and everything that he went through to master his knowledge. It also talks of Marlowe and where he is in history.

-Brent Walker

Renaissance Attitudes Towards Faustus as a Magician

The differences between the beliefs about black and white magic during the Renaissance were few, as Christianity actually accepted them both.   White magic was called "natural magic," and was "used to access the divine" God through nature.  An example from the New Testament: the "Magi" or magician, used white magic to worship God and/or Christ.  Black magic, on the other hand, also used nature, but the magic included the "invocation of demons."  "This was the magic Dr. Faustus used in Marlowe's great work."  Black magic or witchcraft, "implied the use of supernatural powers for a wicked purpose."  Early in Christian history, "black magic" was "seen as idolatry," and (paganism, or sin...referenced in the Old Testament,)  was acknowledged as much as white magic.  Black magic, an "exercise of evil", was "seen as demonic," however, both  forms of magic..."flourished during this period."  

-Robbie Paduani

last udpated: 8/08