2:3, 3:1 Faustus Quotes' Analysis

Question 1

curse thee, wicked Mephistopheles

Answer 1

not proper repentance as Faustus refuses to take responsibility for his actions, parallels his arrogance

Question 2

my heart’s so hardened I cannot repent

Answer 2

metaphor emphasised by declarative language, he is resolved

Question 3

had not sweet pleasure conquered deep despair

Answer 3

semantic field of gluttony that shows how unholy Faustus is as it outweighs the prospect of suicide

Question 4

sing to me of Alexander’s love and Oenone’s death

Answer 4

misinterpretation of the tragedy presents Faustus as foolish

Question 5

homer sing to me: context?

Answer 5

classical allusions reference Marlowe’s exposure to different ideas and the Renaissance movement

Question 6

basely despair

Answer 6

Faustus sees despair/ repentance as trivial, beneath him

Question 7

tell me who made the world… i will not

Answer 7

Mephistopheles will not speak of God as it defies Lucifer, purposefully not giving him answers as he is duplicitous

Question 8

if thou repent, devils shall tear thee in pieces

Answer 8

threat of physical violence shows how Faustus is motivated by fear atp, presents him as lacking faith as a Christian would not care as their eternal souls would be saved

Question 9

Christ, my Saviour, seek to save distressed Faustus’ soul… enter Lucifer

Answer 9

can be interpreted as God abandoning him or testing his strength of repentance as Faustus is manipulated by the entrances and exits of characters

Question 10

that sight will be as pleasing to me as paradise was to Adam

Answer 10

simile/ biblical allusion, shows Faustus believes in God and that he recognises the creation story as true, yet it is subverted as he is describing the display of the 7 deadly sins, shows how twisted he is

Question 11

this feeds my soul

Answer 11

motif of gluttony, ironic as he has given his soul away to Lucifer, shows he is foolish, corruption

Question 12

(taking the book) Great thanks, mighty Lucifer

Answer 12

contrasts earlier on in the play of Faustus looking through the Bible as guidance, Faustus’ inner conflict represented through a symbol of curiosity

Question 13

this I will keep as chary as my life

Answer 13

ironic as he has sold away his life

Question 14

mighty Lucifer

Answer 14

forgotten about Christ

Question 15

whose summum bonum is in belly cheer

Answer 15

criticising the Catholic church, implied indulgence of base desires, hypocrisy and seen as corrupt

Question 16

what is the significance of Robin and Rafe’s comedic punishment?

Answer 16

reduces the impact of black magic, though still warns of the dangers of experimenting with necromancy