DR FAUSTUS AS A MORALITY PLAY
English Drama in the beginning had three forms: Mystery, Miracle and Morality. The morality play is really a fusion of allegory and the religious drama of the miracle plays which presents the miracles of saints and the subjects taken from the Bible. It flourished in the middle ages and reappeared in Eliz Elizab abet etha han n dra drama. ma. In this this pla play the char chara acter ters were were personified abstractions of vice or virtues such as Good deeds, Faith, Mercy, Anger, Truth, Pride etc. The general theme of the moralities was theological and the main one was the struggle between the good and evil powers. The tried to capture man’s soul and good always won. The story of whole morality play centred round the single towering figu figure re.. The The seve seven n dead deadly ly sins sins were were foun found d enga engage ged d in physical and verbal battle with cardinal virtues. The antics of vices and devils etc offered a considerable opportunity for low comedy or buffoonery. The morality play often ended with a solemn moral. In the the ligh lightt of thes these e poin points ts we may may call call Marl Marlow owe’ e’s s “Dr. “Dr. Faustus” a belated morality play in spite of its tragic ending. It has been mentioned that in morality plays the characters were ere pers perso onifi ified abstractions of vice or virtu rtues. es. In “Dr.Faustus” also we find the Good and Evil angels, the former stand for the path of virtue and the latter for sin and damnation, one for conscience and the other for desires. Then we have the old man appearing, telling Faustus that he is there “To guide’ thy steps unto the way of life”. He symbolizes the forces of righteousness and morality. The
seven deadly sins are also there in a grand spectacle to cheer cheer up the the desp despair airin ing g soul soul of Faus Faustu tus. s. If the, the, gener general al theme of morality plays was theological dealing with the struggle of forces of good and evil for man’s soul, then “Dr. Faustus” may be called a religious or morality play to a very great extent. We find Marlowe’s hero, Faustus, abjuring the scriptures, the Trinity and Christ. He surrenders his soul to the Devil out of his h is inordinate ambition to gain: ‘Dr. Faustus’ is a first successful Romantic tragedy. It is, in fact fact,, a brid bridge ge betw betwee een n the the Mora Moralility ty play play and and Roma Romant ntic ic tragedy. Before Marlowe, the Morality drama was in vogue. It had personifications of abstract ideas like the Knowledge, the Ignorance, the Love, the Hatred, the Good, the Evil, the Cruelty, the Kindness, etc. These abstractions were seen in conflict with each other. The Morality drama also involved angels, demons and devils. Since it instilled some moral lesson, it had also comic scenes to save the spectators from bore boredo dom. m. The The indu induct ctio ion n of comi comic c sc scen enes es made made its its plot plot loose. In the end, the Evil was defeated and the Good was exalted. ‘Dr. Faustus’ is the first successful Romantic tragedy but it has many elements of the Morality drama. First of all, the theme of the play is built around a moral idea that pride has a fall. It presents the doom of a great scholar, Dr. Faustus, who is puffed up with his pride and tries to soar higher with his waxe waxen n wings wings.. His inord inordin inat ate e ambi ambiti tion ons, s, immo immode dera rate te desires and unabated lust for more and more power and pelf fell him into the pit of devilish exercise. He rejects all the conv conven enti tion onal al bran branch ches es of know knowle ledg dge e becau because se he is not not satisfied being a man. He wants to become as powerful as,
Jove is in the sky Lord and commander of these elements. He lear learns ns necr necrom oman ancy cy and and is doom doomed ed.. His His damn damnat atio ion n asserts the Christian belief, Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. Faustus, being a witch, is excluded from the Seat of God. His His fall fall exto extort rts s the wise wise that that they hey shou shoulld not not prac practi tic ce forbidden arts. They should not transgress the law of God and sell their soul to devil. Besides the theme, ‘Dr. Faustus’ has also technical aspects of the Morality play. It has devils. Dr. Faustus conjures up Mephistophilis. He makes an agreement with the Devil and sells his soul for the pleasure and profit of 24 years. Lucifer and Beelzebub also make their presence in the play. Dr. Faustus performs wonderful feats with the help of Mephistophilis. The play has also the Good Angel and the Evil Angel who keep on coming at times for their respective purposes. The Good Angel advises Faustus to lay aside that damn book otherwise he will be punished by God. He should study the Bible and follow divinity. The Evil Angel tempts him to learn magic because it contains all treasures of nature. He can get power and pelf which he longs for. When Faustus asks Mephistophilis who made the universe, the devil does not answer him. Then the Good Angel appears and tells him that God has made the universe. The Angel encourages e ncourages him to utter the name of God and seek His forgiveness. The Evil Angel threatens threatens him him of dire conseq consequence uences s if he names names God. God. But the Good Angel assures him that the devil can’t touch
him. him. In the end end the the epis episod ode e of the the old old man man bea bears out out Morality elements. The old man tells Faustus that still he has time to repent and save his soul. He tells him about an angel ngel who who is hov hoverin ering g on his his head, ead, rea ready to pour pour the the blessing of God on his head. It means he still has a chance to avoid the clutches of the Devil. However, Faustus wastes the opportunity and tries to seek refuge in the embracing of Helen and says, Come Helen; make me immortal with a kiss. The The appea appeara ranc nce e of Hele Helen n of Troy, Troy, Alexa Alexand nder er and and othe other r ancient persons is also a Morality touch. ‘Dr. Faustus’ has also personifications. Dr. Faustus is the personification of pride and arrogance. He is vain of his intellect and wit. He thinks that he is made for something spec specia ial. l. He does does not not want want to learn learn comm common on disc discipl iplin ines es because, Both law and physic are for petty wits. He is a divine scholar but he thinks that it is only a superficial knowledge. It can’t win him wealth, power and status. He believes. A sound magician is a mighty god. He wants to enjoy the world of power, pleasure and delight which is promised to a studious artisan. He wants to have command over all the things which move between poles. For this purpose, he in ready to incur God’s wrath because he thinks that the ‘hell ‘ hell is a fable f able and mere old wives’ tale’. He abjures abjures Christianit Christianity y bidding bidding it adieu. adieu. In the play, play, seven dead deadly ly sins sins are are also also perso personi nifi fied ed in their their prope properr shap shapes es..
Lucifer Lucifer makes makes Faustu Faustus s see Pride, Pride, Wrath, Wrath, Coveto Covetousn usness ess,, Envy, Gluttony, Sloth and Lechery. These sins appear in human form and dialogue with Dr. Faustus. The play has also comic scenes. It is also a legacy of Morality play. These scenes seem to be crude but they pave the way for mighty Shakespeare to employ them in better form. In this way, ‘Dr. Faustus’ is a landmark in English dramatic history. To sum up, Dr Faustus is not a altogether a morality drama, it is a Romantic tragedy. Its hero is a man of flesh and blood. He wants to enjoy a rich life and power and pelf, adventure and beauty. He wants to have the fairest maid of Ger Germany as his his wife; ife; he crav raves for more and more knowledge. In fact, he is more than a mere personification. He seems to be a Renaissance man with all zeal and zest of the age.
