gothic faustus

To what extent is a Marxist reading of Dr. Faustus fruitful?

PLAN:::::

FOR:
Faustus, just like Marlowe, pushes the established societal social boundaries. From the very beginning in the chorus we learn that Faustus has greatly moved up the social ladder. The reason the Marxism train of thought first came about was because the unsatisfied lower classes wanted more power and freedom. He wants to challenge every societal boundary possible, to the extent of wanting to ‘fill the schools with silk’ – sumptuary laws gave a strict dress code for students. But is this just a greedy lust for power? His early ambition does end up in tatters. And maybe it is Faustus’s rebellious nature – he challenges everything, even Mephistopheles.


The idea of exploration is interesting. Faustus goes travelling, exploring new interesting parts of Europe. Marlowe, through this scene, could be suggesting that this scale of exploration is possible. There is a whole new world of freedom and opportunity unexplored, seemingly open to all. Zeitgeist – representative of the time. Autobiographical reading could be more relevant: Marlowe saw the ships where he lived in the docklands.

Challenging of theology is the key idea. Dr. Faustus lived in a society rooted in medieval theology, a system of ideas that are unchangeable by human hand. Faustus strives to challenge the arbitrary power of God, so becomes an ‘allegory of the historical class dialectic of slave against master. Links to: the representation of social class, choice and its illusory nature. Was F ever able to change this system, no matter how hard he tried? ‘Although we like to think we live in a world full of choices, this idea of choice is an illusion – the choices we have are much more limited than we think. Faustus should not have tried to change the system.

We could apply a Marxist reading to the play in an entirely different way: Marlowe is the capitalists, who greedily wants much more than others.
AGAINST:

Perhaps the play goes against Marxism. Marlowe is using Faustus to show why there should be societal boundaries, as Faustus uses his power to greedy, excessive heights. The fact that he ends up dead is far from insignificant. But his death shows how he and others are locked into human boundaries, ruled by the arbitrary power that is God.

Could another reading better suit the play? Faustus is Marlowe’s vessel for expressing his own thoughts and feelings, and Doctor Faustus is simply an autobiographical account. The play is supposed to be viewed simply as an entertaining tragedy.








1. Intro. What is Doctor Faustus, and how could it be viewed as a Marxist play? Faustus strives to gain power that he is told he should not have, and Marlowe questions: is this wrong? Because of the strong religious mainstream views at the end of the 16th century, Marlowe would have been much more criticised than he was if Faustus had not been dragged to hell. Could the play have had a different ending if Marlowe was allowed to freely express his views?
2. Faustus, just like Marlowe, pushes the established societal social boundaries. From the very beginning in the chorus we learn that Faustus has greatly moved up the social ladder. The reason the Marxism train of thought first came about was because the unsatisfied lower classes wanted more power and freedom. He wants to challenge every societal boundary possible, to the extent of wanting to ‘fill the schools with silk’ – sumptuary laws gave a strict dress code for students.
3. But is this just a greedy lust for power? His early ambition does end up in tatters. And maybe it is Faustus’s rebellious nature – he challenges everything, even Mephistopheles.
4. The idea of exploration is interesting. Faustus goes travelling, exploring new interesting parts of Europe. Marlowe, through this scene, could be suggesting that this scale of exploration is possible. There is a whole new world of freedom and opportunity unexplored, seemingly open to all. Zeitgeist – representative of the time.
5. Autobiographical reading could be more relevant: Marlowe saw the ships where he lived in the docklands. Could another reading better suit the play? Faustus is Marlowe’s vessel for expressing his own thoughts and feelings, and Doctor Faustus is simply an autobiographical account. The play is supposed to be viewed simply as an entertaining tragedy.
6. However, it is evident that Faustus’ challenging of theology is the key idea. Dr. Faustus lived in a society rooted in medieval theology, a system of ideas that are unchangeable by human hand. Faustus strives to challenge the arbitrary power of God, so becomes an ‘allegory of the historical class dialectic of slave against master. Links to: the representation of social class, choice and its illusory nature. Was F ever able to change this system, no matter how hard he tried? ‘Although we like to think we live in a world full of choices, this idea of choice is an illusion – the choices we have are much more limited than we think.
7. Faustus should not have tried to change the system. Perhaps the play goes against Marxism. Marlowe is using Faustus to show why there should be societal boundaries, as Faustus uses his power to greedy, excessive heights. The fact that he ends up dead is far from insignificant.
8. Conclusion: But his death shows how he and others are locked into human boundaries, ruled by the arbitrary power that is God.
9. Extra paragraph: We could apply a Marxist reading to the play in an entirely different way: Marlowe is the capitolists, who greedily wants much more than others.