Mephistopheles

Mephistopheles is a demon which derives from German folklore. The first appearance of Mephistopheles was as a Demon in the Faust legend, and has also been shown as the sterotypical Devil. He has been portrayed in a variety of different ways, whether it be in human form, a painting, a drawing or a modern cartoon...

This is one of my favourite images of Mephistopheles as I like the modern adaptation of it. The fire in the background could represent hell, and Mephistopheles is rising from it, in a stance almost as if he has a burning desire to attack. His clenched fists and large hands represent his strength and how he isn't afraid of anything. He looks very forceful here, almost as if he is breaking free from the chains that he is bound in. His piercing eyes create a sense of evil and destruction, and make the person looking at the picture feel victim to his power. The use of the colour red could show the adrenaline, energy and determination that Mephistopheles has within him. Another connotation of red is leadership, and Mephistopheles is the leader of hell, building up his very own empire.

The Life Of Christopher Marlowe

The ten key events in Christopher Marlowe's life are:

1. His baptism- 26th February 1564. This is reflection of his religion, which was considered very important at the time.
2. 1584- At the age of 20, he was awarded a scholarship at Cambridge and gained a BA. This could have been reflected in the prologue of 'Dr Faustus' "The fruitful plot of scholarism grac'd,
   That shortly he was grac'd with doctor's name."
3. 1587- Saw Christopher change from medicine to literary work, where he moved to the Royal Court Circle. He spent time here gaining inspiration from Sir Walter Raleigh and Lord Admiral's Company of Players. He also wrote 'Tamburlaine the Great' in this year.
4. 1588- 'Dr Faustus' was written.
5. 1589- His writing was well underway with the publishing of the 'Famous Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta'. During this year, Marlowe was accused and charged with murder, though he was later declared not guilty.
6. 1590- 'Edward the Second' written, as well as his most famous work 'The Passionate Shepherd to His Love', which was said to be follwed up by a poem by Sir Raleigh, titled 'The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd'
7. 1592- 'Hero and Leander' written
8. Early 1593-'Massacre at Paris' was acted on stage.
9. Early May 1953- Thomas Kyd arrested due to implying Marlowe was an Atheist and heretic. Warrant for Marlowe's arrest after being accused of heresy.
10. Late May 1953- Marlowe was said to have passed away on the 30th May, reportedly after arguing with friends he was stabbed in the eye which caused his death.

Faustus Prologue

The prologue tells us how Faustus was born into a poor, working class family, and was his “parents base of stock”. This could be interpreted that he acted as the building blocks, his parent’s only hope of accessing the money they needed in order to survive. He later went on to Whittenberg, where his intelligence gained him a “scholarism” and he was “shortly graced with a doctor’s name”. This is significant as it reflects his intellectual abilities. He “excelled all”, and it takes many years to acquire a doctorate qualification, which could show that Faustus has some sort of ‘power’ or ‘supernatural’ talent which allows him success. This could link to him being “cunning of a self-conceit” showing his vast amount of knowledge yet his arrogance towards others and the world, his big-headed and cocky personality. He is described as having “waxen wings”, which links to Greek mythology, the tale of Icarus and his overreaching ambition which lead him into his death, “melting” from the heat of the sun. Could this be foreshadowing Faustus’s life? If he “surfeits upon cursed necromancy” and believes that “nothing” is “so sweet as magic to him”, could he be entering a dangerous and risky world of magic? Could this “cheifest bliss” be joy in hell rather than heaven...



'Doctor Faustus', Source: anitasullivan.co.uk