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Unit 11: Doctor Faustus: Plot Construction Including Detailed Analysis of Sub Plot and Theme

Objectives Notes

After studying this unit, you will be able to:
• Discuss the plot construction in Doctor Faustus;
• Illustrate the detailed analysis of sub plot;
• Examine the various themes used in Doctor Faustus;
• Elaborate the analysis of themes used in Doctor Faustus.

Introduction

Doctor Faustus, a well-respected German scholar, grows dissatisfied with the limits of traditional
forms of knowledge—logic, medicine, law, and religion—and decides that he wants to learn to
practice magic. His friends Valdes and Cornelius instruct him in the black arts, and he begins his
new career as a magician by summoning up Mephastophilis, a devil. Despite Mephastophilis’s
warnings about the horrors of hell, Faustus tells the devil to return to his master, Lucifer, with an
offer of Faustus’s soul in exchange for twenty-four years of service from Mephastophilis. Meanwhile,
Wagner, Faustus’s servant, has picked up some magical ability and uses it to press a clown named
Robin into his service.
Armed with his new powers and attended by Mephastophilis, Faustus begins to travel. He goes to
the pope’s court in Rome, makes himself invisible, and plays a series of tricks. He disrupts the
pope’s banquet by stealing food and boxing the pope’s ears. Following this incident, he travels
through the courts of Europe, with his fame spreading as he goes. Eventually, he is invited to the
court of the German emperor, Charles V (the enemy of the pope), who asks Faustus to allow him to
see Alexander the Great, the famed fourth-century BC Macedonian king and conqueror. Faustus
conjures up an image of Alexander, and Charles is suitably impressed. A knight scoffs at Faustus’s
powers, and Faustus chastises him by making antlers sprout from his head. Furious, the knight
vows revenge. Doctor Faustus is a well-constructed play. The plot constructiion is superb and the
themes used were so well organised that the play seems a real story. This unit elaborates the plot
construction of the play Doctor Faustus at length. Emphasis has also been given on the detailed
analysis of sub-plot and theme.

11.1 Story of Doctor Faustus Play

Doctor Faustus, a talented German scholar at Wittenburg, rails against the limits of human
knowledge. He has learned everything he can learn, or so he thinks, from the conventional academic
disciplines. All of these things have left him unsatisfied, so now he turns to magic. A Good Angel
and an Evil Angel arrive, representing Faustus’ choice between Christian conscience and the path
to damnation. The former advises him to leave off this pursuit of magic, and the latter tempts him.
From two fellow scholars, Valdes and Cornelius, Faustus learns the fundamentals of the black arts.
He thrills at the power he will have, and the great feats he’ll perform. He summons the devil
Mephostophilis. They flesh out the terms of their agreement, with Mephostophilis representing
Lucifer. Faustus will sell his soul, in exchange for twenty-four years of power, with Mephostophilis
as servant to his every whim.

In a comic relief scene, we learn that Faustus’ servant Wagner has gleaned some magic
learning. He uses it to convince Robin the Clown to be his servant.

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