Reading Journal, Act 3, 'Dr Faustus'

Chorus:

• Wagner gives an account of Faustus’s travels to see the world – he tells of a lot of achievement which indicates there has been a jump in time.
• ‘Did mount himself to scale Olympus’ top’ – Faustus is still reaching high, this is where the Gods are so Faustus is given a God-like power.
• ‘Yoky dragons’ necks’ – theme of fire is continued, shows Faustus’s fate drawing ever closer.
• ‘He now is gone to prove cosmography’ – F is using his power to carry on his intellectual enquiry. This is a ‘good’ act and we can admire him for not committing evil with his abilities.
• ‘To see the Pope’ – faith does not like to be challenged by science. Faustus wants to talk about intellectual aspects and wants the opportunity to redeem himself. It could also be a way of him completing Lucifer’s deeds on Earth. 

Scene 1:

• Faustus tells us of the sights he has seen. He is clearly amazed by the world – ‘passed with delight’, ‘are set with groves of fruitful vines’, ‘fair and gorgeous to the eye’. Faustus is not worrying about the deed because of all the joy it is bringing him at this moment in time. 
• Faustus and Mephistopheles discuss how they can be involved with the celebration of ‘holy Peter’s feast’. This is a quick change from only a short time ago when Faustus was amazed by the wonders of the world. Has he seen everything and is now bored? Again, his behaviour resorts back to a childlike state.
• The Pope part of this scene would have been comedic to the audience. However, in reality, being haunted by a ghost and an invisible being is most people’s worst nightmares. Particularly in the Elizabethan era, with much focus on witches, the supernatural played an important role. Marlowe here makes something that would have been terrifying into something funny.
• This is a different side to Faustus that we haven’t seen before.
• ‘How? Bell, book, and candle, candle, book and bell’ – this can be seen as a joke, yet it also sounds similar to a chant due to the rhythm of the words. Parallels with the witches in Macbeth.

Scene 2:

• Another Robin and Rafe scene to parallel the events that Faustus involves himself in.
• These scenes can be seen to be ridiculing, blaspheming and mocking tradition.
• ‘Enter to them Mephistopheles’ – the crossing over, Faustus descent into sin.
• Mephistopheles has been pleasant to Faustus – in this scene we see a different side to him. However, is this the ‘real’ Mephistopheles? This makes Robin and Rafe less comic.
• Robin and Rafe are pleased to be turned into a dog and an ape – helps us to appreciate how deluded Faustus is to be satisfied with being turned into a spirit, (Act 2, scene 1, line 97).