Reading Journal, Act 2, 'Dr Faustus'

Scene 1:

• The good angel and bad angel appear again – symmetry of their appearance; they only appear when Faustus is wavering.
• Their role could be to keep the audience’s moral perspective clear.
• Faustus often begins his scenes alone on stage – emphasis on his loneliness – possible reason for selling his soul to the devil? Later in the play, he tends to enter the scene with Mephistopheles – the devil is his only company.
• ‘O, something soundeth in mine ears’ – Faustus knows he is wavering, proves he has a conscience. Why doesn’t he use it?
• ‘And offer lukewarm blood of new-born babes.’ Imagery of children shows innocence, but in Faustus’s context it shows the corruption of innocence.
• Mephistopheles tells Faustus he must sign the deed with his blood – ‘My blood congeals’. This is a chance for Faustus to escape, but he does not take it – is it desperation, or fascination?
• ‘Here’s fire’ – Mephistopheles gives Faustus his first taste of hell.
• Mephistopheles talks ‘aside’ to the audience. This creates a ‘new’ character; he is plotting and reveals his motives.
• ‘Whither should I fly?’ – this is interesting as Icarus has been mentioned before. We know Faustus wants to achieve the ultimate greatness, yet, if he takes the warning of the blood congealing, he could still achieve something great.
• ‘I think hell’s a fable.’ – reason for signing the contract, almost seems childish and too naïve to come from a scholar.
• Faustus asks for a wife. This could be him testing Mephistopheles – it would be easier to retrieve a woman or a mistress and asking for a wife is more difficult; this could show that Faustus doesn’t quite trust Mephistopheles yet.

Scene 2:

• Another comedic scene – could be Marlowe making a societal comment. Robin and Rafe are both base stock characters as Faustus was, yet they do not share the same characteristics of ambition to become a scholar. Yet, Marlowe could be arguing that being of a higher status doesn’t always bring about good – results in greed, as Faustus shows.
• It could also show the naivety of the whole of mankind. Faustus is well educated, but makes the same mistake as people of the lower class. ‘Low’ and ‘high’ people share the same unity.
• This scene is smutty. Could be foreshadowing the parallels between Faustus and Helen of Troy.
• Robin is similar to Faustus – he also wants pleasures. However, he is ‘brought down a level’.

Scene 3:

• ‘Wicked Mephistopheles’ – contrast to previous times when Faustus refers to him as ‘sweet’. What has changed his mind? Is this another realisation that he then ignores?
• Conscience appears and Faustus could be showing evidence of an epiphany: ‘Faustus thou art damned!’ Still, it is a nihilistic epiphany as Faustus ‘cannot repent’.
• Faustus asks many questions in this speech (page 49, lines 19 – 38). Shows his insecurity.
• The seven deadly sins all appear – makes it real for Faustus. Also highlights Lucifer’s great powers – there really is no way out for Faustus.
• Ends with Faustus referring to Lucifer as ‘great’. Chilling remark as this is the devil that drags people to hell. I still question whether or not Faustus truly understands his fate when he says this.