Seven Deadly Sins in Dr Faustus

Seven Deadly Sins in Dr Faustus

Dr Faustus is a play by Christopher Marlowe that tells the story of a well-respected German scholar who grows dissatisfied with the limits of traditional forms of knowledge- logic, medicine, law and religion- and decides that he wants to learn the practice of magic. He summons a devil named Mephastophilis and makes a deal with Lucifer, the prince of hell, to exchange his soul for twenty-four years of service from Mephastophilis. He enjoys the power and pleasures that the devil provides him, but he also faces the consequences of his sinful actions.  Dr. Faustus represents the seven deadly sins and how they lead to his downfall.

The seven deadly sins are pride, covetousness, wrath, envy, gluttony, sloth, and lechery. They are considered to be the root of all other sins and vices in Christian theology. They are also personified as characters in a pageant that Lucifer shows to Faustus in order to distract him from repenting. Each sin reflects an aspect of Faustus’s personality and his choices throughout the play.

1. Pride: Pride is the mother of all sins and the most serious one. It is identified as excessive self-esteem, especially when the proud person does not accept his/her proper position in the Great Chain of Being. Lucifer was thrown from Heaven because he would not accept the Son of God being placed at God’s right hand, which he believed to be his own rightful place. Those guilty of pride were destined to be broken on the wheel in Hell. In the play, Faustus is guilty of pride because he believes that he can surpass the limits of human knowledge and challenge God’s authority. He rejects the traditional forms of learning and chooses to practice magic instead. He says “A sound magician is a mighty god” (1.1.63), showing his arrogance and ambition. He also refuses to listen to the warnings of his friends, the Good Angel, and even Mephastophilis himself, who tells him that hell is a terrible place. He thinks that he can outwit the devil and escape his fate.
2. Covetousness: Covetousness is a sin of excess, particularly applied to the acquisition of wealth. Those guilty of covetousness were destined to be put into cauldrons of boiling oil. In the play, Faustus is guilty of covetousness because he is greedy and dissatisfied with what he has. He wants to have more power, fame, and riches than anyone else. He says “I’ll have them fly to India for gold” (1.1.83), showing his lust for money. He also asks Mephastophilis to bring him books of magic, secrets of nature, and treasures from all over the world. He uses his magical abilities to deceive and exploit others, such as the Pope, the Emperor, and a horse-courser.
3. Wrath: Wrath refers to excessive and uncontrolled feelings of anger that can lead to such offences as assault and murder. In Marlowe’s time, the sin of wrath also encompassed anger turned against oneself, leading to self-harm. Those guilty of wrath were destined to be dismembered alive. In the play, Faustus is guilty of wrath because he is violent and cruel towards others and himself. He curses Mephastophilis for tempting him to sell his soul, even though it was his own choice. He says “Accursed be thy gifts” (2.3.19), showing his regret and resentment. He also lashes out at anyone who opposes or annoys him, such as Benvolio, Bruno, and an old man who urges him to repent. He uses his magic to harm them or make them suffer ridicule or humiliation.
4. Envy: Envy is characterised by spite and resentment at seeing the success of another. Those who commit the sin of envy resent the fact that another person has something they see themselves as lacking, and may even gloat if another person loses that something. Those guilty of envy were destined to be put into freezing water. In the play, Faustus is guilty of envy because he is jealous and insecure about his own achievements. He envies God’s power and glory, which he tries to imitate with his magic. He says “All things that move between the quiet poles / Shall be at my command” (1.1.54-55), showing his desire to rival God’s creation. He also envies other scholars who have more fame or respect than him, such as Aristotle or Aquinas.
5. Gluttony: Gluttony is the over-consumption of food and drink to the point of waste. Those guilty of gluttony were destined to be forced to eat rats, toads and snakes. In the play, Faustus is guilty of gluttony because he indulges in sensual pleasures and neglects his spiritual needs. He asks Mephastophilis to bring him wine, women, and music, which he enjoys without moderation or remorse. He says “Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss” (5.1.92), showing his lust for the beautiful Helen of Troy, who is actually a devil in disguise.
6. Sloth: Sloth is idleness, the failure to utilise the talents given to you by God. Those guilty of sloth were destined to be thrown into snake pits. In the play, Faustus is guilty of sloth because he wastes his time and potential on trivial and vain pursuits. He does not use his magic for any noble or useful purpose, but only for entertainment and mischief. He says “I’ll have them read me strange philosophy / And tell the secrets of all foreign kings” (1.1.84-85), showing his curiosity and boredom. He also does not repent or seek God’s forgiveness, even when he has the opportunity to do so.
7. Lechery: Lechery, or lust refers to excessive and unrestrained indulgence in sexual activity. Sexual intercourse was considered to be purely for the purposes of procreation, so any sexual act that was indulged in for enjoyment rather than to produce children was sinful. Those guilty of lechery were destined to be smothered in fire and brimstone (sulphur). Lechery is the only one in the pageant who is obviously female. In Elizabethan times it was thought that the Devil targeted men through women who, like Eve, were ruled by their appetites rather than reason, given to delusional imaginings and far too feeble to resist temptation. In the play, Faustus is guilty of lechery because he is obsessed with sex and beauty. He asks Mephastophilis to bring him a wife, but then changes his mind and says “I’ll have no wife” (2.1.142), showing his fickleness and fear of commitment. He also falls in love with Helen of Troy, who is the epitome of female beauty and temptation.

Conclusion

Therefore, these seven sins are the reflection of Dr Faustus’s personality and his choices throughout the play. He is a self-centered person who only thinks of himself and can do anything to fulfil his desires. He is a person imprisoned in his own passions and he puts his ego above all. He does not heed the advice or warnings of anyone who tries to help him or save him from his doom. He ignores the voice of his conscience and the grace of God. As a result, he suffers the consequences of his actions and loses his soul to the devil. Faustus’s tragic fate warns us of the dangers of overreaching our human limits and succumbing to our temptations.