Q: Describe the two soliloquies which actually embody the character of Doctor Faustus.
Soliloquies in Doctor Faustus
A soliloquy is a speech in which a character reveals his or her thoughts and feelings to the audience or the reader of the drama, without being heard by the other characters. A soliloquy is a device that the dramatist uses to convey the secret thoughts and intentions of the character and to create dramatic irony and suspense. In Doctor Faustus, one of the most famous tragic dramas of the Elizabethan period, written by Christopher Marlowe, the first and last soliloquies of Faustus are the most important ones in the entire play. They show us the character of Faustus and his transformation from a proud and ambitious scholar to a fearful and helpless sinner. These two soliloquies have a great impact on the drama.
In the first soliloquy, we see Doctor Faustus, a great scholar, sitting at his study table and examining various fields of learning to achieve knowledge. He considers metaphysics, medicine, law and divinity, but rejects them one by one because they do not satisfy his thirst for power and glory. He finally chooses to study magic and necromancy, which appeal to him greatly. Magic will bring him not only money but also power. Through magic, Faustus can know the secrets of other countries and have whatever he wants. He thinks that magic will make him enjoy the earthly life as God enjoys in heaven. Faustus believes that:
“A sound magician is a mighty god.”
From this soliloquy, we learn that Faustus is a very educated, over-ambitious, confident, proud and greedy person. He does not want knowledge for truth but for power. He compares himself to God and rejects the Bible, which will lead him to a tragic end.
When Faustus starts to read the magic book, Mephistophilis appears, who is a servant of Lucifer. They have a conversation in which Faustus makes a deal with Mephistophilis: he will sell his soul to Lucifer in exchange for 24 years of service from Mephistophilis, who will grant him whatever he asks for. He uses his magical power to summon visions of Paris and Helen, among other things. He enjoys his earthly life and fulfils his desires. But when 24 years pass and his soul is about to be damned forever, we see his mental condition in his last soliloquy.
In the last soliloquy, we see a completely different Faustus. He has only one hour left to live and then his soul will be damned forever. He realises his sins and wants to repent. He begs the planets to stop their movements so that midnight will never come. He begs time to slow down or stop so that he can have more time to repent. He begs the hills and mountains to hide him from Mephistophilis’s sight. He begs for one drop of Christ’s blood that can save his soul. He begs for his soul to be punished for a limited time but not forever. But none of his pleas are answered by anyone, not even by God. He looks for the Bible, which he had rejected earlier. He throws away the magic book. But nothing can erase his sins and Mephistophilis comes to take away his soul to hell forever.
Marlowe shows us the pitiful end of Faustus for his pride and arrogance. He emphasizes the religious view of life by his wonderful expression throughout the play.