The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus (Faust) (Yourbooks) (Doctor Faustus)

by Christopher Marlowe

Frederick S Boas (Editor)

The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus (1604), a play by Christopher Marlowe, is based on the medieval legend of a German scholar and magician. Faustus sells his soul to the devil for knowledge and power. The deal with Lucifer is sealed in Faustus' own blood. Faustus, of course, lives a damned life and cries out to Christ for salvation.

• ISBN10: 0877521905
• ISBN13: 9780877521907
• Publish Date: 1 December 1966
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Out of Print: 2 October 2008
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Riverrun Press (New York, NY)
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 221
• Language: English

Reviews

[Rinn]

I found this a little dull to start with, due to the way it's written (why does that make me feel bad?). But it picked up when Faustus finally signed the contract. It was actually pretty funny!

Here are just some of Faustus' hijinks...

- Faustus often talks about himself in third person, so I was just imagining him as some sort of crazy doctor
- he doesn't seem to completely realise what he's getting himself into when he signs the contract
- one of the first things he does is ask Mephistophilis for a wife. He is presented with a demon in a dress
- he sees an opportunity to punch the Pope in the face, and takes it. He's going to Hell anyway, so why not?
- he also steals food and wine from the Pope's plate
- he insults a knight by suggesting his wife is committing adultery (makes him wear horns upon his head -> cuckolding)