"Dr. Faustus"

Paper Summary:

Scene Twelve of "Dr. Faustus" is important as it premeditates the death of Faustus in the final scene. The paper shows that the audience might feel great sympathy for his despair and worry, but the contrast of the courageous old man and Faustus' praising of the Devil reminds them of the reasons for his downfall. The paper shows that this scene represents the symbolic hubris, passion and ambition of Faustus which has driven this man away from the virtues of godly worship and the security of his soul, and towards the illicit pleasures of the Faustian pact and the damnation of his soul.

From the Paper:

"The penultimate scene of Dr Faustus is one of the most important in the play as we see Faustus both enjoying his illicit gains and despairing at the forthcoming damnation of his soul. It follows a chorus by Wagner, where he describes the drunken and self-indulgent behavior of Faustus. This demonstrates that Faustus is adhering to the demonic principles by which he has lived, and rejecting the pious Christian existence. At the beginning of scene twelve the reader is left wondering whether the drunken bravado of Faustus is sincere or hollow."

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