EXTEND – Torn between hesitation and resolution

Read the text and say if the sentences are true or false. Then look at the prompts in brackets and write some extra reflections in your exercise book. You can use the final text as revision material for your test.

Faustus's journey starts with his dissatisfaction with the available knowledge. (Recall the themes of Marlowe's plays as presented in section 3.12 of your textbook.) He has mastered traditional subjects like theology, law, medicine, and philosophy, but finds them lacking. His desire to understand the ultimate truths of the universe leads him to necromancy, a forbidden field of study. This decision shows his defiance of religious authority and his willingness to risk his soul for intellectual enlightenment. (Recall the ideas of the Renaissance as presented in section 3.12 of your textbook.)
However, Faustus's Renaissance ambitions have consequences. The play highlights the Christian belief in sin and redemption, which creates a barrier to Faustus's quest for ultimate knowledge. His deal with Mephistopheles represents the Faustian bargain – exchanging one's soul for worldly power and knowledge. This act puts Faustus in a constant conflict between his Renaissance ideals and the Christian moral framework. (Refer to the angels and their significance.)
Throughout the play, Faustus experiences increasing moments of hesitation and attempts at repentance. These instances highlight the impossibility of escaping the Christian idea of sin and damnation. Despite repeated warnings and opportunities for redemption, Faustus's pride and fear of divine punishment prevent him from fully renouncing his deal with Mephistopheles. (Refer to the ending of the passage.)

Complete the text about the angels that appear to Faustus with the words given.

The Good and Evil Angels in Doctor Faustus not only symbolise the ________ forces of good and evil but also reflect the ________ conflict within Faustus. The Good Angel represents his brief moments of repentance and the hope for ________, while the Evil Angel represents his darker impulses and ________ against divine authority. Faustus's struggle is amplified by Christian theology. Its principles, with their emphasis on a stark choice between salvation and ________, complicate Faustus's psychological journey. The angels, in a sense, represent the battle between his ________ desires for redemption and the darker, more rebellious ________ embodied by Mephistopheles.

Read the passage and select the sentence (A-C) which offers the best summary.

Imagine how Mephistopheles would report back the scene to his Lord, Lucifer. Read the sentences he would pronounce and write the correct numbers (1-7) in the gaps. The first sentence has been done for you.

My Lord, Faustus still hesitates! 1
Soon, my Lord, very soon, his soul will be yours. ________
He speaks of 'repentance,' of some pity from above. ________
The angels appeared, one a serpent of lies, the other, a viper of despair. ________
But fear not, my Lord, the seed of doubt is sown. ________
He clutches at the shadows, clings to the brief pleasures I offer. These are the chains that bind him to this abyss. ________
He contemplates 'heaven,' a pale imitation of the power I grant him. ________