Product Description

This edition is based on the earlier version of this hugely successful Renaissance tragedy, the A-text published in 1604 which, it is generally agreed, preserves much of Marlowe's original version. In addition, it separately includes the scenes that were adapted or added in the B-text of 1616. Marlowe joined the form of the late medieval morality play to the historical material found in the German tale of Johann Faust, who sells his soul to the devil in return of infinite power and knowledge. Ironically undercutting the aspirations of Renaissance Man, the play presents a devil who fails to impress the sinner with the realities of hell - 'I think hell's a fable,' Faustus shrugs - and calls into question the medium of theatre, which time and again serves the devil to distract Faustus when the pious promptings of his heart threaten to lead him to repentance.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54683 in Books
• Published on: 2003-05-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

Customer Reviews

Great Play - Terrible Edition
Do not be fooled by my rating, this is a fine play with one of the most important characters in literature.

HOWEVER.

This edition is poor. If you are student you will find this text will quickly fall to pieces. Go for a different publisher.

Sweet analytics, 'tis thou hast ravished me!
This play is possibly the best example of Elizabethan theatre. Its soliloquies are passionate and eloquent, and have a beauty and poetry to them that I feel surpasses even Shakespeare. The themes of the play are so much more interesting than usual themes, many of which are overly concerned with love - here Marlowe recognises the depravity of man's base nature and shows it to great theatrical effect. Strangely, considering the dislikeable nature of the protagonist and the vile deeds he commits, we are still sympathising with him when he meets his grisly end. This brings us back to the idea of forgiveness for all sins, and whether that does actually apply. Can any sin committed on earth be worthy of such eternal punishment? This play makes us question our ideas about God, about religion, about sin, about the afterlife, and about the effects of our own actions. It is a shocking and thought-provoking play which I can honestly say was a pleasure to study - and anyone who knows me will attest to my hatred of English Literature!
Read it - it will change your life.

A farcical drama but no tragedy
This drama never reaches the level of a tragedy. Faust only signs his pact with the devil to know evanescent pleasures and aimless pointless powers. He becomes a trickster who builds a horse with straw and gets fun from mocking the Pope and supporting the German Emperor Charles V against him. He gets a glimpse of Helen, the object of the Trojan war, but about nothing else, except grapes in december and wine from anywhere. Faust is the dupe of the deal because he gets nothing serious, not even real love, from this devil who in the end gets averything : the soul, the body, the flesh, the blood, the brain, and he can even tear every limb off the body of the foolish doctor. We could think it is a tale that supports the puritan fundamentalist vision of God and the devil, yet he laughs at the Pope, systematically creates havoc in Wittenberg, Luther’s homeland, and he ridicules anything sacred in the world. Is Marlowe an iconoclast, or is he the precursor of Shakespeare who deals with these spirits as if they were dreams, nothing serious, just entertaining friendly beings, or even Purcell who reduces these witches to fairies who help humans in their matrimony ? Marlowe was a child in a way and he embodies both the total lack of respect of teenagers for anything adult, and the fears of children in front of the bad dark boogeyman in the cupboard or under the bed. This play has aged tremendously.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU