Mephistophilis in Marlowe’s Faustus Essay examples -- Marlowe Faustus

Mephistophilis in Marlowes FaustusMephistophilis is a striking central example in the fulfil stretchFaustus, written by Christopher Marlowe in the previous(a) sixteenthcentury. His role in this flamboyant yet tragic play is ultimately toaid Faustus downfall from renowned scholar to foolhardy raven ofLucifer. However, Mephistophilis motives are perceptibly ambiguousthroughout Doctor Faustus he manifestly alternates between atypically gleeful chivalrous devil, and a romantically ugly fallenangel.Mephistophilis first appears in Doctor Faustus in the ternion scene,when he is summoned by Faustus experimental necromancy, as taught tohim by Valdes and Cornelius. Faustus becomes intrigued by the touchof employing dark magic to supply him with what he most cravesknowledge. Mephistophilis first appears to Faustus in his true,terrifying form (suggested on the Elizabethan stage by a lowereddragon). This wholly terrifying image is in keeping with the medievalconcept of the devil as a h ellish supernatural creation that encapsulatedhorror. Mephistophilis appearance shocks Faustus to the extent thathe implores him to return in a dissimilar form, this time as an oldFranciscan friar. This embodiment epitomises often of the confusionconcerning the devils point of reference although the costume of a friar isseemingly unpretentious and reassuring (and, for Marlowescontemporaries, a daring anti-catholic joke), in a stage performanceof Doctor Faustus the raised hood and floor-length gown is ominousand chilling. It is this contradictory melange of qualities that makeMephistophilis such an ambiguous character throughout the play. In his first scene, Mephistophilis adopts the deflating and belittlin... ...is is a wonderfullymulti-dimensional character, developed in an intriguing manner thatmakes the devil intensely unpredictable and thrilling. The sharp argumentation between his fiendishly gleeful qualities and the aspects thatsuggest a romantically suffering angel falle n from grace, in myopinion, make the character much more than absorbing. Perhaps Marlowerealised that the most captivating characters could never remainone-dimensional. Although some critics are unhappy with the apparentinconsistencies, I think it is the combination of the gleeful andtormented aspects of the character that make him the centralmasterpiece of Doctor Faustus. Bibliography------------- Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe (edited by John D. Jump)- www.sparknotes.com- Marlowe Doctor Faustus by Philip Brockbank- Marlowe The Overreacher by blight Levin