Doctor Faustus (A) context essay - Influence of Renaissance Humanism
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Course
Unit 1 - Drama
Institution
PEARSON (PEARSON)
Essay question: How do you see the influence of Renaissance Humanist ideas on the Prologue and first soliloquy of Doctor Faustus?
Based on Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe.
Mark received - 19/25
How do you see the influence of Renaissance Humanist ideas on the Prologue and first soliloquy of
Doctor Faustus?
The Renaissance was an age of new discoveries but also an age of relearning of classical antiquity. Thus,
the revival of Greek and Roman mythology took place. Within this, humanism was the major intellectual
movement. Renaissance Humanism was quite prominent therefore, and to create something without
the influence of this movement was impossible. All elements of Renaissance Humanism can be seen in
the very beginning of the play, ‘Doctor Faustus’. Additionally, there are multiple references to Greek and
Roman mythology as they were considered vessels of exploration to delve into the ideas introduced or
revived by Renaissance Humanism.
Firstly, the first section of the prologue states what this story is not – forcing the audience to appreciate
the play not for its lavish basis but for the beauty and art it contains on its own – an extremely humanist
ideal. “Not marching in the fields of Trasimene…nor sporting in the dalliance of love…nor in the pomp of
proud audacious deeds,” is this tale. The entire play begins with the repetition of ‘not’ and ‘nor’ –
Marlowe chooses to declare right away exactly what this play is not. The play is not a story of great wars
and battles, nor of terrific love or excellent deeds. This story is of an ordinary man with excelling
ambition. This may seem as if Marlowe is doing a disservice to his own work by stating what this story is
not – as his audience would then inevitably compare ‘Doctor Faustus’ to these tales he refers to.
However, Marlowe does not do this as a basis for comparison but to inform his audience that despite
this not being a story of particularly grandiose foundation – it is still worthwhile. Additionally, the
mythology referenced in these lines serve to place the play in the same regard as classical mythology,
which was highly appreciated during the Renaissance. As classical mythology was also a vessel to explore
and appreciate art for its own sake during this period, Marlow is also asking his audience to appreciate
this story for its own beauty and artistry. Yet, with the repetition of ‘not’ and ‘nor’, Marlowe is
simultaneously rejecting the idea that classical mythology is the ideal for captivating and worthy
storytelling – and stating that his play about an ordinary man with great ambition is a worthwhile story
because of the artistry it contains.
Similarly, the prologue states that this play will simply be a story of an ordinary man and the choices he
makes because of his terrific ambition – displaying the influence of the rise of individualism and
appreciation for the common man. “…Intends our muse to vaunt his heavenly verse: only this, gentles –
we must now perform the form of Faustus’ fortunes, good or bad,” continues the prologue. This states
that while ‘Doctor Faustus’ is a story of an ordinary man, his monumental ambition and the choices he
makes as a human being propels this story into a ‘heavenly’ state. Marlowe calls himself a muse like
those of classical mythology – pushing the idea that even a story about a common man can be one that
is worth telling due to man’s aspirations and free will. The line also says that Faustus’ fortunes may be
good or bad – the open choice highlighting the flaws of the rise of individualism as one has the power
over who they choose to be and the lives they choose to lead – which can result in their downfall.
Hence, Faustus’ desire for knowledge and his choice to pursue this thirst over his duty as a good
Christian is evidence of the exacerbated humanist focus on secular human values and not exclusively
religious values. The prologue states, “Nothing so sweet as magic is to him, which he prefers before his
chiefest bliss.” Nothing is more important to Faustus other than the art of necromancy and what it could
give him. Not even his ‘chiefest bliss’ is more important – which to an Elizabethan audience would have
been being granted eternity and happiness in heaven by being a faithful Christian. Faustus holds his
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