Task Two - Doctor Faustus: Prologue Task

Doctor Faustus: The A Text

The Chorus used by Marlowe in Doctor Faustus helps to introduce the audience to Greek style theatre, in which the Chorus traditionally comments on the action in the play. The importance of the dialogue spoken by the Chorus is expressed through Marlowe's use of Iambic Pentametre which forms a stressed powerful beat as they reveal that Faustus's excessive pride will ultimately lead to his downfall. Marlowe uses the device of an old Greek myth to descibe how Faustus' aims to reach above human limitations (like Icarus's waxen wings) and 'mount above his reach' (line 21) will mean he will suffer the consequences for it. 

   The prologue also describes that his story is worthy enough to be told even thought he is no saint or king and his parents are 'base of stock' (of a low social class). The Chorus explains that Marlowe will tell a story that is different from other plays told at that time which normally center on a character of great importance and have an uplifting end that conveys the idea of salvation even if one repents on their deathbed. Instead, Marlowe raises the question 'is it too late?' Doctor Faustus is described as 'falling to a devilish exercise' and 'surfeits' on learning about black magic whilst also being 'cunning of self-conceit[ed]' meaning that he gains intellectual pride through his arrogance. These desciptions of Doctor Faustus seem to suggest that the Prologue Chorus disapproves of Faustus's activities and philosophies, an idea that would have been shared by the majority of society at the time. Doctor Faustus is described as a Gothic play because of the elements of dark magic and religion which would have created uncertainty and despair in the Elizabethan period in which 'a deviation from orthodox belief was enough to brand a person an atheist' (page 135 of New Longman Literature's Doctor Faustus: The A Text ). Fatal flaws are key features of both Greek plays (such as Oedipus) and medieval morality plays, whilst Faustus's downfall is a cause of his excessive pride and arrogance.