In the literary canon, Marlowe's Dr Faustus is a pre-Gothic text. What aspects of the play do you consider to be relevant to the study of The Gothic? What dramatic impact would these features impart in performance?
Although 'Doctor Faustus' is a pre-Gothic text, it still embodies all of the features normally found in texts written when the Gothic became a popular form of literature. Marlowe uses Gothic features such as the supernatural which would evoke feelings of terror in the audience, especially for an audience in the sixteenth century. This is because we can relate to the ideas of sin and the devil in disguise, reflected by the metaphor of Mephistopheles in Jesus's crown of thorns, as there is temptation all around us. Therefore, the dramatic impact of these contrasting ideas on stage would be reinforced by the visual metaphor.
'Doctor Faustus' also includes the idea of excess and the seven deadly sins which is dramatic because of the way that the protagonist inevitably reaches a downward spiral. Themes of excess (greed, knowledge and intelligence, pride) and the seven deadly sins helps to create sympathy for Faustus as we can see his downward spiral to eternal damnation, providing a message through the form of a medieval morality play. The seven deadly sins are relatable as it is in our nature to sometimes feel tempted by 'external trash' (Pg 35 -Act 1, Scene 1). The idea of moral messages are also clear through the concepts of soul versus matter. The importance of the soul contrasts Faustus' physical self and highlights the dangers of Faustus' lack of respect towards his soul. Faustus, therefore, has no chance of being saved if he has no respect for the soul - the most important part of oneself - as he says, 'Had I as many souls as there be stars/I'd give them all for Mephistopheles' (Act 1, Scene 4). Thus, it creates dramatic tension because his end is inevitable.
Lechery and sexual desires are also very Gothic features in 'Doctor Faustus'. Faustus' attitude changes evidently in the play as after he sells his soul to Lucifer he becomes lecherous. He talks about Helen of Troy in Act 5 Scene 1 as an sexual object when he makes reference to the romance between Helen of Troy and Paris: 'I will be Paris... and then return to Helen for a kiss'. Faustus' speech (on pg 103 - Act 5, Scene 1) makes it even more dramatic for the audience as his transformation is apparent; whereas before he was not portrayed as a lecherous character, he is now engrossed with Helen. Faustus is firstly shown to resist women's tempting (e.g, the flirtatious gestures and comments that he recieves from the pregnant duchess) however here he does not.
Religion is a central theme thoughout 'Faustus' and we can see many of Marlowe's religious ideas through the way in which he portrays, and talks about, certain characters - for example, the Pope. The ideas of despair and God's inability to save you if you repent too late, (like Faustus did), are very Gothic concepts because it reinforces the idea of hell. This creates a dramatic impact in performance because it challenges the idea of salvation and puts forward controversial concepts about eternal damnation, for example, Faustus repents at the end when he exclaims, 'I'll burn my books!' at the end of Act 5 however as he has despaired so must he is now 'damned perpetually' (Act 5, Scene 2 - pg 109). This challenges the ideas that would have been accepted in the sixteenth century and creates tension because Faustus is not on his way to being saved like that which normally happens in a medieval morality play.
Horror is an emotion that is evoked through the use of flesh, gore and blood in Gothic texts. Similarly in Doctor Faustus, blood is used to create horror and symbolises the destruction of the physical self. When the allegorical character (the Old Man) is torn apart by Lucifer's devils, the play reaches a dramatic climax because this is the point at which we really see Faustus as a destructive and spiteful character. This reflects the comic scene earlier when Faustus' leg was torn off.
