Act 3 Scene 1 & 2

Question 1

Where are Faustus and Mephistopheles in this scene?

Answer 1

They are in Rome and this scene is the most transparent criticism of Catholicism as they mock the pope whilst in his chambers

Question 2

What can be inferred through ‘Whose sunmmum bonum is in belly cheer’?

Answer 2

Here is a criticism of the Catholic Church as they are gluttonous and corrupt as they are satisfying their own greedy appetites whilst many others are starving- link to indulgences

Question 3

What can be seen in the stage directions of ‘(Snatching the dish)’ ‘hits him a box of the ear’ and ‘beats the friars and flings fireworks among them’ ?

Answer 3

The use of physical comedy/farcical elements/trickery cheapens his initial ambitions and we witness him decline from a scholar to a clownish figure - wastes magic on the superficial

Question 4

What the timeline for the decline of Catholicism?

Answer 4

1570 - England excommunicated by Pope Pius V
1572 - massacre of French Protestants
1586 - discovery of Babination Plot
1588 - Spanish Armada try and fail to invade England

Question 5

What can be inferred through ‘How, into an ape? That’s brave’, ‘And I must be a dog’ and ‘thy head will never be out of the pottage pot’?

Answer 5

Here, the supernatural is brought into a comedic scene to make Faustus’ fear seem ridiculous - structural parallel. The comedic punishment of Robin and Rafe is used to warn of the dangers of necromancy