ACT 5,1 OLD MAN Flashcards
what is the old man symbolic of?
He serves as a foil to Faustus as he is a representation of F’ last chance at salvation. He is a typical stock character in morality plays which usually helps save the protagonist
what is unusual about this scene?
Faustus decides to resolve his conflict by killing the old man and ignoring his warnings which is atypical of a morality play as the protagonist is usually saved
what is symbolic about Faustus killing the Old Man
Reflects how Faustus has become eternally damned since he has gotten rid of his last chance at salvation
5,1 quotes on the Old man being Faustus’ last chance at hope
guide thy unto the steps of life
break heart, drop blood and mingle it in tears
I see an angel hover o’er thy’s head
5,1 quotes on the Old man’s faith
as in the furnace, God shall test my faith
I shall fly unto my God
his faith is great, I cannot touch his soul
5,1 quote on meph threatening Faustus
revolt, or I’ll in piecemeal tear thy flesh
5,1 opening quotes
who are at the supper with such belly cheer
5,1 quote on how faustus’ corruption
entreat thy lord
torment, my sweet friend, that base and crooked age/ that durst dissuade me from lucifer
with greatest torments our hells afford
5,1 quote on Faustus’ resolve
her lips suck forth my soul
analyse his faith is great, I cannot touch his soul/ I’ll fly unto my God/ as in the furnace God shall try my faith
The old man is presented as a foil to Faustus’ damned and ‘revolting’ and ‘stench’ soul as he is pure and loyal to God. He has a strong religious conviction which contrasts with F’s blasphemy and fickleness
analyse her lips suck forth my soul
Faustus kisses a fake Helen of Troy which shows his foolishness as again he chooses to fulfill his sexual base desires over salvation. This is ironic since he is actually getting damned and his soul is getting sucked to hell- he is indulging in it
analyse entreat thy lord/ torment, sweet friend, that base and crooked age that durst dissuade me from Lucifer
Faustus aligns himself with the demons and Lucifer which highlights his transgression as he no long is doubtful of Hell - contrasts with ‘come, I think Hell is a fable’. He dismisses the old man
which 2,3 quote contrasts with ‘I shall fly unto my god?’
whither I should fly/ unto God he will throw thee down to Hell
analyse revolt or I’ll in piecemeal tear thy flesh
Meph commands Faustus to act against the old man which is contradictory to F’s desire for power
analyse break heart, drop blood and mingle it in tears
The tricolon imperative and use of simplistic language shows how repentance is still possible for Faustus and he is provided with a step by step guide to do so. The blood is symbolic of his potential for salvation
which 2,1 quote relates to break heart, drop blood and mingle it in tears?
my blood congeals - blood is presented as a symbol of warning against sin
analyse who are at supper with such belly cheer
the scene opens with establishing how Faustus has not changed his gluttonous desires and still indulges in them. This may be seen as a blasphemous version of the last supper as Wagner also opens with saying he thinks that Faustus will die soon
What does faustus do in 5,1 which would’ve been shocking to the Jacobean audience?
He is handed a dagger by mephistopheles and threatens to kill himself
AO3 despair
Faustus’ despair would’ve been shocking to the audience since in traditional christianity, suicide was seen as a grave sin and meant that you had a complete loss of faith and hope in God- renaissance theologians believed it was the greatest of all sins.
