Doctor Faustus: Study Questions Flashcards
Q: What is the function of the prologue?
A: The prologue serves as an exposition, outlining Faustus’ background and foreshadowing his tragic downfall. It frames his story as a warning, emphasizing his intellectual ambition and hubris, aligning him with classical tragic heroes rather than nobility.
Q: What does Faustus bargain for, and what does he actually receive in exchange for his soul?
A: Faustus bargains for unlimited knowledge, power, and pleasure through a pact with Lucifer. In reality, he receives trivial magical tricks, fleeting entertainment, and servitude to Mephistopheles, never achieving true power or enlightenment.
Q: What is the nature of his despair?
A: Faustus’ despair is rooted in his belief that he is beyond redemption. He oscillates between repentance and resignation but ultimately cannot accept divine mercy, leading to his tragic damnation.
Q: Can Faustus be considered an ‘Everyman,’ or is his character individualized?
A: Faustus has elements of the Everyman figure, representing human ambition and spiritual struggle, but he is also individualized through his intellectual arrogance, personal desires, and tragic flaws, making him a distinct Renaissance figure.
Q: How does the comic subplot interact with the main plot?
A: The comic subplot, featuring characters like Wagner and the Clown, parallels Faustus’ story in a farcical way, highlighting his folly and reinforcing the theme of wasted potential through lesser figures mimicking his deal with the devil.
Q: What is the function of the soliloquies?
A: Faustus’ soliloquies reveal his inner conflict, ambition, fear, and ultimate despair. They provide insight into his tragic arc, illustrating his intellectual pride, moments of doubt, and final realization of his doomed fate.
