Mephistopheles Flashcards

(5 cards)

1
Q

How is Mephistopheles presented in the play?

A

Mephistopheles serves as Faustus’ demonic right-hand man. He is the embodiment of Faustus’ vices in the morality play who keeps Faustus on the path of sin and away from atonment.

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2
Q

“I am a servant to great Lucifer,
And may not follow thee without his leave”

A

Mephistopheles, Scene 3
AO1: Manipulation of language, epiphet, rhetoric
AO2: Mephistopheles is bound to Lucifer as this is his station in his demonic life (the second person singular pronoun “thee” signifies his devotion as terms such as this signify this)
AO2: Epipeht - Lucifer is identified as the chief devil here; from the early days of Christianity, he was treated as having been the leader
of the Heaven’s rebellious angels, and the name was used synonymously with Satan
AO3: Demons as agents of chaos on Earth (opposing God, preventing people understanding the Gospel, opposing God’s people, attacking the church, tempting people to sin and thwarting the spread of the Gospel.)

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3
Q

“Had I as many souls as there be stars,
I’d give them all for Mephistopheles.”

A

Faustus, Scene 3
AO1: Celestial language, irony, soliloquy
AO2: Faustus’ heavenly description of Mephistopheles displays his blind trust and creates irony as his demonic advisor is a creature from hell and not the angel Faustus believes him to be

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4
Q

“But Faustus, thou must bequeath it solemnly,
And write a deed of gift with thine own blood,
For that security craves great Lucifer.”

A

Mephistopheles, Scene 5
AO1: manipulation of language, symbolism, rhetoric
AO2: The use of a possessive pronoun (“thine”) shows how Faustus’ bargain is personal to him; the blood shows Faustus’ commitment to his 24-year-long devotion to Lucifer
AO2: Mephistopheles uses his rhetoric to manipulate Faustus

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5
Q

“For disobedience to my sovereign lord: Revolt, or I’ll in piece-meal tear thy flesh.”

A

Mephistopheles, Scene 12
AO1: archaic personal pronouns, grotesque language
AO2: Despite his threats against Faustus for his want to repent, Mephistopheles still holds a deep respect for Faustus (homo-eroticism?)
AO2: Despite this close bond this serves as a reminder to the audience Mephistopheles is beyond control from Faustus, as he rules him rather than the other way around
AO3: Homo-eroticism in the Renaissance - a male’s desire for another male was primarily constructed as an adult’s desire for an adolescent, beardless youth.

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