themes

Question 1

religion - critique of institutions

Answer 1

not simply a criticism of religion, but an exploration of the hypocrisy within organised religious institutions, specifically the Church of England.

During the renaissance period, the Roman Catholic Church struggled to maintain a stable and unifying framework, due to increasing support of humanism.

Leading to the questioning of certain practices and doctrine, Marlowe’s ambiguous portrayal of religious constructs, such as predestination and the devil, reflects the anarchy and tensions regarding religious reformations in this era.

Question 2

mephy - criticism of religion - offering path

Answer 2

Faustus is torn between his desire for knowledge and his fear of damnation.

devil offers him an alternative path that allows him to pursue his desires without fear of punishment.

suggests that traditional religious teachings may be overly rigid and dogmatic, and that there may be alternative ways of understanding and experiencing spirituality that are not limited by strict adherence to religious doctrine.

Question 3

mephy - distortion

Answer 3

distortion of the archetypal presentation of the ‘devil’ serves as a criticism of religion in Dr Faustus

blurrs the lines between good and evil, prompting the Elizabethan audience question the traditional morality of religious teachings

Question 4

personal responsibility

Answer 4

suggesting that human beings have the power to choose their own destiny rather than being subject to divine will.

This challenges the concept of predestination, a central tenet of Calvinism, thus acting as a criticism of religion.

angels / mephys warning

Question 5

pope

Answer 5

• mendacious treatment of individuals
• inexorable

callous portrayal of the religious construct perhaps acts a means for Marlowe to condemn the hypocrisy of organised religious institutions, which instead of encompassing virtue, exhibit megalomaniacal attributes as seen in the conflict between the church and the monarchy in the renaissance era