Marlowe’s biographers often portray him as a dangerously over–ambitious individual. Explore ways this aspect of Marlowe’s personality is reflected in Dr. Faustus
...this, later in the monologue he even implies that he aims for a discipline that would make him akin to a god, “Couldst thou make men live eternally or, being dead raise them to life again” I this quote, Faustus reveals that he wishes to have the qualities of a god by longing for the ability to control life and death. To an 16th Century audience, this quote would seem offensive and even blasphemous due to the religious nature of the society. Later in the speech, Faustus futher confirms this, “A sound magician is a mighty god.” This suggests that Faustus, having decided upon studying the occult, sees the discipline as the only way to achieve his lofty ambitions of godliness. In scene three of the play, Faustus begins to conjure demons, which leads to him discussing a deal with Mephastophilis, a devil of hell. In doing this, his attitude is nonchalant, “If I had as many souls as there be stars, I’d give them all for Mephastophilis.” This suggests that he is so self-assured that even the appearance of a devil does not phase him. Another possible interpretation is that Faustus somehow doubts the reality of the situation, or the existence of hell. To an Elizabethan audience, the appearance of a devil would have been genuinely unsettling, which makes Faustus’ attitude even more shocking. He continues to pursue the deal with little or no verbal consideration of the consequences. It is this lack of foresight and carelessness that contribute to Faustus’ eventual downfall at the end of the play. In scene five of the play, having already appeared in scene one, the good angel and evil angel reappear as a physical manifestation of the two sides of Faustus’ conscience. While the good angel rightfully urges Faustus to repent his sins and return to God, the evil angel warns him that it is too late to do so, “Too late”, “Never too late, if Faustus can repent.” These are the evil and the good angels respective arguments. Even though the evil angel claims that Faustus cannot repent, Faustus does not even try to do such thus extending the idea that he is too ambitious and resolute in his decision to discontinue his dangerous actions. If Faustus was even considering repenting, his apparent belief in his own invincibility would no doubt have compelled him to do so. In scene six of Dr. Faustus, the audience learn that Robin and Rafe have acquired Faustus’ conjuring books, with veiw to making “all the maidens in our parish dance at my pleasure stark naked.” This implies that the other characters of the play are jealous of Faustus’ ambition and drive, and wish to replicate the success that he has found by conjuring. This can perhaps be seen as a metaphor for Marlowe’s own life, who’s drive and ambition made others envious. This envy that others had of Marlowe was one of the possible motives behind his mysterious murder in London towards the end of the 1500s. Following on from the angels’ warnings in scene 5, the Old Man offers similarly important advice to Faustus, by warning him of the errors he has made, “Ambitious fiends, see how the heavens smiles at your repulse, and laughs your state to scorn. Hence hell, for h...