The tragical history of Doctor Faustus Essay -- English Literature

The tragical history of Doctor Faustus, which followed in the wake of Tamburlaine, is acclaimed by all as Marlowes best lam in which the leaven of fatty poetry and fearless imagination works wonders.IntroductionThe tragical history of Doctor Faustus, which followed in the wakeof Tamburlaine, is acclaimed by all as Marlowes best play in whichthe leaven of fertile poetry and fearless imagination works wonders.The idea of a passionate struggle to reach beyond the grasp ofordinary mortals as its theme Marlowe takes this old story of themedieval magician who sells his soul to the Devil for twenty fouryears of pleasure and the gift of all knowledge and gives it asignificance as in to that of such world old myths as Eves eating theapple and Prometheus defiance of Gods. Hence, making the Faustuslegend a symbol of humanitys polished struggle to reach the stars, aswell as a tragedy of infinite aspiration ending in agony and remorse.Inspite of the critics and scholars being one in their opin ion torecognize Christopher Marlowes Doctor Faustus as one of themasterpieces of British drama there cannot be any denying the incidentthat the most glaring weakness of Doctor Faustus lies in the deficiency ofa well knit or an organic plot.Aristotles definition of TragedyAccording to Aristotle Tragedy in the real sense is an imitation ofan action that is complete, and whole, and of a original magnitude Thebeginning, called by modern critics the incentive moment, must startthe cause-and-effect chain but not be dependent on anything outsidethe compass of the play meaning that its causes are downplayed but itseffects are stressed. The middle, or climax, must be caused by earlierincid... ...d are laid bare.ConclusionHence the fact remains that Doctor Faustus is unquestionably amasterpiece by Christopher Marlowe and one of the greatest and themost powerful tragedy to be written before Shakespeare inspite of itsflaws and limitations. But at the same time it is also clear thatthough th e beginning of the play just like the end has been perfectlyexecuted but the middle great deal is weak and does not serve itspurpose. As Levin puts it The structural weakness of the plothowever corresponds to the anti-climax of the parable it lays barethe gaps between the bright hopes of the initial scene and the unmeasuredconsequences of the last. Therefore, the statement that DoctorFaustus has a beginning and an end but no middle can be accepted tosome extent as the middle portion though existing is not relevant tothe development of the play.