Question- Explain with reference to the context any four of the following passages.

Answer -

1.

"Not marching now in fields of Thrasimene
Where mars did mate the carthaginians;
Nor sporting in the dalliance of love;
In courts of Kings where state in ov'r turned
Nor in the pomp of provd audacious deeds,
Intends our muse to vaunt his heavenly verse:"    (Act I)

Reference.: These are the opening lines from the famous tragedy 'Doctor Fautus' composed by the greatest predecessor of shakespeare, the most impressive dramatist of the University Wits and the most fascinating figure in the temple of poetic fame, the born poet and mudi playwright     - Christopher Marlowe.

Context.: In there lines, the Chorus informs us the theme of the play. We come to know that the subject matter of the play is not trditional as a battle or a love affair.

Explanation : -Here Chorus through the poet tells us that the present play'Dr Faustus' to be written on different subject. He is no going to narrate anything of the fighting in the battle field of Thrasimene where the god of war defeated the Greek soldier I (athaginians). He is neither going to sing any song of love nor does he desire to relate any story of the matters of king when Kingdom is upset. He is not desirous to sing even any story of proud and ambitious persons in any other field. His heavenly verse does not intend to narrate any of these stories. Instead of it the poet is going to narrate the story of Dr. Faustus.

Comments :

1. Thrasimene - It is a battle field in Central Italy. Here Hemibal defeated the Roman army.
2. Mars - The Roman God of War.
3. Car Thaginians - The armies of Carthas, the famous city on the coast of
North Africa. Here Carthaginians [Roman Soldiers] were defeated.
4. This speech throws light on the different subject matter of the play.
5. The passage shows Marlow's love of Classicism.

2.

O, what a world of profit and delight,
Of power, of honour, of omnipotence,
Is promised to studious artizan!
All things that move between the guilt poles
Shall be at my command..........

Reference: As above

Context with Explanation : Faustus is glad to see some books on necromancy, in his study. He is filled with a great desire to learn through them the black art of calling up the spirits of the dead. Here he tells himself that a study of necromancy can bring him great power and happiness. He says that a studious and diligent student like him can gain from the study and practice of necromancy a lot of profit and delight. He implies that the spirits of the dead will bring him great power, or rather, all powerfulness. Indirectly they will also fetch him great honour, if he can raise and command the spirits of the dead, he will become the master of all the creatures that move between the fixed poles of the earth. Faustus implies that the power of spirits will make him a superhuman wizard.

Comments :

1. Omnipotence It means power to do anything and everything.
2. Artizen - Scholar, Here it means follower of magic.

3.

"Settle thy studies Faustus and begin
To sound the depth of that thou wilt profess;
Having commenced, be a divine in shew,
Yet level at the end of every art
And live and die in Aristotle's works."

Reference.: As above

Context In these opening lines we goes to Faustus sitting in his study room. He has already achieved skillfulness in Theology. His desire is to stand parallel to God therefore his mind is wavering and want to decide in which suject or branch of knowledge he should you ? sublimity.

Explanation : These words are spoken by Faustus to himself. It is self reflection. He is busy with his studies and wants to decide which particular branch of knowledge, he should study. First of all he desires to start examining the value of that very branch that he is going to persue or practise. He has at ready got great skill in Theology. He has great scholar in outward show even then. He must aim at the perfection of every art. It means his ambination is to achieve the deepest knowledge of every branch of knowledge. Then he comes to the conclusion to begin and end his life with the works of Aristotle.

Comments:

1. Dr Faustus (the writer Marlow) is called the renaissance child. Here he expresses his ambition for knowledge that is the greatest renuissance quality.
2. Works on logic The books written by Aristotle on logic. There are Categories, Topics, Prior and Posterior, Analytics.
3. Here Faustus is presented as a man of great ambition what she desire is to be matchless and super human.

4.

......emperors, and Kings
And but obey'd in their several provinces,
Nor can they raise the wind or rend the clouds;
But his dominion that exceeds in this,
Streteheth as far as doth the mind of man;

Reference : As above

Context : Here Faustus encourages himself to learn the black art of necromancy.

Explanation : The writer tells himself that a real magician is mighter than an emperor. He says that the power of a king, or even an emperor is limited. For a king or an emperor is obeyed only in his kingdom or empire. His word has no power outside his nation. Besides, his command has no effect upon elements of Nature. His command can not force the still wind to blow nor can it force the clouds to disperse and drift away. But a magician's kingdom is much larger than that of a king or emperor. His domain extends over all the regions the human mind can imagine and dream of. Faustus concludes that a perfect magician is thus a powerful human god.

Comments :  

1. The writer tells about the power of king and a magician.
2. His language is very impressive and elegant style.

5.

"A sound magician is a mighty god,
Here Faustus, tire thy brains to gain a deity."

Reference:   As above

Context : In his study room Faustus is deeply thinking on the value of different subjects. He does not like logic, metaphysics law the Bible and then comes to the books of magic. He is much charmed by the magic power and desires to be a magician.

Explanation : Throwing light on the importance and power of magic, Faustus thinks that, it can perform wonderful deeds. He can fulful all the ambitions. For example, he can be the owner of all the kings of this world. Even impossible things can be done by the power of magic. He thinks like Prospero in The Tempest' to raise a storm on the sea with his magical power. Thus a learned magician is as powerful as God in human form. So he advises himself to empty his mind so that he may achieve the status of a God. Thus he can fulfil the greatest desires of his life.

Comments:

1. A sound magician- A learned magician who has complete command to magic life like prospero.
2. Faustus, greatest ambition is to achieve the status of God. It is the Renaissance quality.
3. Here he speaks like 'Satan' in 'Paradise Lost'. He regarded himself equal to God.

6.

"Is, to dispute well, logics chiefest end?
Affords the art no greater miracle?
Then read no more, thou hast attained that end,
A greater suject fitteth Faustus "s wit."

Reference : As above

Context : Faustus is in his study room. His mind is upset as he is unable to decide which branch of knowledge can suit best to him. First of all he thinks to study logic books by Aristotle but when he comes to know 'the end of Logic' is to argue well, he desires to bid farwell to logice.

Explanation : Addressing himself Faustus thinks that the study of logic has no meaning for him because the end of logic is only argument. It is useful only for theology. Therefore a doubt rises in his mind if the chief aim at logic is only to discuss and oppose by argument well. Secondly he wants to know if this art of logic can not perform only wonderful things. Then he decides to bid farewell to study of logic because he has already got this unique power of argument. He has become master in the science and art of logic. It does not suit his intellect. He expresses his desires to study a greater suject than logic.

Comments:

1. Here Faustus makes a fun of logic that can give no greater wonders.
2. As we already know that Faustus is a man of ambition, he is not satisfied with what he has achieved.

It also shows that the more we achieve this move we desire we have.

7.

"How am I gluited with conceit of this"
Shall I make spirits feteh me what I please
Resolve me of all ambiguities,
Perform what desperate enterprise I will?

Reference: As above

Context : This is the Faustus's soliloguy. Here he expresses his joy. It is born of the prospect of getting great magic powers. He tells himself that the career of great Magician attracts him like anything. And thus he asks himself. in these lines.

Explanation :   Here Faustus' mind is completely inpressed by views of magic powers. He expresses his joy. It is born of the prospect of getting great powers of magic. He tells himself that the career of a great magician attracks him like anything. Then he asks himself whether he would like the spirits to bring him things of his choice. The spirits can also remove all this his doubts about things. They can also perform for him extremely dangerous works, if he ever chooses to have them done. Faust implies that magic powers can bring spirits of the dead under his command. And the spirits can do wonders for him.

8.

There is no chief but only Beelzebub;
To whom Faustus doth dedicate himself.
This word 'damnation' terrifies him not.
For he confounds hell in Elysium.
His ghost be with the old Philosophers.    (Act I, Scene III)

Reference : This extract has been taken from 'Doctor Faustus', a play written by Christopher Marlowe;

Context Here the speaker is Faustus. The passage is addressed to Melphistophilis. He has appeared before Faustus is response to the latter's in contation.

Explanation: In the forgoing lines Mephistoprulis tells him that the devils come only to him who distorts the name of God, gives up the scriptures and Jesus Christ, and accepts Satan as his God. Here Faustus tells him that he was done all those things. He considers only Beelzebub his God and has dedicated himself to his service. Faustus adds that now he is not affraid of being condemned to hell. For now his mind does not make any difference between heaven and hell. In relation to this matter, he agrees with the view of ancient Greek philosoppers that after death the souls of the dead go to the Hades, the abode of the dead, and not to heaven or hell.' Then Faustus wishes his soul might join the group of those non-believing philosophers of antiquity.

Comments :

1. The passage reflects Faustus's enthusiasm for magic and his sentimentality.
2. Nothing Mophistophilis before him, he becomes sentimental and has reason is lost.

9.

Had I as many souls as these be stars.
I'd give them all for Mephistophilis.
By him I'll be great emperor of the world.
And make a bridge through the moving air
To pass the ocean with a band of men;
I'll join the hills that bind the Afric shore.
And make that continent to spain,
And both contributory to my crown.

Reference : As above

Context.: The passage is part of Faustus's soliloque.

Explanation.: In the forgoing lines, Faustus sends Mephistophilis back to Lucifer with a proposal. It is that he is willing to sell his soul to Lucifer for a voluptuous life of twenty four years and that services of Mephistophilis during that period be utiliked by him. When Mephistophilis is gone Faustus bursts into the soliloaguy. Under sentiments of delight, he says that if to possessed countless souls like stars in the sky, he would gladly give them to Lucifer in exchange for the services of Mephistophilis. For by force of Mephistophilis's powers he will become the great emperor of the world. For with Mephistophilis's aid, he will make a bridge across the airy space over the ocean. Then his armies will pass along the airy bridge to the other side of the ocean and conquer the nations over there. Thereafter he will tell Mephispophilis to connect hills of northern Africa with those at southern Spain. Thus Africa will become part of the spanish empire. But both Spain and Africa will be part of his [i.e. Faustus] empire and contribute finds to his treasurey every year.

Comments : The Passage reflects Faustus's ambition for emperorship of the world. It also reflects his sentimental and imaginative nature.

10.

Now, Faustus must
Thou nees be clamn'd and const thau not be savid!
What boots it, then to think of God or heaven?
Away with such vain fancies, and despair:
Despair in God, and trust in Beelzebub:
Now go not backward: No, Faustus, be resolute.     (Act II, SC. I, Lines - 1-6)

Reference : This passage occurs in 'Doctor Faustus' written by Christopher Marlow.

Explanation with Context: It is a part of Faustus's Soliloguy. He has sent Mephistophilis to Lucifer with an offer of selling his soul for a voluptuous life of twenty four years and utilise Mephistoprulis's services during that period. Being alone in his study, he bursts into this soliloquy. He tells himself that he must necesssarily be condemned to hell. And nothing can save him from damnation. He asks himself what is the good of thinking of God or heaven then. He then advises himself to get rid of his despair, forget God, heaven, damnation, etc. he should also get rid of his dispair, forget God altogether, and have faith in Lucifer.Finally, Faustus encourages himself not to think of going backward at all and be firm in his decision to sell his soul to Lucifer.

Comments: The passage reflects Faustus's weak belief in God,heaven, and hell. It also reflects has strong sensualism and materialism. On the whole, it shows Faustus as a Renaissance man.

11.

Marriage is but a ceremonial toy;
If thou lovest me, think no more of it.
She whom thine eyes shall like, thy heart shall have.
Be she as chaste as was penelope.
As wise as Saba, or as beauitful
As was bright Lucifer before his fall.     (Act II, SC. II Lines 151-156)

Reference : As above

Context : Here the speaker in Mephistophilis. The speech is addressed to Faustus.

Explanation : In the forgoing lines Faustus asks Mephistophilis for a wife. So he brings him a devil dressed like a woman. But Faustus rejects her, implying that he wants a wife through marriage. There upon Mephistophilis here tells him that marriage is only a ceremonial trific! So he should not look upon it as a sacrament. If Faustus loves the Devil and his ways, be (Faustus) should not think of marriage as a licence for having a woman, Mephistophilis then assures Faustus that he (Faustus) shall have the woman whom he likes. It does not matter, if she is as faithful as Penelope, as wise as Saba or as handsome as Lucifer before he fell from the Heaven. He [Mephistophills] shall lure her away to make her Faustus's mistress, Mephistophills implies that the Devil's follower should not believe in Marriage. On the other hand, he sould try to seduce a married woman for his own lewd purpose.

Comments : Penelope was wife of Ulysses also called Odyseus. She is the type of the faithful wife in classical literature. Saba is another name of Sheba, un ancient people of Yemen. But here Seba refers to the Queen of Sheba, type of the wise woman is classical literature.

12.

My heart is so hardened, I can not repent:
Scarce can I name salvation, faith, or heaven,
But fearful echoes thunder in mine ears,
"Faustus, thou an damned !" Then swords, and knives.
Poison, guns, halters and envenomed steal
Are laid before me to despatch myself:
And long eve this I should have slain myself.
Had not sweet pleasure conquered deep despair.    -(Act II, Sc-II Lines - 19-26)

Reference : As above

Explanation with the Context : It is a part of Faustus's solilaquy. In the forgoing lines, Good Angel advises Faustus to repent. Faustus thinks of repenting for a moment. But evil prevails over him. He bursts into this solilaquy. Here he says that his heart has become so much polluted with sensual pleasures that he cannot repent of his sins. As soon as he thinks of salvation, faith in God, or heaven, he hears a Thundering voice telling him that he is condemned to hell. His heart is filled with grief and he thinks of committing suicide. Just then imagination presents him with images of swords daggers, poison, guns halters and poisoned steel. It does so, as if to tell him to choose anyone of those means and commit suicide. But soon memories of sensual pleasures drive despair, out of his heart. They also inspire him to keep alive and enjoy himself. If those sweet memories had not come to his rescue, he should have killed himself long ago. Faustus implies that now the chief purpose of his life is to keep himself drowned in voluptuous pleasures.

13.

Have not I made blind Homer sing to me
of Alexander's love, and Oenon's death?
And hath not he, that built the walls of The Thebes
With ravishing sound of his melodious harp
Made music with my Mephistophilis ?     (Act II, Sc-II Lines - 27-31)

Reference: As above

Context: The passage is part of Faustus's solilaquy.

Explanation : In the foregoing lines he says that his heart now know nothing but sensual pleasures. here te tells himself that, by virtue of his magic, he has made Homer, the blind epic poet of ancient Greece, Sing him the love story of Prince Alexander and Oenon and also of Oenon's death. His magic has also raised the spirit of Amphion and made it play on its Meladious harp. And Amphion was a great musician of ancient Greece. By virtue of the Melodious music of his harp, he is supposed to have charmed the rocks to stand up and build high walls around Thebes for its fortification. And that very Amphion came from the world of the dead and played on his harp to entertain him [Faustus], thanks to the power of Mephistophilis. Faustus implies that his magic has entertained his with great poetry and music of ancient times.

Comments : Alexander's other name was Prince Paris and his love, Oenon was a lovely nymph of Mount Ida. Prince Paris fell in love with her and then married her. But later he deserted her and went away. So Oenon died of gried. Homer has mentioned this episode in his Aliad.

14.

"I am Covetousness begotten of an old churl in an old
leathern bag; and might I have my wish. I would desire
that this house and all the people in it were turned to
gold, that I might lock you up in my good chest, O, my sweet gold!"

Explanation with the Context : Here the speaker is Covetouness. The passage is addressed to Faustus. Explaining its nature, Covetousness, one of the seven Deadly Sins, tells Faustus that it is called convetousness. It was born in an old leather bag of an old miser. It is hungry for gold. If it were allowed to have its wish, it would desire that Faustus's house together with all the people in it should turn into solid gold. If it could happen, it would lock up the acquired gold into its strongest boxes. Thereafter Covetousness bursts into an exclamation of violent desire for gold.

Comments : The passage is evidently a satire on the people's excessive love for gold

15.

What art thou, Faustus, but a man condemn'd to die?
Thy fatal time doth draw to final end;
Despair cloth drive distrust into my thoughts;
Confound these passions with a quiet sleep. T
ush, Christ did call the thief upon the cross;
Then rest, thee, Faustus, quiet in conceit.     -(Act IV, Sc, IV Lines - 39-44)

Reference: As above

Context : It is a part of Faustus's Solilaquy.

Explanation : Here he is unhappy to see that the period of twenty four years allotted to him by Lucifer for a voluptuous life is drawing to an end. He is a great magician indeed. Yet he is still a mortal human being, nothing more. This though fills his heart with despair. It has also caused in him distrust of magic and sensual life. Seeing no way out, he advises himself to pacify his mental agony with peaceful sleep. He reminds himselfd that even Jesus Christ invoked sleep while he was being nailed upon the Cross. Addressing himself Faustus says that he should therfore have a rest through sleep and calm his mind down in the thest manner.

Comments : The passage reflects Faustus's tragic lot in spite of being a great magician, he has no peace and satisfaction.

16.

Was this the face that launch'd a thousand ships
And burnt the topless towers of llium ?
Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss-
Her lips suck forth my soul: see, where it flies!
Come, Helen, come, give me my soul again.     -(Act V, Sc-I (97-101)

Reference : As above

Explanation with the Context : The passage is part of Faustus's apostrophe to Helen. In the foregoing lines, Faustus, sensing that his end is near, prays Mephistophilis to make Helen's spirit his paramour. There upon Mephistophilis causes Helen's spirit to appear on the stage. Faustus is amazed to see her beauty. In a state of amazement, he asks whether it was she that caused a thousand Greek ships to besiege. Troy for nine years, and finally to burn to ashes the sky-high buildings of llium [i.e. Troy], Then Faustus makes an apostrophe to Helen. Addressing her as "Sweet Helen", he asks her to give him a kiss and make him immortal by it. He also kisses her. But after the kiss, he feels she has sucked forth his soul. He also has the feeling that she is flying away from him. So he prays to come back and give back his soul to him. He implies that he cannot live out of her company.

Comments : The passage reflects the intensity of Faustus's sentimentality and sensuality.

17.

"Here will I dwell, for heaven is in these lips.
And all is dross that is not Helena.
I will be Paris, and for love of thee.
Instead of Troy, shall Wittenberg to Sackedi
And I will combat with weak Menelaus,
And I will wear thy colours on my plumed crest.
Yes I will wound Achilles in the heel,
And then return to Helen for a kiss."     -(Act V, Sc- II Lines - 102-109)

Reference: As above

Context: Faustus is in his house and he has the slight of the spirit of peerless queen Helen of Greece. For her sake the high buildings of Troy were burnt to ashes Faustus is over joyed having a kiss, he desires to live with her forever.

Explanation: Faustus address Helen and says that heaven lies in her kisses and embraces that make him forget all the pains caves and exities without her everything in this world seems to be rotten. in real story Paris, the prince of Troy loved her deeply in the same way Faustus will be her Paris. For her sake he will burn to ashes the city of Wittering

ad of Troy. Paris, her lover had a fight with her husband Menelaus in the same way he is ready to fight against Menclaus [her husband]. He will also kill a Achilles who was killed in the war of Troy being warned in his heel. He was an honourable warrier in the war of Troy. Thus Faustus will be various at laurels and he will be the sole possessor of Helen's body and soul. Therefore he desires he may live with Helen [his Heaven] as long as is alive for of death he is damned to hell.

Comments :  

1. Paris:   Lover at Helen and the Prince of Troy, he son of king Prim. Helen has eloped with him.
2. Menelaus: He was husband to Helen and king of sparta.
3. Achilles : He was great hero in war of Troy. Paris killed him by wounding his heels.
4. There are the most romantic lines, the greatest renaissance qualtiy - 'the great thirst for beauty.'
5. There are highly poetic lines full of mythological references.

18.

Cut is the branch that might have grown full straight,
And burnt is Apollo's laurel baugh.
That sometimes grew within this learned man.
Faustus is gone: regard his hellish fall,
Whose fiendful fortune may exhort the wise,
Only to wonder at unlawful things
Whose deepness doth entice such forward wits
To practise more than heavenly power permits.     -(Act V, Sc- III Lines 127-134)

Reference: As above

Context : It is the last speech made by Chorus after the death of Dr. Faustus. It announces how Faustus a learned man and a great genius was damned permanently. It also gives the message of damned permanently. It also gives the message of the playwright to the audience.

Explanation : Faustus is dead. With great grief, the chorus speaks these words that chopped is the tree untimely that might have grown to its full height and the genius of Faustus is consumed to ashes. In simple words, Faustus had a talent that was misguided by devils. He was tempted to black magic so he had to sign and unholy contract with the devil. He did it only for the bodily pleasures. His ambition for possessing unlimited wealth and power compelled him to go beyond the limits of man while wise people should not tempted by evils. Now Faustus is no more. But his most tragic fate may teach even the wise a great lesson. It is that people should keep away from supernatural things and powers. Their depth often attracts such advanced scholar as Faustus was yet man should not meddle in them more than human nature allows. In other words, man should not try to arm himself with supernatural powers for the fulfilment of human wishes and unreasonable ambition.

Comments :

1. Here Faustus is presented as a child of Renaissance. During the Elizabethan age people had great ambition for wealth, power and bodily pleasure.
2. The moral teaching of the play is wise people should not seek pleasure, black powers and they should spend life with the will of God.

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