Summary
Analysis
The Chorus enters
and delivers the Prologue. He begins by assuring the audience that the play
will deal with neither epic, nor heroic, nor courtly matters, but merely with
“the form of Faustus'
fortunes, good or bad” (Prologue, 8).
The Chorus summarizes Faustus's
biography, including his humble origins, precociousness as a student, interest
in necromancy, and eventual fall from grace, comparing him to Icarus, whose
“waxen wings” (Prologue, 20) melted when he flew too close to the sun.
Summary (Scene I)
Alone in his study (in Wittenberg,
Germany), Faustus delivers his first soliloquy. He
professes to have sounded the depths of each major field of study and to have
found each undeserving of his full attention: logic, because he has already
mastered its “chiefest end,” (I, 8), which is to dispute well; medicine,
because even an excellent doctor cannot make men live forever or rise from the
dead; law, because it “aims at nothing but external trash” (1, 33-4); and
theology, because sin is unavoidable and its consequences too hard to face.
Faustus decides instead to devote himself
to gaining power through a mastery of magic. He praises the “necromantic books”
(1, 48) filled with “lines, circles, letters, characters” (1, 49) from which he
will learn the dark arts and obtain immense profit and power.
Wagner, Faustus's servant, enters. Faustus tells him to
invite the magicians Valdes and Cornelius to visit him. Wagner agrees and
exits, and Faustus says, “Their conference will be a greater help to me / Than
all my labors, plod I ne'er so fast” (1, 65-6).
As Faustus waits for Valdes and Cornelius to arrive,
the Good Angel and Bad Angel enter. The Good Angel begs Faustus
not to be tempted by the dark arts, and to read Scripture instead. The Bad
Angel encourages him to go forward with it, hinting that he stands to gain both
treasure and power. Both Angels exit.
Alone
again, Faustus delivers another soliloquy, imagining the “pleasant
fruits and princely delicates” (1, 82) his devil servants might fetch for him,
the secrets and “strange philosophy” (1, 83) they will share with him, and the
glory they will help him bring to Germany (and Wittenberg in particular) by
both political and military means – not to mention his own possible ascent to
the throne.
The
magicians Valdes and Cornelius arrive, and Faustus welcomes them, revealing his intention
to listen to their past encouragement to study necromancy and asking for their
help.
Valdes and Cornelius are excited that Faustus is going to try magic. Valdes
compares the power he'll have to Spanish lords, lions, German cavalrymen, and
even giants. Cornelius assures Faustus that he has all the background in
minerals, languages and astrology he needs to excel in the dark arts and obtain
limitless riches. Faustus, Valdes and Cornelius make plans to dine together,
and afterwards to hold Faustus's first magic lesson. All three exit.
Summary Scene
2
Two Scholars enter and
linger outside Faustus's house. One wonders what became of
Faustus, who was once was famous for his passion for logic.
The Scholars catch sight of Wagner, who enters. They question him as
to Faustus's whereabouts, and Wagner hedges,
mocking their academic language before finally revealing that Faustus is at
dinner with Valdes and Cornelius. Wagner exits.
The Scholars bemoan Faustus's turn towards necromancy, and resolve
to inform the head of the university of this development. They both exit.
Summary (Scene 3)
Faustus enters, looking up at
the night sky as a thunderstorm rages. Faustus describes how he has prayed and
sacrificed to the devils, drawing circles, signs and anagrams. (In the B-Text,
Lucifer and some devils are on-stage to hear this.) He begins his Latin
incantation, calling a number of devils by name, including Mephastophilis.
One devil, Mephastophilis, appears before Faustus, who immediately commands him to leave
and come back in a different shape: “Thou are too ugly to attend on me” (3,
26). He jokingly suggests a Franciscan friar, since “that holy shape becomes a
devil best” (3, 28). The devil exits, and Faustus marvels at how obedient he
is.
Mephastophilis re-enters and asks Faustus what he wants him to do. Faustus
commands him to wait on him, to do whatever he tells him to do, but
Mephastophilis replies that he can't obey without Lucifer's permission. Faustus asks if
Mephastophilis came because Lucifer ordered him to. Mephastophilis says no.
Faustus then asks if his conjuring made Mephastophilis appear. Again,
Mephastophilis says no. He explains that devils go to anyone who renounces God
and Christ in the hopes of getting the person's soul. This is what has drawn
Mephastophilis to Faustus.
Faustus asks Mephastophilis about Lucifer and the fallen angels: why they
fell, where they are damned, and how they can be outside Hell. Mephastophilis
explains that Lucifer and other angels were expelled from heaven for their
pride and insolence. Hell follows them; it is a state of mind rather than a
literal place. He begs Faustus to stop questioning him, since the memory of
being cast out of heaven is painful, and Faustus cruelly mocks him for his
misery.
Faustus tells Mephastophilis to propose a deal to Lucifer: Faustus will give Lucifer his soul in
return for 24 years with Mephastophilis as his servant. Mephastophilis vows to
confer with Lucifer and return with news. Faustus delivers a soliloquy,
reaffirming that he thinks the deal is worth the power he will get through
Mephastophilis and saying, “Had I as many souls as there be stars / I'd give
them all for Mephastophilis” (3, 101-2).
Summary (Scene 4)
Wagner enters and calls out to a Clown, calling him “boy” – which the clown,
entering too, takes as an insult. Wagner opines that the poor clown would give
the devil his soul for some mutton, and the two trade some wordplay.
Hoping to enlist the clown as his servant, Wagner threatens to turn all of his lice
into demons if he doesn't go into service for him for seven years, and he even
offers several coins, but the clown refuses.
Insisting that the clown has no choice, Wagner calls up two devils to prove his
point. The clown says he isn't afraid of devils, but when two devils enter, he
is terrified. Wagner sends the devils away, and they exit.
After the devils exit, the clown asks Wagner if while he's
in his service he can teach Robin magic. Wagner agrees, but reminds the clown
to call him “Master Wagner” and to walk attentively behind him at all times.
Thus, they exit.
Summary (Scene 5)
Faustus begins to doubt whether he has made
a good deal. He considers turning back to God, but ultimately rejects the idea,
telling himself, “The god thou servest is thine own appetite,” (5, 11).
The Good Angel and Evil Angel appear. The Good Angel tries to
convince Faustus to repent and seek God again,
asking him to think of heaven. The Evil Angel counters by telling Faustus to
think of wealth, which excites Faustus. The angels leave.
Faustus resolves to go with his deal,
thinking of all the wealth he will amass. He summons up Mephastophilis and asks if there is news from Lucifer. Mephastophilis announces that Lucifer
has accepted the deal, and that Faustus must sign an agreement with his
own blood to finalize the deal.
Faustus asks what Lucifer wants with his soul. Mephastophilis informs him that Lucifer seeks to
enlarge his kingdom and make others suffer as he does. Faustus eagerly cuts his
arm and prepares to sign a deed of gift to give his soul to Lucifer. His blood
congeals almost immediately, though, and Faustus wonders, “What might the
staying of my blood portend?” (5, 64)
After Mephastophilis brings hot
coals to warm his blood back into liquid, Faustus signs the
agreement. Immediately, he sees written on his arm the words homo
fuge (Latin for “Flee, man”). He panics and wonders where he could
flee to: “if unto God, he'll throw me down to hell.” (5, 77)
Mephastophilis leaves and re-enters with more
devils, bringing Faustus crowns and expensive clothing.
Mephastophilis promises Faustus that he now has access to riches and the
ability to call forth spirits. This comforts Faustus' anxieties about the deal,
and he gives Mephastophilis the signed agreement. He reads the contract, which
states that, in return for his soul, Faustus will have the powers of a spirit,
while Mephastophilis will be at his service, doing and bringing him whatever he
wants. Mephastophilis will appear whenever Faustus calls him and will be
invisible. Mephastophilis accepts the agreement.
With his newfound
power, Faustus first seeks to increase his knowledge. He
asks Mephastophilis exactly where hell is. Mephastophilis answers
that hell “hath no limits” (5, 120) and is wherever devils are. Faustus says he
doesn't believe in hell and is therefore not worried that he has given his soul
to Lucifer and will be damned to hell.
Mephastophilis says that he himself is proof of hell's existence, since he is
damned and in hell.
Faustus orders Mephastophilis to get him a wife and he returns with
a devil in women's clothing, which Faustus angrily rejects. Mephastophilis
gives Faustus a book filled with magic spells. He tells Faustus that the book
contains spells to raise up spirits, as well as knowledge of the planets, the
heavens, and all plants, herbs, and trees.
The mention of the heavens
causes Faustus to think of heaven and he debates
repenting and renouncing magic. At this, the Good Angel and Evil Angel appear. The Good Angel encourages
Faustus to repent and promises God's forgiveness, but the Evil Angel says that
God would not pity Faustus. The angels leave and Faustus says he cannot repent.
After resolving not to
repent, Faustus continues asking Mephastophilis questions. He asks him about
astronomy, the planets, and the universe. He asks who made the world and
Mephastophilis refuses to answer, saying that giving the answer would be
“against our kingdom,” (5, 245). Mephastophilis leaves and Faustus again questions
whether he should repent.
As soon as Faustus mentions possibly repenting, the
angels appear again. The Evil Angel tells him it is too late to repent,
but the Good Angel says that it is never too late. The
angels leave and Faustus cries out for Christ to save his soul.
At Faustus' invocation of Christ, Mephastophilis appears with Lucifer and Belzebub (another devil).
Lucifer tells Faustus that Christ cannot save him and that his talk of Christ
“injures” the devils. He tells Faustus not to think of God, but rather of the
devil, with whom he has made his agreement. Faustus vows not to speak of God or
heaven anymore.
Lucifer announces that he has come to
show Faustus the Seven Deadly Sins “in their
proper shapes,” (5, 274) for which Faustus is excited. As each personified sin
enters, Faustus questions them. The sins are Pride, Covetousness, Wrath, Envy,
Gluttony, Sloth, and Lechery. Each describes the qualities of their own sin.
Faustus is pleased at seeing
the sins, and eagerly asks Lucifer to see hell. Lucifer says that he
will send for Faustus at midnight and encourages him to peruse the book of
spells in the meantime, from which he can learn how to change his shape.
Summary (Scene 6)
A stablehand
named Robin enters and announces that he has stolen one
of Faustus' conjuring books. He is eager to learn some magic, but is
interrupted by Rafe, another stablehand, who comes to tell Robin that a
gentleman needs his horse and things looked after. Robin tells Rafe that he has
a book of spells and claims that he can do all sorts of fantastic things with
magic. They leave to attempt some magic.
Chorus 2
Alone on the
stage, Wagner announces that Faustus has ridden in a chariot drawn by
dragons through the sky to learn the secrets of astronomy and is now flying
around the globe. Wagner guesses that Faustus will go to Rome first.
Summary (Scene 7)
Faustus enters with Mephastophilis. Faustus recounts how they have traveled
throughout Europe and asks Mephastophilis if they are now in Rome, where he had
ordered Mephastophilis to bring him. Mephastophilis answers that they are
in the pope's “privy chamber,” (7, 24). Faustus
is eager to see the monuments of the city of Rome. Mephastophilis suggests
that they stay in the pope's room, instead, and play some tricks on the pope.
Faustus agrees and Mephastophilis casts a spell that makes Faustus invisible.
In the B-text, the pope enters along with attendants
and Bruno, a rival for the office of pope who was
supported by the German emperor. The pope humiliates and ridicules Bruno for
opposing him. Mephastophilis and Faustus disguise themselves as two cardinals and the pope gives Bruno to them to
be executed. Instead, they help Bruno escape to Germany. When the actual two
cardinals return to the pope, he asks them whether Bruno has been executed but
they are confused and swear they were never given Bruno. All of this is only in
the B-text and does not occur in the A-text.
In the A-text,
the pope enters with a cardinal and some friars, ready to eat at a
banquet. Faustus and Mephastophilis, invisible, curse loudly and snatch dishes
from the table. The pope and the friars think that a ghost is harassing them.
The pope crosses himself, and the friars sing a dirge to drive the spirit away.
Faustus and Mephastophilis beat the friars, fling fireworks everywhere, and
then leave.
Summary (Scene 8)
Robin and Rafe enter
with a silver goblet they have stolen. They are attempting to use Faustus' book to conjure. A vintner (wine
merchant) interrupts them, demanding they pay for the goblet. They deny that
they have the goblet, and Robin casts a spell to conjure up Mephastophilis, who scares the vintner away.
Mephastophilis is angry at being summoned by the lowly Robin and Rafe and being
called away from Faustus (who is in Constantinople). He threatens to transform
Robin and Rafe into animals and leaves.
Chorus 3
The chorus enters and tells the audience
that Faustus has returned home from his travels,
amazing his friends with what he has learned of astrology and the world. As
word of his knowledge has spread, Faustus has now been invited to feast with
the German Emperor Charles V.
Summary (Scene 9)
In the B-text, two men at the court
of emperor Charles V, named Martino and Frederick, discuss Bruno's escape from the pope and the
now-famous Doctor Faustus. A knight named Benvolio arrives. He is not impressed by
Faustus' devil-inspired conjuring and says that he will not go to court to see
Faustus. This entire scene is not in the A-text at all.
At the court of the emperor, Charles V eagerly asks Faustus to prove his skills in magic by
performing a spell, though a knight (the same character as Benvolio in the B-text) at court is
skeptical of Faustus. Faustus agrees and the emperor asks him to bring forth
the spirit of Alexander the Great, since the emperor greatly admires the famous
conqueror.
The skeptical knight doesn't believe that Faustus can bring Alexander forth, and
leaves, not wanting to be present for the conjuring. Faustus has Mephastophilis leave and return with the spirits of
Alexander and Alexander's paramour. The emperor examines the spirits and remarks
that he thinks they are the true bodies of Alexander and his lover. (In the
B-text, Alexander appears with his rival Darius, king of Persia, whom he then
defeats.)
The spirits leave, and Faustus asks for the emperor to call the skeptical knight back to court. The knight re-enters
and now has horns on his head, the result of a curse from Faustus in return for
his rudeness. The emperor asks Faustus to take the horns away; Faustus relents.
The emperor promises Faustus a reward for his display of magic, before leaving.
Faustus tells Mephastophilis that he wants to return to Wittenberg.
In the B-text, after Faustus leaves, Martino and Frederick re-enter with Benvolio. Irritated by Faustus' prank, Benvolio
plots to kill Faustus. Martino and Frederick reluctantly agree to help. They
hide to ambush Faustus, unaware that he has a false (prosthetic) head to trick
them. Benvolio decapitates Faustus and celebrates his victory. The three men
plan to disfigure the head, when they realize that Faustus is still alive.
Faustus sends devils to punish Benvolio, Frederick, and Martino for their
attempted ambush, tormenting them and putting horns on all their heads. Again,
none of this occurs in the A-text.
Summary (Scene 10)
Back in Wittenberg, Faustus meets with a horse-courser (horse trader) and sells him his
horse. He warns the trader not to ride the horse into water. Faustus begins to
worry about his impending death and damnation. He falls asleep.
The horse-courser returns, completely wet, and
angrily calls for Faustus. He had ridden the horse out into the
middle of a pond (thinking that Faustus' warning was an attempt to hide some
magic skill of the horse), at which point the horse turned into a pile of hay
and he fell into the water. The horse-courser shouts in Faustus' ear and pulls
on his leg to wake him. Faustus' leg comes off, and the shocked horse-courser
flees. Faustus' leg is instantly restored, and he laughs at the
horse-courser. Wagner arrives to tell Faustus that his
company is requested by the Duke of Vanholt, “an honorable gentleman,” (10, 74).
In the B-text, Robin and Rafe have a drink at a tavern. At the bar, a carter (a cart-driver) tells them that he
ran into Faustus on a road and Faustus paid him to
give him all of the hay from his wagon, which Faustus then promptly ate.
The horse-courser is also at the bar, and joins in
the conversation, telling everyone about the horse he bought from Faustus and
how it transformed on the water. The horse-courser acts as if he got revenge,
though, by tearing Faustus' leg off, neglecting to tell the other bar patrons
that this was only a fake leg. This tavern scene does not appear in the A-text.
Summary (Scene 11)
The Duke and Duchess of Vanholt entertain Faustus (and Mephastophilis) at court. Faustus asks the Duchess what he
can conjure that would please her, and she asks him to make a plate of grapes
appear, since it is the middle of winter (and grapes are only available in the
summer). Mephastophilis leaves and brings back grapes. The Duke is intrigued
and asks Faustus how he procured grapes in the middle of winter. Faustus
answers that when it is winter in Germany, it is summer in opposite parts of
the globe. He sent “a swift spirit that I have” (11, 21) to bring the grapes from
afar. Faustus encourages the Duchess to eat the grapes, and she says they are
the best she's ever tasted. The Duke and Duchess promise to reward Faustus for
his display of magic.
Chorus 4
In a brief interlude between
scenes, Wagner thinks aloud to the audience
that Faustus must be nearing death, because he
has given Wagner all of his possessions. But Wagner is confused, because
Faustus is feasting, carousing, and enjoying himself, which does not seem to
Wagner like the behavior of someone about to die.
Summary (Scene 12)
Faustus and Mephastophilis are
with several scholars.
One of them asks Faustus to conjure up Helen,
the mythical Greek woman who was supposedly the most beautiful woman in the
world. Faustus summons her. Helen walks across the stage, to the awe and
delight of the scholars, who leave after Helen disappears.
An old man enters
and tries to attempt Faustus to
repent. Faustus is enraged and shouts that he is damned and ought to die. Mephastophilis gives
Faustus a dagger. The old man says he sees an angel over Faustus' head,
offering him mercy. Faustus tells the man to leave him so he can think about
his sins.
Faustus says
he wants to repent. In response, Mephastophilis calls
him a traitor and threaten to “in piecemeal tear thy flesh,” (12, 59). Faustus
apologizes and says he will re-confirm his vow to Lucifer.
Faustus tells Mephastophilis to torment the old man for making him doubt his
bargain, and then asks him to make Helen his
lover, so that her “sweet embracings may extinguish clean” his anxieties about
his deal with Lucifer.
Helen appears
and Faustus begs
for her kiss, asking her to “give me my soul again,” (12, 85). The old man
re-enters. Faustus is obsessed with Helen's beauty, and the pair leave. The old
man laments Faustus' miserable fate. A group of devils appear to torment the
old man, who says that his faith in God will triumph over the devils.
Summary (Scene 13)
Faustus enters
with the scholars from
earlier. Faustus is in despair, as the end of his deal with Lucifer is
approaching. Faustus laments his sins, and the scholars tell him to seek God's
mercy. But Faustus answers that God cannot pardon him. He reveals that he has
given away his soul for all the knowledge he has acquired. The scholars are
horrified.
Faustus explains
that he wanted to go back on his deal, but Mephastophilis threatened
to tear him to pieces. The scholars leave
to go pray for Faustus. The clock strikes eleven and Faustus realizes he has
one hour left to live. Faustus cries out and begs time to stand still and for
the day not to end.
Faustus cries
to God for help, but at the name of God he feels pain in his heart (because he
has given Lucifer his
soul). He begs Lucifer to spare him, then asks the earth to gape open and save
him from hell. He asks the stars to carry him up to the sky.
The
clock rings out: Faustus has
half an hour left. He begs God for mercy and asks to be in hell a thousand or a
hundred thousand years and then be saved, rather than being eternally damned.
He curses Lucifer and
himself. Midnight comes, and Faustus despairs. Devils enter and carry Faustus
off as he continues to cry out, promising to burn his books.
Epilogue
The chorus announces that Faustus is gone and tells the audience to
see his downfall as an example of why they should not try to learn “unlawful
things,” (Epilogue, 6) that tempt wise men “to practice more than heavenly
power permits,” (Epilogue, 8).
Summary
Analysis
The Chorus enters
and delivers the Prologue. He begins by assuring the audience that the play
will deal with neither epic, nor heroic, nor courtly matters, but merely with
“the form of Faustus'
fortunes, good or bad” (Prologue, 8).
The Chorus summarizes Faustus's
biography, including his humble origins, precociousness as a student, interest
in necromancy, and eventual fall from grace, comparing him to Icarus, whose
“waxen wings” (Prologue, 20) melted when he flew too close to the sun.
Summary (Scene I)
Alone in his study (in Wittenberg,
Germany), Faustus delivers his first soliloquy. He
professes to have sounded the depths of each major field of study and to have
found each undeserving of his full attention: logic, because he has already
mastered its “chiefest end,” (I, 8), which is to dispute well; medicine,
because even an excellent doctor cannot make men live forever or rise from the
dead; law, because it “aims at nothing but external trash” (1, 33-4); and
theology, because sin is unavoidable and its consequences too hard to face.
Faustus decides instead to devote himself
to gaining power through a mastery of magic. He praises the “necromantic books”
(1, 48) filled with “lines, circles, letters, characters” (1, 49) from which he
will learn the dark arts and obtain immense profit and power.
Wagner, Faustus's servant, enters. Faustus tells him to
invite the magicians Valdes and Cornelius to visit him. Wagner agrees and
exits, and Faustus says, “Their conference will be a greater help to me / Than
all my labors, plod I ne'er so fast” (1, 65-6).
As Faustus waits for Valdes and Cornelius to arrive,
the Good Angel and Bad Angel enter. The Good Angel begs Faustus
not to be tempted by the dark arts, and to read Scripture instead. The Bad
Angel encourages him to go forward with it, hinting that he stands to gain both
treasure and power. Both Angels exit.
Alone
again, Faustus delivers another soliloquy, imagining the “pleasant
fruits and princely delicates” (1, 82) his devil servants might fetch for him,
the secrets and “strange philosophy” (1, 83) they will share with him, and the
glory they will help him bring to Germany (and Wittenberg in particular) by
both political and military means – not to mention his own possible ascent to
the throne.
The
magicians Valdes and Cornelius arrive, and Faustus welcomes them, revealing his intention
to listen to their past encouragement to study necromancy and asking for their
help.
Valdes and Cornelius are excited that Faustus is going to try magic. Valdes
compares the power he'll have to Spanish lords, lions, German cavalrymen, and
even giants. Cornelius assures Faustus that he has all the background in
minerals, languages and astrology he needs to excel in the dark arts and obtain
limitless riches. Faustus, Valdes and Cornelius make plans to dine together,
and afterwards to hold Faustus's first magic lesson. All three exit.
Summary Scene
2
Two Scholars enter and
linger outside Faustus's house. One wonders what became of
Faustus, who was once was famous for his passion for logic.
The Scholars catch sight of Wagner, who enters. They question him as
to Faustus's whereabouts, and Wagner hedges,
mocking their academic language before finally revealing that Faustus is at
dinner with Valdes and Cornelius. Wagner exits.
The Scholars bemoan Faustus's turn towards necromancy, and resolve
to inform the head of the university of this development. They both exit.
Summary (Scene 3)
Faustus enters, looking up at
the night sky as a thunderstorm rages. Faustus describes how he has prayed and
sacrificed to the devils, drawing circles, signs and anagrams. (In the B-Text,
Lucifer and some devils are on-stage to hear this.) He begins his Latin
incantation, calling a number of devils by name, including Mephastophilis.
One devil, Mephastophilis, appears before Faustus, who immediately commands him to leave
and come back in a different shape: “Thou are too ugly to attend on me” (3,
26). He jokingly suggests a Franciscan friar, since “that holy shape becomes a
devil best” (3, 28). The devil exits, and Faustus marvels at how obedient he
is.
Mephastophilis re-enters and asks Faustus what he wants him to do. Faustus
commands him to wait on him, to do whatever he tells him to do, but
Mephastophilis replies that he can't obey without Lucifer's permission. Faustus asks if
Mephastophilis came because Lucifer ordered him to. Mephastophilis says no.
Faustus then asks if his conjuring made Mephastophilis appear. Again,
Mephastophilis says no. He explains that devils go to anyone who renounces God
and Christ in the hopes of getting the person's soul. This is what has drawn
Mephastophilis to Faustus.
Faustus asks Mephastophilis about Lucifer and the fallen angels: why they
fell, where they are damned, and how they can be outside Hell. Mephastophilis
explains that Lucifer and other angels were expelled from heaven for their
pride and insolence. Hell follows them; it is a state of mind rather than a
literal place. He begs Faustus to stop questioning him, since the memory of
being cast out of heaven is painful, and Faustus cruelly mocks him for his
misery.
Faustus tells Mephastophilis to propose a deal to Lucifer: Faustus will give Lucifer his soul in
return for 24 years with Mephastophilis as his servant. Mephastophilis vows to
confer with Lucifer and return with news. Faustus delivers a soliloquy,
reaffirming that he thinks the deal is worth the power he will get through
Mephastophilis and saying, “Had I as many souls as there be stars / I'd give
them all for Mephastophilis” (3, 101-2).
Summary (Scene 4)
Wagner enters and calls out to a Clown, calling him “boy” – which the clown,
entering too, takes as an insult. Wagner opines that the poor clown would give
the devil his soul for some mutton, and the two trade some wordplay.
Hoping to enlist the clown as his servant, Wagner threatens to turn all of his lice
into demons if he doesn't go into service for him for seven years, and he even
offers several coins, but the clown refuses.
Insisting that the clown has no choice, Wagner calls up two devils to prove his
point. The clown says he isn't afraid of devils, but when two devils enter, he
is terrified. Wagner sends the devils away, and they exit.
After the devils exit, the clown asks Wagner if while he's
in his service he can teach Robin magic. Wagner agrees, but reminds the clown
to call him “Master Wagner” and to walk attentively behind him at all times.
Thus, they exit.
Summary (Scene 5)
Faustus begins to doubt whether he has made
a good deal. He considers turning back to God, but ultimately rejects the idea,
telling himself, “The god thou servest is thine own appetite,” (5, 11).
The Good Angel and Evil Angel appear. The Good Angel tries to
convince Faustus to repent and seek God again,
asking him to think of heaven. The Evil Angel counters by telling Faustus to
think of wealth, which excites Faustus. The angels leave.
Faustus resolves to go with his deal,
thinking of all the wealth he will amass. He summons up Mephastophilis and asks if there is news from Lucifer. Mephastophilis announces that Lucifer
has accepted the deal, and that Faustus must sign an agreement with his
own blood to finalize the deal.
Faustus asks what Lucifer wants with his soul. Mephastophilis informs him that Lucifer seeks to
enlarge his kingdom and make others suffer as he does. Faustus eagerly cuts his
arm and prepares to sign a deed of gift to give his soul to Lucifer. His blood
congeals almost immediately, though, and Faustus wonders, “What might the
staying of my blood portend?” (5, 64)
After Mephastophilis brings hot
coals to warm his blood back into liquid, Faustus signs the
agreement. Immediately, he sees written on his arm the words homo
fuge (Latin for “Flee, man”). He panics and wonders where he could
flee to: “if unto God, he'll throw me down to hell.” (5, 77)
Mephastophilis leaves and re-enters with more
devils, bringing Faustus crowns and expensive clothing.
Mephastophilis promises Faustus that he now has access to riches and the
ability to call forth spirits. This comforts Faustus' anxieties about the deal,
and he gives Mephastophilis the signed agreement. He reads the contract, which
states that, in return for his soul, Faustus will have the powers of a spirit,
while Mephastophilis will be at his service, doing and bringing him whatever he
wants. Mephastophilis will appear whenever Faustus calls him and will be
invisible. Mephastophilis accepts the agreement.
With his newfound
power, Faustus first seeks to increase his knowledge. He
asks Mephastophilis exactly where hell is. Mephastophilis answers
that hell “hath no limits” (5, 120) and is wherever devils are. Faustus says he
doesn't believe in hell and is therefore not worried that he has given his soul
to Lucifer and will be damned to hell.
Mephastophilis says that he himself is proof of hell's existence, since he is
damned and in hell.
Faustus orders Mephastophilis to get him a wife and he returns with
a devil in women's clothing, which Faustus angrily rejects. Mephastophilis
gives Faustus a book filled with magic spells. He tells Faustus that the book
contains spells to raise up spirits, as well as knowledge of the planets, the
heavens, and all plants, herbs, and trees.
The mention of the heavens
causes Faustus to think of heaven and he debates
repenting and renouncing magic. At this, the Good Angel and Evil Angel appear. The Good Angel encourages
Faustus to repent and promises God's forgiveness, but the Evil Angel says that
God would not pity Faustus. The angels leave and Faustus says he cannot repent.
After resolving not to
repent, Faustus continues asking Mephastophilis questions. He asks him about
astronomy, the planets, and the universe. He asks who made the world and
Mephastophilis refuses to answer, saying that giving the answer would be
“against our kingdom,” (5, 245). Mephastophilis leaves and Faustus again questions
whether he should repent.
As soon as Faustus mentions possibly repenting, the
angels appear again. The Evil Angel tells him it is too late to repent,
but the Good Angel says that it is never too late. The
angels leave and Faustus cries out for Christ to save his soul.
At Faustus' invocation of Christ, Mephastophilis appears with Lucifer and Belzebub (another devil).
Lucifer tells Faustus that Christ cannot save him and that his talk of Christ
“injures” the devils. He tells Faustus not to think of God, but rather of the
devil, with whom he has made his agreement. Faustus vows not to speak of God or
heaven anymore.
Lucifer announces that he has come to
show Faustus the Seven Deadly Sins “in their
proper shapes,” (5, 274) for which Faustus is excited. As each personified sin
enters, Faustus questions them. The sins are Pride, Covetousness, Wrath, Envy,
Gluttony, Sloth, and Lechery. Each describes the qualities of their own sin.
Faustus is pleased at seeing
the sins, and eagerly asks Lucifer to see hell. Lucifer says that he
will send for Faustus at midnight and encourages him to peruse the book of
spells in the meantime, from which he can learn how to change his shape.
Summary (Scene 6)
A stablehand
named Robin enters and announces that he has stolen one
of Faustus' conjuring books. He is eager to learn some magic, but is
interrupted by Rafe, another stablehand, who comes to tell Robin that a
gentleman needs his horse and things looked after. Robin tells Rafe that he has
a book of spells and claims that he can do all sorts of fantastic things with
magic. They leave to attempt some magic.
Chorus 2
Alone on the
stage, Wagner announces that Faustus has ridden in a chariot drawn by
dragons through the sky to learn the secrets of astronomy and is now flying
around the globe. Wagner guesses that Faustus will go to Rome first.
Summary (Scene 7)
Faustus enters with Mephastophilis. Faustus recounts how they have traveled
throughout Europe and asks Mephastophilis if they are now in Rome, where he had
ordered Mephastophilis to bring him. Mephastophilis answers that they are
in the pope's “privy chamber,” (7, 24). Faustus
is eager to see the monuments of the city of Rome. Mephastophilis suggests
that they stay in the pope's room, instead, and play some tricks on the pope.
Faustus agrees and Mephastophilis casts a spell that makes Faustus invisible.
In the B-text, the pope enters along with attendants
and Bruno, a rival for the office of pope who was
supported by the German emperor. The pope humiliates and ridicules Bruno for
opposing him. Mephastophilis and Faustus disguise themselves as two cardinals and the pope gives Bruno to them to
be executed. Instead, they help Bruno escape to Germany. When the actual two
cardinals return to the pope, he asks them whether Bruno has been executed but
they are confused and swear they were never given Bruno. All of this is only in
the B-text and does not occur in the A-text.
In the A-text,
the pope enters with a cardinal and some friars, ready to eat at a
banquet. Faustus and Mephastophilis, invisible, curse loudly and snatch dishes
from the table. The pope and the friars think that a ghost is harassing them.
The pope crosses himself, and the friars sing a dirge to drive the spirit away.
Faustus and Mephastophilis beat the friars, fling fireworks everywhere, and
then leave.
Summary (Scene 8)
Robin and Rafe enter
with a silver goblet they have stolen. They are attempting to use Faustus' book to conjure. A vintner (wine
merchant) interrupts them, demanding they pay for the goblet. They deny that
they have the goblet, and Robin casts a spell to conjure up Mephastophilis, who scares the vintner away.
Mephastophilis is angry at being summoned by the lowly Robin and Rafe and being
called away from Faustus (who is in Constantinople). He threatens to transform
Robin and Rafe into animals and leaves.
Chorus 3
The chorus enters and tells the audience
that Faustus has returned home from his travels,
amazing his friends with what he has learned of astrology and the world. As
word of his knowledge has spread, Faustus has now been invited to feast with
the German Emperor Charles V.
Summary (Scene 9)
In the B-text, two men at the court
of emperor Charles V, named Martino and Frederick, discuss Bruno's escape from the pope and the
now-famous Doctor Faustus. A knight named Benvolio arrives. He is not impressed by
Faustus' devil-inspired conjuring and says that he will not go to court to see
Faustus. This entire scene is not in the A-text at all.
At the court of the emperor, Charles V eagerly asks Faustus to prove his skills in magic by
performing a spell, though a knight (the same character as Benvolio in the B-text) at court is
skeptical of Faustus. Faustus agrees and the emperor asks him to bring forth
the spirit of Alexander the Great, since the emperor greatly admires the famous
conqueror.
The skeptical knight doesn't believe that Faustus can bring Alexander forth, and
leaves, not wanting to be present for the conjuring. Faustus has Mephastophilis leave and return with the spirits of
Alexander and Alexander's paramour. The emperor examines the spirits and remarks
that he thinks they are the true bodies of Alexander and his lover. (In the
B-text, Alexander appears with his rival Darius, king of Persia, whom he then
defeats.)
The spirits leave, and Faustus asks for the emperor to call the skeptical knight back to court. The knight re-enters
and now has horns on his head, the result of a curse from Faustus in return for
his rudeness. The emperor asks Faustus to take the horns away; Faustus relents.
The emperor promises Faustus a reward for his display of magic, before leaving.
Faustus tells Mephastophilis that he wants to return to Wittenberg.
In the B-text, after Faustus leaves, Martino and Frederick re-enter with Benvolio. Irritated by Faustus' prank, Benvolio
plots to kill Faustus. Martino and Frederick reluctantly agree to help. They
hide to ambush Faustus, unaware that he has a false (prosthetic) head to trick
them. Benvolio decapitates Faustus and celebrates his victory. The three men
plan to disfigure the head, when they realize that Faustus is still alive.
Faustus sends devils to punish Benvolio, Frederick, and Martino for their
attempted ambush, tormenting them and putting horns on all their heads. Again,
none of this occurs in the A-text.
Summary (Scene 10)
Back in Wittenberg, Faustus meets with a horse-courser (horse trader) and sells him his
horse. He warns the trader not to ride the horse into water. Faustus begins to
worry about his impending death and damnation. He falls asleep.
The horse-courser returns, completely wet, and
angrily calls for Faustus. He had ridden the horse out into the
middle of a pond (thinking that Faustus' warning was an attempt to hide some
magic skill of the horse), at which point the horse turned into a pile of hay
and he fell into the water. The horse-courser shouts in Faustus' ear and pulls
on his leg to wake him. Faustus' leg comes off, and the shocked horse-courser
flees. Faustus' leg is instantly restored, and he laughs at the
horse-courser. Wagner arrives to tell Faustus that his
company is requested by the Duke of Vanholt, “an honorable gentleman,” (10, 74).
In the B-text, Robin and Rafe have a drink at a tavern. At the bar, a carter (a cart-driver) tells them that he
ran into Faustus on a road and Faustus paid him to
give him all of the hay from his wagon, which Faustus then promptly ate.
The horse-courser is also at the bar, and joins in
the conversation, telling everyone about the horse he bought from Faustus and
how it transformed on the water. The horse-courser acts as if he got revenge,
though, by tearing Faustus' leg off, neglecting to tell the other bar patrons
that this was only a fake leg. This tavern scene does not appear in the A-text.
Summary (Scene 11)
The Duke and Duchess of Vanholt entertain Faustus (and Mephastophilis) at court. Faustus asks the Duchess what he
can conjure that would please her, and she asks him to make a plate of grapes
appear, since it is the middle of winter (and grapes are only available in the
summer). Mephastophilis leaves and brings back grapes. The Duke is intrigued
and asks Faustus how he procured grapes in the middle of winter. Faustus
answers that when it is winter in Germany, it is summer in opposite parts of
the globe. He sent “a swift spirit that I have” (11, 21) to bring the grapes from
afar. Faustus encourages the Duchess to eat the grapes, and she says they are
the best she's ever tasted. The Duke and Duchess promise to reward Faustus for
his display of magic.
Chorus 4
In a brief interlude between
scenes, Wagner thinks aloud to the audience
that Faustus must be nearing death, because he
has given Wagner all of his possessions. But Wagner is confused, because
Faustus is feasting, carousing, and enjoying himself, which does not seem to
Wagner like the behavior of someone about to die.
Summary (Scene 12)
Faustus and Mephastophilis are
with several scholars.
One of them asks Faustus to conjure up Helen,
the mythical Greek woman who was supposedly the most beautiful woman in the
world. Faustus summons her. Helen walks across the stage, to the awe and
delight of the scholars, who leave after Helen disappears.
An old man enters
and tries to attempt Faustus to
repent. Faustus is enraged and shouts that he is damned and ought to die. Mephastophilis gives
Faustus a dagger. The old man says he sees an angel over Faustus' head,
offering him mercy. Faustus tells the man to leave him so he can think about
his sins.
Faustus says
he wants to repent. In response, Mephastophilis calls
him a traitor and threaten to “in piecemeal tear thy flesh,” (12, 59). Faustus
apologizes and says he will re-confirm his vow to Lucifer.
Faustus tells Mephastophilis to torment the old man for making him doubt his
bargain, and then asks him to make Helen his
lover, so that her “sweet embracings may extinguish clean” his anxieties about
his deal with Lucifer.
Helen appears
and Faustus begs
for her kiss, asking her to “give me my soul again,” (12, 85). The old man
re-enters. Faustus is obsessed with Helen's beauty, and the pair leave. The old
man laments Faustus' miserable fate. A group of devils appear to torment the
old man, who says that his faith in God will triumph over the devils.
Summary (Scene 13)
Faustus enters
with the scholars from
earlier. Faustus is in despair, as the end of his deal with Lucifer is
approaching. Faustus laments his sins, and the scholars tell him to seek God's
mercy. But Faustus answers that God cannot pardon him. He reveals that he has
given away his soul for all the knowledge he has acquired. The scholars are
horrified.
Faustus explains
that he wanted to go back on his deal, but Mephastophilis threatened
to tear him to pieces. The scholars leave
to go pray for Faustus. The clock strikes eleven and Faustus realizes he has
one hour left to live. Faustus cries out and begs time to stand still and for
the day not to end.
Faustus cries
to God for help, but at the name of God he feels pain in his heart (because he
has given Lucifer his
soul). He begs Lucifer to spare him, then asks the earth to gape open and save
him from hell. He asks the stars to carry him up to the sky.
The
clock rings out: Faustus has
half an hour left. He begs God for mercy and asks to be in hell a thousand or a
hundred thousand years and then be saved, rather than being eternally damned.
He curses Lucifer and
himself. Midnight comes, and Faustus despairs. Devils enter and carry Faustus
off as he continues to cry out, promising to burn his books.
Epilogue
The chorus announces that Faustus is gone and tells the audience to
see his downfall as an example of why they should not try to learn “unlawful
things,” (Epilogue, 6) that tempt wise men “to practice more than heavenly
power permits,” (Epilogue, 8).
Summary
Analysis
The Chorus enters
and delivers the Prologue. He begins by assuring the audience that the play
will deal with neither epic, nor heroic, nor courtly matters, but merely with
“the form of Faustus'
fortunes, good or bad” (Prologue, 8).
The Chorus summarizes Faustus's
biography, including his humble origins, precociousness as a student, interest
in necromancy, and eventual fall from grace, comparing him to Icarus, whose
“waxen wings” (Prologue, 20) melted when he flew too close to the sun.
Summary (Scene I)
Alone in his study (in Wittenberg,
Germany), Faustus delivers his first soliloquy. He
professes to have sounded the depths of each major field of study and to have
found each undeserving of his full attention: logic, because he has already
mastered its “chiefest end,” (I, 8), which is to dispute well; medicine,
because even an excellent doctor cannot make men live forever or rise from the
dead; law, because it “aims at nothing but external trash” (1, 33-4); and
theology, because sin is unavoidable and its consequences too hard to face.
Faustus decides instead to devote himself
to gaining power through a mastery of magic. He praises the “necromantic books”
(1, 48) filled with “lines, circles, letters, characters” (1, 49) from which he
will learn the dark arts and obtain immense profit and power.
Wagner, Faustus's servant, enters. Faustus tells him to
invite the magicians Valdes and Cornelius to visit him. Wagner agrees and
exits, and Faustus says, “Their conference will be a greater help to me / Than
all my labors, plod I ne'er so fast” (1, 65-6).
As Faustus waits for Valdes and Cornelius to arrive,
the Good Angel and Bad Angel enter. The Good Angel begs Faustus
not to be tempted by the dark arts, and to read Scripture instead. The Bad
Angel encourages him to go forward with it, hinting that he stands to gain both
treasure and power. Both Angels exit.
Alone
again, Faustus delivers another soliloquy, imagining the “pleasant
fruits and princely delicates” (1, 82) his devil servants might fetch for him,
the secrets and “strange philosophy” (1, 83) they will share with him, and the
glory they will help him bring to Germany (and Wittenberg in particular) by
both political and military means – not to mention his own possible ascent to
the throne.
The
magicians Valdes and Cornelius arrive, and Faustus welcomes them, revealing his intention
to listen to their past encouragement to study necromancy and asking for their
help.
Valdes and Cornelius are excited that Faustus is going to try magic. Valdes
compares the power he'll have to Spanish lords, lions, German cavalrymen, and
even giants. Cornelius assures Faustus that he has all the background in
minerals, languages and astrology he needs to excel in the dark arts and obtain
limitless riches. Faustus, Valdes and Cornelius make plans to dine together,
and afterwards to hold Faustus's first magic lesson. All three exit.
Summary Scene
2
Two Scholars enter and
linger outside Faustus's house. One wonders what became of
Faustus, who was once was famous for his passion for logic.
The Scholars catch sight of Wagner, who enters. They question him as
to Faustus's whereabouts, and Wagner hedges,
mocking their academic language before finally revealing that Faustus is at
dinner with Valdes and Cornelius. Wagner exits.
The Scholars bemoan Faustus's turn towards necromancy, and resolve
to inform the head of the university of this development. They both exit.
Summary (Scene 3)
Faustus enters, looking up at
the night sky as a thunderstorm rages. Faustus describes how he has prayed and
sacrificed to the devils, drawing circles, signs and anagrams. (In the B-Text,
Lucifer and some devils are on-stage to hear this.) He begins his Latin
incantation, calling a number of devils by name, including Mephastophilis.
One devil, Mephastophilis, appears before Faustus, who immediately commands him to leave
and come back in a different shape: “Thou are too ugly to attend on me” (3,
26). He jokingly suggests a Franciscan friar, since “that holy shape becomes a
devil best” (3, 28). The devil exits, and Faustus marvels at how obedient he
is.
Mephastophilis re-enters and asks Faustus what he wants him to do. Faustus
commands him to wait on him, to do whatever he tells him to do, but
Mephastophilis replies that he can't obey without Lucifer's permission. Faustus asks if
Mephastophilis came because Lucifer ordered him to. Mephastophilis says no.
Faustus then asks if his conjuring made Mephastophilis appear. Again,
Mephastophilis says no. He explains that devils go to anyone who renounces God
and Christ in the hopes of getting the person's soul. This is what has drawn
Mephastophilis to Faustus.
Faustus asks Mephastophilis about Lucifer and the fallen angels: why they
fell, where they are damned, and how they can be outside Hell. Mephastophilis
explains that Lucifer and other angels were expelled from heaven for their
pride and insolence. Hell follows them; it is a state of mind rather than a
literal place. He begs Faustus to stop questioning him, since the memory of
being cast out of heaven is painful, and Faustus cruelly mocks him for his
misery.
Faustus tells Mephastophilis to propose a deal to Lucifer: Faustus will give Lucifer his soul in
return for 24 years with Mephastophilis as his servant. Mephastophilis vows to
confer with Lucifer and return with news. Faustus delivers a soliloquy,
reaffirming that he thinks the deal is worth the power he will get through
Mephastophilis and saying, “Had I as many souls as there be stars / I'd give
them all for Mephastophilis” (3, 101-2).
Summary (Scene 4)
Wagner enters and calls out to a Clown, calling him “boy” – which the clown,
entering too, takes as an insult. Wagner opines that the poor clown would give
the devil his soul for some mutton, and the two trade some wordplay.
Hoping to enlist the clown as his servant, Wagner threatens to turn all of his lice
into demons if he doesn't go into service for him for seven years, and he even
offers several coins, but the clown refuses.
Insisting that the clown has no choice, Wagner calls up two devils to prove his
point. The clown says he isn't afraid of devils, but when two devils enter, he
is terrified. Wagner sends the devils away, and they exit.
After the devils exit, the clown asks Wagner if while he's
in his service he can teach Robin magic. Wagner agrees, but reminds the clown
to call him “Master Wagner” and to walk attentively behind him at all times.
Thus, they exit.
Summary (Scene 5)
Faustus begins to doubt whether he has made
a good deal. He considers turning back to God, but ultimately rejects the idea,
telling himself, “The god thou servest is thine own appetite,” (5, 11).
The Good Angel and Evil Angel appear. The Good Angel tries to
convince Faustus to repent and seek God again,
asking him to think of heaven. The Evil Angel counters by telling Faustus to
think of wealth, which excites Faustus. The angels leave.
Faustus resolves to go with his deal,
thinking of all the wealth he will amass. He summons up Mephastophilis and asks if there is news from Lucifer. Mephastophilis announces that Lucifer
has accepted the deal, and that Faustus must sign an agreement with his
own blood to finalize the deal.
Faustus asks what Lucifer wants with his soul. Mephastophilis informs him that Lucifer seeks to
enlarge his kingdom and make others suffer as he does. Faustus eagerly cuts his
arm and prepares to sign a deed of gift to give his soul to Lucifer. His blood
congeals almost immediately, though, and Faustus wonders, “What might the
staying of my blood portend?” (5, 64)
After Mephastophilis brings hot
coals to warm his blood back into liquid, Faustus signs the
agreement. Immediately, he sees written on his arm the words homo
fuge (Latin for “Flee, man”). He panics and wonders where he could
flee to: “if unto God, he'll throw me down to hell.” (5, 77)
Mephastophilis leaves and re-enters with more
devils, bringing Faustus crowns and expensive clothing.
Mephastophilis promises Faustus that he now has access to riches and the
ability to call forth spirits. This comforts Faustus' anxieties about the deal,
and he gives Mephastophilis the signed agreement. He reads the contract, which
states that, in return for his soul, Faustus will have the powers of a spirit,
while Mephastophilis will be at his service, doing and bringing him whatever he
wants. Mephastophilis will appear whenever Faustus calls him and will be
invisible. Mephastophilis accepts the agreement.
With his newfound
power, Faustus first seeks to increase his knowledge. He
asks Mephastophilis exactly where hell is. Mephastophilis answers
that hell “hath no limits” (5, 120) and is wherever devils are. Faustus says he
doesn't believe in hell and is therefore not worried that he has given his soul
to Lucifer and will be damned to hell.
Mephastophilis says that he himself is proof of hell's existence, since he is
damned and in hell.
Faustus orders Mephastophilis to get him a wife and he returns with
a devil in women's clothing, which Faustus angrily rejects. Mephastophilis
gives Faustus a book filled with magic spells. He tells Faustus that the book
contains spells to raise up spirits, as well as knowledge of the planets, the
heavens, and all plants, herbs, and trees.
The mention of the heavens
causes Faustus to think of heaven and he debates
repenting and renouncing magic. At this, the Good Angel and Evil Angel appear. The Good Angel encourages
Faustus to repent and promises God's forgiveness, but the Evil Angel says that
God would not pity Faustus. The angels leave and Faustus says he cannot repent.
After resolving not to
repent, Faustus continues asking Mephastophilis questions. He asks him about
astronomy, the planets, and the universe. He asks who made the world and
Mephastophilis refuses to answer, saying that giving the answer would be
“against our kingdom,” (5, 245). Mephastophilis leaves and Faustus again questions
whether he should repent.
As soon as Faustus mentions possibly repenting, the
angels appear again. The Evil Angel tells him it is too late to repent,
but the Good Angel says that it is never too late. The
angels leave and Faustus cries out for Christ to save his soul.
At Faustus' invocation of Christ, Mephastophilis appears with Lucifer and Belzebub (another devil).
Lucifer tells Faustus that Christ cannot save him and that his talk of Christ
“injures” the devils. He tells Faustus not to think of God, but rather of the
devil, with whom he has made his agreement. Faustus vows not to speak of God or
heaven anymore.
Lucifer announces that he has come to
show Faustus the Seven Deadly Sins “in their
proper shapes,” (5, 274) for which Faustus is excited. As each personified sin
enters, Faustus questions them. The sins are Pride, Covetousness, Wrath, Envy,
Gluttony, Sloth, and Lechery. Each describes the qualities of their own sin.
Faustus is pleased at seeing
the sins, and eagerly asks Lucifer to see hell. Lucifer says that he
will send for Faustus at midnight and encourages him to peruse the book of
spells in the meantime, from which he can learn how to change his shape.
Summary (Scene 6)
A stablehand
named Robin enters and announces that he has stolen one
of Faustus' conjuring books. He is eager to learn some magic, but is
interrupted by Rafe, another stablehand, who comes to tell Robin that a
gentleman needs his horse and things looked after. Robin tells Rafe that he has
a book of spells and claims that he can do all sorts of fantastic things with
magic. They leave to attempt some magic.
Chorus 2
Alone on the
stage, Wagner announces that Faustus has ridden in a chariot drawn by
dragons through the sky to learn the secrets of astronomy and is now flying
around the globe. Wagner guesses that Faustus will go to Rome first.
Summary (Scene 7)
Faustus enters with Mephastophilis. Faustus recounts how they have traveled
throughout Europe and asks Mephastophilis if they are now in Rome, where he had
ordered Mephastophilis to bring him. Mephastophilis answers that they are
in the pope's “privy chamber,” (7, 24). Faustus
is eager to see the monuments of the city of Rome. Mephastophilis suggests
that they stay in the pope's room, instead, and play some tricks on the pope.
Faustus agrees and Mephastophilis casts a spell that makes Faustus invisible.
In the B-text, the pope enters along with attendants
and Bruno, a rival for the office of pope who was
supported by the German emperor. The pope humiliates and ridicules Bruno for
opposing him. Mephastophilis and Faustus disguise themselves as two cardinals and the pope gives Bruno to them to
be executed. Instead, they help Bruno escape to Germany. When the actual two
cardinals return to the pope, he asks them whether Bruno has been executed but
they are confused and swear they were never given Bruno. All of this is only in
the B-text and does not occur in the A-text.
In the A-text,
the pope enters with a cardinal and some friars, ready to eat at a
banquet. Faustus and Mephastophilis, invisible, curse loudly and snatch dishes
from the table. The pope and the friars think that a ghost is harassing them.
The pope crosses himself, and the friars sing a dirge to drive the spirit away.
Faustus and Mephastophilis beat the friars, fling fireworks everywhere, and
then leave.
Summary (Scene 8)
Robin and Rafe enter
with a silver goblet they have stolen. They are attempting to use Faustus' book to conjure. A vintner (wine
merchant) interrupts them, demanding they pay for the goblet. They deny that
they have the goblet, and Robin casts a spell to conjure up Mephastophilis, who scares the vintner away.
Mephastophilis is angry at being summoned by the lowly Robin and Rafe and being
called away from Faustus (who is in Constantinople). He threatens to transform
Robin and Rafe into animals and leaves.
Chorus 3
The chorus enters and tells the audience
that Faustus has returned home from his travels,
amazing his friends with what he has learned of astrology and the world. As
word of his knowledge has spread, Faustus has now been invited to feast with
the German Emperor Charles V.
Summary (Scene 9)
In the B-text, two men at the court
of emperor Charles V, named Martino and Frederick, discuss Bruno's escape from the pope and the
now-famous Doctor Faustus. A knight named Benvolio arrives. He is not impressed by
Faustus' devil-inspired conjuring and says that he will not go to court to see
Faustus. This entire scene is not in the A-text at all.
At the court of the emperor, Charles V eagerly asks Faustus to prove his skills in magic by
performing a spell, though a knight (the same character as Benvolio in the B-text) at court is
skeptical of Faustus. Faustus agrees and the emperor asks him to bring forth
the spirit of Alexander the Great, since the emperor greatly admires the famous
conqueror.
The skeptical knight doesn't believe that Faustus can bring Alexander forth, and
leaves, not wanting to be present for the conjuring. Faustus has Mephastophilis leave and return with the spirits of
Alexander and Alexander's paramour. The emperor examines the spirits and remarks
that he thinks they are the true bodies of Alexander and his lover. (In the
B-text, Alexander appears with his rival Darius, king of Persia, whom he then
defeats.)
The spirits leave, and Faustus asks for the emperor to call the skeptical knight back to court. The knight re-enters
and now has horns on his head, the result of a curse from Faustus in return for
his rudeness. The emperor asks Faustus to take the horns away; Faustus relents.
The emperor promises Faustus a reward for his display of magic, before leaving.
Faustus tells Mephastophilis that he wants to return to Wittenberg.
In the B-text, after Faustus leaves, Martino and Frederick re-enter with Benvolio. Irritated by Faustus' prank, Benvolio
plots to kill Faustus. Martino and Frederick reluctantly agree to help. They
hide to ambush Faustus, unaware that he has a false (prosthetic) head to trick
them. Benvolio decapitates Faustus and celebrates his victory. The three men
plan to disfigure the head, when they realize that Faustus is still alive.
Faustus sends devils to punish Benvolio, Frederick, and Martino for their
attempted ambush, tormenting them and putting horns on all their heads. Again,
none of this occurs in the A-text.
Summary (Scene 10)
Back in Wittenberg, Faustus meets with a horse-courser (horse trader) and sells him his
horse. He warns the trader not to ride the horse into water. Faustus begins to
worry about his impending death and damnation. He falls asleep.
The horse-courser returns, completely wet, and
angrily calls for Faustus. He had ridden the horse out into the
middle of a pond (thinking that Faustus' warning was an attempt to hide some
magic skill of the horse), at which point the horse turned into a pile of hay
and he fell into the water. The horse-courser shouts in Faustus' ear and pulls
on his leg to wake him. Faustus' leg comes off, and the shocked horse-courser
flees. Faustus' leg is instantly restored, and he laughs at the
horse-courser. Wagner arrives to tell Faustus that his
company is requested by the Duke of Vanholt, “an honorable gentleman,” (10, 74).
In the B-text, Robin and Rafe have a drink at a tavern. At the bar, a carter (a cart-driver) tells them that he
ran into Faustus on a road and Faustus paid him to
give him all of the hay from his wagon, which Faustus then promptly ate.
The horse-courser is also at the bar, and joins in
the conversation, telling everyone about the horse he bought from Faustus and
how it transformed on the water. The horse-courser acts as if he got revenge,
though, by tearing Faustus' leg off, neglecting to tell the other bar patrons
that this was only a fake leg. This tavern scene does not appear in the A-text.
Summary (Scene 11)
The Duke and Duchess of Vanholt entertain Faustus (and Mephastophilis) at court. Faustus asks the Duchess what he
can conjure that would please her, and she asks him to make a plate of grapes
appear, since it is the middle of winter (and grapes are only available in the
summer). Mephastophilis leaves and brings back grapes. The Duke is intrigued
and asks Faustus how he procured grapes in the middle of winter. Faustus
answers that when it is winter in Germany, it is summer in opposite parts of
the globe. He sent “a swift spirit that I have” (11, 21) to bring the grapes from
afar. Faustus encourages the Duchess to eat the grapes, and she says they are
the best she's ever tasted. The Duke and Duchess promise to reward Faustus for
his display of magic.
Chorus 4
In a brief interlude between
scenes, Wagner thinks aloud to the audience
that Faustus must be nearing death, because he
has given Wagner all of his possessions. But Wagner is confused, because
Faustus is feasting, carousing, and enjoying himself, which does not seem to
Wagner like the behavior of someone about to die.
Summary (Scene 12)
Faustus and Mephastophilis are
with several scholars.
One of them asks Faustus to conjure up Helen,
the mythical Greek woman who was supposedly the most beautiful woman in the
world. Faustus summons her. Helen walks across the stage, to the awe and
delight of the scholars, who leave after Helen disappears.
An old man enters
and tries to attempt Faustus to
repent. Faustus is enraged and shouts that he is damned and ought to die. Mephastophilis gives
Faustus a dagger. The old man says he sees an angel over Faustus' head,
offering him mercy. Faustus tells the man to leave him so he can think about
his sins.
Faustus says
he wants to repent. In response, Mephastophilis calls
him a traitor and threaten to “in piecemeal tear thy flesh,” (12, 59). Faustus
apologizes and says he will re-confirm his vow to Lucifer.
Faustus tells Mephastophilis to torment the old man for making him doubt his
bargain, and then asks him to make Helen his
lover, so that her “sweet embracings may extinguish clean” his anxieties about
his deal with Lucifer.
Helen appears
and Faustus begs
for her kiss, asking her to “give me my soul again,” (12, 85). The old man
re-enters. Faustus is obsessed with Helen's beauty, and the pair leave. The old
man laments Faustus' miserable fate. A group of devils appear to torment the
old man, who says that his faith in God will triumph over the devils.
Summary (Scene 13)
Faustus enters
with the scholars from
earlier. Faustus is in despair, as the end of his deal with Lucifer is
approaching. Faustus laments his sins, and the scholars tell him to seek God's
mercy. But Faustus answers that God cannot pardon him. He reveals that he has
given away his soul for all the knowledge he has acquired. The scholars are
horrified.
Faustus explains
that he wanted to go back on his deal, but Mephastophilis threatened
to tear him to pieces. The scholars leave
to go pray for Faustus. The clock strikes eleven and Faustus realizes he has
one hour left to live. Faustus cries out and begs time to stand still and for
the day not to end.
Faustus cries
to God for help, but at the name of God he feels pain in his heart (because he
has given Lucifer his
soul). He begs Lucifer to spare him, then asks the earth to gape open and save
him from hell. He asks the stars to carry him up to the sky.
The
clock rings out: Faustus has
half an hour left. He begs God for mercy and asks to be in hell a thousand or a
hundred thousand years and then be saved, rather than being eternally damned.
He curses Lucifer and
himself. Midnight comes, and Faustus despairs. Devils enter and carry Faustus
off as he continues to cry out, promising to burn his books.
Epilogue
The chorus announces that Faustus is gone and tells the audience to
see his downfall as an example of why they should not try to learn “unlawful
things,” (Epilogue, 6) that tempt wise men “to practice more than heavenly
power permits,” (Epilogue, 8).
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