Let’s all just pretend this wasn’t uploaded as late as it was. Faustus really is a fantastic play though. I’d love to stage it someday. Anyway, without further delay, here are my questions for Faustus:
1. What purpose does Marlowe’s constant self-parody in the play serve? (Referring to the juxtaposition of dramatic scenes/comedic scenes and their mirror relationship)
2. How are Wagner and (especially) Robin and Ralph able to use the black magic which Faustus had to sell his soul to obtain?
3. Related to the above; the use of books as containing knowledge, often fatal knowledge, is a prevalent image in Faustus. Does the play adopt a pro or anti-print stance (particularly regarding the dissemination of books)?
4. Of Faustus himself, not much is known at the beginning, apart from his intelligence and his base birth. How do particular presumptions of Faustus inform our understanding of his actions? Does our understanding of Faustus’ actions change because we know he is of base birth? Does our understanding of Faustus’ actions change if we presume him to be young? Old?
5. The play, after Faustus’ contract with the devil, does not have the clearest sense of chronology. How do Faustus’ attitudes at the end of the play compare to his attitudes at the beginning of the play? His relationship with Mephistophilis? What happened in the sections of the 24 years we did not see?
