Doctor Faustus’s Attitude toward and use of Knowledge and Learning Doctor Faustus shows great knowledge and learning but the way he describes and uses the knowledge he knows is different from how others would take it. Doctor Faustus’s knowledge is vast and great but certain goals cannot be obtain because reality refuses to let it happen. Because of that, Doctor Faustus’s character development throughout the story goes up and down, and Faustus would choose his decisions by only the present and not the future results it would occur to him.
Doctor Faustus reveals a lot about himself as the story progresses. Faustus doesn’t like the boundaries created in many of the subjects he studies for: law, medicine and religion. The black arts come to Faustus and soon studies to become a magician, and summons Mephastophilis, the devil, to ask him to talk to Lucifer to make an offer. Faustus will sell his soul in exchange of 24 years of service by Mephastophilis. Mephastophilis has explained the dangers of this but Faustus doesn’t care for it and continues the offer.
Faustus portrays that he doesn’t care for the circumstances for himself. The commitment he made to the dark arts shows how Faustus cares for knowledge in a way because he wants riches and supremacy of Germany. Faustus images this before the deal he made, and the choice was that he wants it. Doctor Faustus had a great want for knowledge but many hurdles came in the way on how to use that knowledge. Faustus wanted to obtain more, and summoning Mephastophilis open a door for him to explore in ways. Faustus offering his soul to the devil is a choice he made.
The Essay on Dr Faustus Knowledge And Power
By: Mark Daugherty In Dr. Faustus, Christopher Marlowe uses the resolution of the conflict between Dr. Faustus and the beliefs of his time to explore the idea of man's place in the universe. In Faustus' time, it was believed that man had a place in the universe, and man must stay within his boundaries. It can be shown that Dr. Faustus stepped out of his place, failed in his attempt repent his ...
Faustus had no care for how he would get knowledge, he wanted some type of power greater than god or something unobtainable people can’t obtain. By asking for eternal life, Faustus was making decisions for certain goals. Once decisions are made, Faustus would regret the choice towards the end of his life. Faustus knew what problems would come at him because Mephastophilis acknowledged the problems before Faustus ordered to sell his soul. Faustus had no care in way; he just wanted what he wanted.
Faustus didn’t know how to use the knowledge he has in his brain. Faustus knew a great deal of information, he’s a scholar. What Faustus doesn’t know is what is okay and what is not okay. Faustus wanted fun, so he got fun. Using women as toys and playing jokes on the minority and people Faustus thought was under him. Making decisions that didn’t help Faustus in any way until it was too late for him to go back. Doctor Faustus understood the knowledge he was given but he didn’t have the wisdom or the smarts to use the knowledge given to him.
The tragedy is that because of the decisions Faustus chose with the knowledge, nothing work for him in the end. The only end Faustus has is Hell with Mephastophilis and Lucifer eternally. In a way, Faustus has obtained eternal life, but he wasn’t expecting the way he wanted. All decisions created by Faustus led to a tragedy, with the great knowledge he obtain, he didn’t know how to use it properly. Faustus looks at knowledge as a great aide in everything but the one who uses that knowledge depends on the person.
