Amazon.com: Dr. Faustus (Dover Thrift Editions): Christopher Marlowe: Books

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Krissy and Luke have combined their talents to make a super book that gives readers all they need to know to understand the language of Nick the cat. --New York Times. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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One of the glories of Elizabethan drama: Marlowe's powerful retelling of the story of the learned German doctor who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledge and power. Footnotes.

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Product Details

Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: Dover Publications (October 20, 1994)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0486282082
ISBN-13: 978-0486282084
Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,571 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
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#1 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( M ) > Marlowe, Christopher
#55 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Drama > British & Irish

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Citations (learn more)

100 books cite this book:

The Plays of Christopher Marlowe and George Peele: Rhetoric and Renaissance Sensibility by Brian B. Ritchie on 30 pages
Travel and Drama in Shakespeare's Time by Jean-Pierre Maquerlot on 8 pages
Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human by Harold Bloom on 6 pages
History of the Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus 1592 by William Rose on 4 pages
Transatlantic Modernism: Moral Dilemmas in Modernist Fiction by Martin Halliwell on 4 pages

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	88% buy the item featured on this page: Dr. Faustus (Dover Thrift Editions) 4.4 out of 5 stars (28) $2.00
	4% buy Doctor Faustus: With The English Faust Book 5.0 out of 5 stars (2) $6.95
	3% buy Faust: A Tragedy (Norton Critical Editions) 4.7 out of 5 stars (6) $16.87
	3% buy Dr. Faustus $4.95

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Customer Reviews

28 Reviews

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4 star:		(9)
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Average Customer Review

4.4 out of 5 stars (28 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The English Faust, October 9, 2000

By	Dmitrij Gawrisch (Bern, Schweiz) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Not everybody knows Faust(us). But a lot do. Most readers know this tragic personnage who allied himself with the devil and finally paid the price for his betrayal of God from a famous play written by J.W. Goethe. It was him who wrote the most famous version of Faust's history. (If you want to know more about Goethe's work, please visit my reviewer page.) But he wasn't the only dramatist who considered this lost magician worth a tragedy. Exactly 2 centuries and 1 year before Goethe published his work, a play by the Englishman Christopher Marlowe saw the light of the world.

Marlowe and Goethe are different personalities living in completely different times so that it's no wonder their plays vary in character. Goethe lived in prosperity and had all his life to think about subjects like human nature, social relationships, history and its influence on the present, love, religion and much more. He was a philosoph, and that's the reason why Goethe's "Faust" is sometimes difficult to understand because you have to dive under the surface of things to understand their true nature. Marlowe's work is different: This man was certainly very intelligent and knew a lot about the forces that moved the world, but, unlike Goethe, he didn't have a lifetime to think about one single play. You can imagine that Marlowe's "Faust" became more shallow, but still not shallow enough to be ignored by this imaginary institution we call World Literature. As a compensation, Marlowe's work contains more life and action in it, something I can't say about Goethe's. Both men were geniuses. In this review, I'd like to pay my tribute to the Englishman.

As stated above, the play tells the story of a medieval scientist who allies himself with the devil. The latter promises to serve the first in this world, whereas Faust must do the same in hell. The poor doctor doubts his choices because it's his soul being sold, still he follows the devil and has the time of his life. I beg your pardon, for I feel the need to return to Goethe to show you another important difference between both versions: Whereas Marlowe's Faust wants the devil to provide him with fun and all richness of the world (materialism), Goethe's alter ego feels the importance to be educated by the devil to get a complete picture of the world. At the end, Marlowe's Faust realizes that all experiences weren't worth his soul. He begs God to save him, but it is no longer possible. The devil tears his body apart and takes his soul with him to infinite sufferings.

The effect this play had on me was tremedous. Fascinated, I watched Faust's development. I particularly liked the 5th act where he realizes that all is finally lost. You can really feel his pain in those scenes; the effect is unbelievable.

So, if you want to be touched by human tragedy, I really advise you to read this book. It's done very quickly, so you needn't worry about the time it takes. If you want to make a step further and find additional material on Faust, read Goethe's "Faust 1" as well as Thomas Mann's "Doctor Faustus". It's a marvelous novel and the most modern narration based on the medieval German scientist named Johann(es) Faust(us).

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24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Retelling of the Faust Legend, September 30, 2000

By A Customer

In the Faust legend, a man by the name of Faust or Faustus sells his soul to the devil for twenty-four years of worldly power. This legend has been told many times over by such writers as Goethe and Mann, but no doubt the most famous retelling, and probably the best, is the play, Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe.

The most prominent influence on Marlowe's version of the Faust legend was the social upheaval during the time period in which it was written. Doctor Faustus was probably first performed in 1594, a time of tremendous change in Europe. The Medieval times were over and the Renaissance was beginning, however, influences of both times can be found in the play. Doctor Faustus is a transitional play where beliefs from both time periods intermingle, sometimes with disastrous results.

Doctor Faustus, himself, is a man torn between two traditions. He is a man with medieval beliefs, but renaissance aspirations. When he first attempts to conjure Mephistopheles, Faustus believe that Mephistopheles was forced to come by his (Faustus's) words. In response, Mephistopheles says, "for when we hear one rack the name of God, abjure the Scriptures and his savior Christ, we fly in hope to get his glorious soul." Mephistopheles has, of course, come of his own accord, because he feels that there is a soul to be had. He states this blatantly, yet Faustus is clouded by his old beliefs and also by his desires.

From a medieval point of view, Doctor Faustus can be looked upon as a morality play; a play about one man who aspires beyond his God-given place in the world. On the other hand, from a renaissance perspective, this play is a tragedy. The Renaissance was a time of individuality unlike the Middle Ages where a man was trapped in whatever social class into which he was born. Faustus is "an essentially good man" by Renaissance ideals who believes he has reached the end of human knowledge and is thus justified is using the black arts to further his knowledge. As in most classical tragedies, his downfall is complete and is due to his pride.

After Faustus makes his deal with Lucifer, the question must be asked: Is there any way back for him? Faustus believes he is damned at the moment that he signs his name in blood, although he has many chances to repent during the course of the play. The first chance comes after his first conjuring. He says, "O something soundeth in mine ear, 'Abjure this magic, turn to God.' Aye, and Faustus will turn to God again. To God? He loves thee not." Something is pleading for Faustus to repent, but Faustus remains firm in believing God has already condemned him. Each time the Good Angel appears is yet another chance for Faustus to repent, but the Evil Angel continues to threaten him if he even thinks about repenting. If it were not possible for Faustus to save his soul, then the Evil Angel and his demons would have simply left Faustus alone to cry out in anguish to God.

The final indicator that Faustus could have been saved at any point over his twenty-four year bargain is given by Mephistopheles, himself, as Faustus's fate is sealed beyond irrevocability.

Christopher Marlowe's brilliant retelling of the Faust legend springs not only from his own creativity, but from the times in which he lived. Marlowe's life and times allowed him to create the greatest retelling of one of Western cultures more timeless stories. When put to words, the legend seems so simple, yet its possibilities and implications, as Marlowe proves, can be nothing less than monumental.

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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a masterpiece, but close!, March 5, 2000

By	Sean Ares Hirsch (Swan Lake, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doctor Faustus (Signet Classics, Cq452. the Signet Classic World Drama Series) (Paperback)

I do not feel Marlowe's "Faustus" is quite as good as his "Massacre at Paris" or "Edward II," but I still consider it an outstanding play. "Faustus" is very true to life in that many people can not stay behind the 'this far and no further point.' The opening is quite chilling as Faustus decides that the legitimate knowledge of this world is not good enough and he immediately decides to cross into forbidden territory even at the expense of his soul. To this day, I never have forgotten the chills I felt in 2.1 when Faustus signs the unholy contract. It is interesting that even after Faustus signs the contract, that he is presented with several oppurtunities to escape his fate: "Faustus, repent; yet God will pity thee" (2.2.12). But he can not give up the fruits of the contract. (His powers, having Mephostophilis at his command, etc.) After the chilling tension of the first 2 acts, Marlowe releases the tension for the next two acts by having Faustus perform several practical jokes (of an evil nature to be sure), but nevertheless it offers a release of tension while at the same time we can see how malignant Faustus has become. I once read that many people feel the 3rd and 4th act are way too silly and that they drag the play down. But I don't think this is the case at all. I can not help but think Marlowe was trying to point out that in all honesty, there was a worthless aspect of the fruits Faustus sold his soul for. Furthermore, Acts 3 and 4 help us to see the mentally disturbed side of Christopher Marlowe himself. In 5.1, Faustus has 1 final chance to avoid his fate, but he resolves himself to damnation after enjoying Helen of Troy. If I were a betting man I would be willing to wage that Marlowe is pointing out that sex is an ultimate driving force. To this day, I have never been able to forget the final soliloquy of despair in 5.2 followed by the demons carrying Faustus off to hell. Marlowe himself dedicated much of his life to blasphemy, and I can not help but feel he was coming to terms with the church and starting to realize he better cut it out or else. Not only is this an excellent play, but it also helps us to take a look at Marlowe himself.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Ah, good and bad
I loved the book, really. The Faustian debacle is indeed very alluring and the quasi love story involved is well played out. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Alex A. Lazo

5.0 out of 5 stars Repent
What Christopher Marlowe has created in Doctor Faustus is nothing short of spectacular. The choices Dr. Read more

Published 10 months ago by Jewel Leydecker

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and a must read!
By his untimely death at 29 Christopher Marlowe had written this and other plays (including The Jew of Malta) which inspired a beginning William Shakespeare to sharpen his craft... Read more

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5.0 out of 5 stars Read the man who inspired William Shakespeare
By his untimely death at 29 Christopher Marlowe had written this and other plays (including The Jew of Malta) which inspired a beginning William Shakespeare to sharpen his craft... Read more

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4.0 out of 5 stars The Price of Fame....
Tells the tale of the unfortunate Doctor John Faustus - who in return for 24 years of fame and fortune sells his soul to Lucifer. Read more

Published on September 29, 2006 by Brian Asquith

5.0 out of 5 stars Marlowe's Masterpiece.
If you saw "Shakespeare In Love," you know this was the play of Marlowe's that was getting so much attention. Read more

Published on July 23, 2006 by Bradley Headstone

5.0 out of 5 stars "This word damnation terrifies not him"
Christopher Marlowe is awsone. What other Renaissance writer was a freakin' spy? I mean, I like Shakespeare's plays and all, but as a person he's boring unless he's being played... Read more

Published on January 30, 2006 by D. C. Ober

3.0 out of 5 stars Doctor Faustus Review
Plot:

Doctor Faustus tells the story of a medieval scientist who in search for power and riches relinquishes science for necromancy and thus allies himself with... Read more

Published on November 22, 2005 by Sam Tales

5.0 out of 5 stars No work of the devil, this...
'Was this the face that launched a thousand ships...' There are so many great lines in this play! The greatness of Marlowe was recognised in his own time (a gentle modern reminder... Read more

Published on October 3, 2005 by FrKurt Messick

3.0 out of 5 stars Not completely satisfying
The story of Dr. Faustus is that of a supremely educated man seeking still more knowledge. The only way he sees to get what he desires is to make a deal with the devil. Read more

Published on July 10, 2005 by Christopher Hivner

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