Dr. faustus
...vident when Mephastophilis states that he came because he heard Faustus curse the name of God, not because Faustus demanded him to come: “For when we hear one rack the name of God, Abjure the Scriptures and his saviour Christ, We fly, in hope to get his glorious soul” (I, iii, 47-9). This scene shows that Faustus ignorantly believes that Mephastophilis is already under his control just by appearing to him, when a member of an audience can clearly see that he is not. Throughout the scene, Faustus’ interest in hell and Lucifer can clearly be seen as it develops from curiosity into obsession. He questions Mephastophilis relentlessly on the darker side of religion, demanding to receive the answers. He begins his inquiry by asking, “Tell me, what is that Lucifer thy lord?” (I, iii, 63) Through his questions to Mephastophilis we see that Faustus’ interest in Lucifer is so deep, that it is blinding, even when Mephastophilis tells Faustus that Lucifer was banished from heaven for aspiring pride and insolence: “O, by aspiring pride and insolence, For which God threw him from the face of heaven” (I, iii, 68-9) One can observe that Faustus blithely dismisses Mephastophilis’ forewarning. Faustus’ ignorance causes him to exhibit blindness, and through that blindness it can be seen that he visualizes the world as he wants it to be, not as it actually exists. His conversation with Mephastophilis continues and Faustus expresses the wish to sell his soul to Lucifer in exchange for 24 years of Mephastophilis’ service: “Say he surrenders up to him his soul, So he will spare him for four and twenty years,” (I, iii 90-1) Such a foolhardy deal reflects his need for power which he gains through control. The need for power shows a great weakness in his personality, while rendering the his character more interesting. Through Page 2 Mephastophilis’ veiled warnings, the audience is able to foresee Faustus’ future eternal damnation even though Faustus, himself, is blinded by the present possibility of great power. This is one of the key hooks to this scene because it creates suspense, and interest while further developing the oblivious faucet of Faustus’ nature. Faustus’ soliloquy (“Had I as many souls as there be stars, I’d give them all for Mephastophilis!”, (I, iii, 102-3) as the scene closes (I, iii, 102-14), clearly identifies his desire of the power that he will soon receive and a longing for control that he perceives will accompany it. It becomes apparent that Faustus is a truly misguided soul who is not satisfied with himself and thus strives to control his surroundings and manipulate them until he is satisfied. Faustus connects the total servitude of Mephastophilis to his opportunity to fulfill the void created in his life by his demanding nature and fixates on it, confiding, “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, iii, 104-6). Faustus is revealing his sick obsession with the notion of the supernatural control, as well as the power associated with it that Mephastophilis can bring him openly to the audience to ensure the audience a clear understanding of the depths into which his charac...