Subscribe for ad free access & additional features for teachers. Authors: 267, Books: 3,607, Poems & Short Stories: 4,435, Forum Members: 71,154, Forum Posts: 1,238,602, Quizzes: 344
The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus - 1604
From the Quarto of 1604
THE TRAGICALL HISTORY OF D. FAUSTUS. AS IT HATH BENE ACTED BY THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE EARLE OF NOTTINGHAM HIS SERUANTS. WRITTEN BY CH. MARL.
In reprinting this edition, I have here and there amended the text by means of the later 4tos,--1616, 1624, 1631.--Of 4to 1663, which contains various comparatively modern alterations and additions, I have made no use. EDITED BY THE REV. ALEXANDER DYCE.
This play is based on the German Faustbuch, which was the first dramatised version of the Faust legend of a scholar's dealing with the devil. While versions of "The Devil's Pact" can be traced back to the 4th century, Marlowe deviates significantly by having his hero unable to "burn his books" or repent to a merciful God in order to have his contract annulled at the end of the play. Marlowe's protagonist is instead carried off by demons, and in the 1616 quarto his mangled corpse is found by several scholars. Doctor Faustus is a textual problem for scholars as two versions of the play exist: the 1604 quarto, also known as the A text, and the 1616 quarto or B text. Both were published after Marlowe's death. Scholars have disagreed which text is more representative of Marlowe's original, and some editions are based on a combination of the two. The latest scholarly consensus (as of the late 20th century) holds the A text as more representative because it contains irregular character names and idiosyncratic spelling, which are believed to reflect a text based on the author's handwritten manuscript, or "foul papers." The B text, in comparison, was highly edited, censored because of shifting theatre laws regarding religious words onstage, and contains several additional scenes which scholars believe to be the additions of other playwrights, particularly Samuel Rowley and William Bird (alias Borne).
Fan of this book? Help us introduce it to others by writing a better introduction for it. It's quick and easy, click here.
Recent Forum Posts on The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus - 1604
Dr.Faustus as a tragedy
Hi everybody, I have to write on "Dr.Faustus as a tragedy ,"please help me as you can rupal
The Fate of Dr. Faustus
This question sparked an interesting discussion years ago in a graduate seminar on Elizabethan literature - perhaps it will do the same here. For those who have read the play, we know that Dr. Faustus ends the play waiting for the demons to conduct him to Hell as per the terms of his agreement with Mephistopheles. Here is an excerpt from his final moments: Oh, the half the hour is past! 'twill all be passed anon. O God, If thou wilt not have mercy on my soul, Yet for Christ's sake, whose blood hath ransomed me, Impose some end to my incessant pain; Let Faustus live in hell a thousand years, A hundred thousand, and at last be saved! Was Faustus saved? We know that his mutilated body is discovered in the morning, but what of his soul? Was his request sufficient? Or do you accept the generally accepted conclusion that he got what he asked for, got what his blood-signed signature required?
Post a New Comment/Question on The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus - 1604
Please submit a quiz here.
Here is where you find links to related content on this site or other sites, possibly including full books or essays about Christopher Marlowe written by other authors featured on this site.
Sorry, no links available.
