Discuss the Renaissance elements in Dr. Faustus?
-: RENAISSANCE:-
Renaissance means Re-birth or re-awakning.
Renaissance originated in Italy in the 13th century. Constantinople, the capital of
Byzantine empires fell to the Turks on 1353. This is taken as the official date of the
beginning of Renaissance.
But, it required more than 100years to Eros's the english cannel and makes it is
presence established in english soil.
The most important thing in the Renaissance is craving for 'knowledge infinite'.
HOW IS DR.FAUSTUS AS A RENAISSANCE PLAY?
Dr Faustus of Marlow is rather an embodiment of the spirit of Renaissance with its
dreams and desires, with its yearing for limitless knowledge and power, with its craving
for sensuousness and mundane pleasures of life n not just a cunning magician of the
medieval age including in his miraculous feats.
Marlow Faustus has a revolutionary spirit and that why he challenges god, religion,
conventional morality and dogmas of medieval Christianity.
-: RENAISSANCE ELEMENT IN DR. FAUSTUS:-
∆YEARNING FOR KNOWLEDGE
∆INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY
∆LOVE OF BEAUTY
∆WEALTH AND EXPLORATION
∆DISREGARD FOR THE AUTHORITY OF THE POPE
YEARNING FOR KNOWLEDGE
>The most important desire Dr.Faustus is that he has unequalled thirst for knowledge. In
the begning of the play or Faustus considers the importance of various subjects. The
considers the importance of many subjects like logic, medicine, law, and rheology.
Ex:-
•O, what a world of profit and delight,
•Of power, of honour, of omnipotence,
•Is promised to the studious artisan!
•All things that move between the quiet poles
•Shall be at my command.
INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY
>There was an intellectual curiosity during the Renaissance. The Renaissance was a time
of discovery and curiosity. It opened a new world of imagination.
>In Dr.Faustus, Marlow has expressed such ideas,
>When Faustus say, O, What a world of profit and delight of power, of honour, of
omnipotence, is provided to the studies arrogant!
>All things that move between the quite poles shall be at my command.
WEALTH AND EXPLORATION
>Dr.Faustus desired wealth after his agreement with the device he would have spirits at
his command to do whatever he liked.
LOVE AND BEAUTY
>Besides having love of knowledge, power, wordt. Pleasures Dr. FAUSTUS has the
Renaissance love of beauty.
DISREGARD FOR THE AUTHORIY OF THE POPE
>During the Renaissance period many people questioned the authority of the church and
the Pope. Dr. FAUSTUS not only disregarded the Pope and the Bishops, when he stayed in
Pope's place.
In conclusion>
>After going through all the elements of Renaissance in Doctors Faustus we can clearly
concluded that Doctore Faustus is a Renaissance hero. However, there are few anti-
renaissance scenes present in Doctors Faustus.
