Studies in Literature and Language
“Who Was Then the Gentleman?” : Devil, Faustus or God1? Marlowe’s “Mighty Line”2 and the Devils’ Craft
Abstract
As a new born of the Renaissance, like many his peers, Faustus craves for classical knowledge while thinking less of Christianity. He changes from an innocent mistaker to a grievous sinner, however, at the start he is not a sinner, and what he requires is not overdone. His two weak points – the ignorance of Christianity and the extreme desire of knowledge—are grasped by devils to choose him as the victim of temptation, as well as the breakthrough to take down the whole Wittenberg. In fact, he is tempted by devils step by step from mistake to sin, and also turns the whole city into a desire swelling hell. The result is not only of Faustus and the devils’ effort, but God’s absence in the play as well. In this battle with God, devils do far more things than God, both mentally and materially, which lead to Faustus’s suspicion and despair of God so that the devils finally win.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/n
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