DOCTOR FAUSTUS Meaning and
Definition
-
Doctor Faustus is a term that primarily refers to the main character in Christopher Marlowe's play, "The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus." However, Doctor Faustus has also come to signify a wider concept within literature, folklore, and popular culture.
In Marlowe's play, Doctor Faustus is a highly intelligent and ambitious scholar who becomes disillusioned with conventional knowledge and yearns for more power and wisdom. He seeks to surpass the limits of human intellectual capabilities and makes a pact with the Devil, Mephistopheles, to gain supernatural abilities and knowledge. This pact leads him on a path of moral corruption and desolation, ultimately leading to his tragic downfall and damnation.
Beyond the play, the term "Doctor Faustus" has come to embody the archetype of the individual who seeks forbidden knowledge or power at the expense of their soul and moral integrity. It has become synonymous with the Faustian Bargain, representing the dangers of unchecked ambition and the pursuit of personal gain without considering the consequences. The story of Doctor Faustus has been retold and reimagined in various forms of literature, music, theater, and film, becoming a symbol of the human desire for transcendence and the potential dangers such desires can bring.
In summary, Doctor Faustus refers to the main character in Marlowe's play and the wider concept of an individual who makes a deal with the Devil, forsaking their soul for supernatural powers and knowledge. It portrays the tragic consequences of unchecked ambition and serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of sacrificing one's humanity for personal gain.
Etymology of DOCTOR FAUSTUS
The word Doctor Faustus is derived from the character's full name in the play by German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, titled Faust. The etymology of the name Faust is uncertain, but it is believed to come from the Latin word faustum, which means auspicious or lucky. The character of Faust was a scholar who made a pact with the devil, seeking ultimate knowledge and pleasure. The title Doctor refers to Faust's status as a learned academic and is derived from the Latin word doctor, meaning teacher or scholar.
