WEEK EIGHT - Influences on Dr Faustus
As he approaches damnation, Dr Faustus encounters a number of different influences on him and his situation.
Each of these other characters represent different features of society and humanity. They can also be seen as allegorical representations of different parts of Faustus's personality.
A: The Old Man
Read the dialogue between Faustus and the Old Man at the beginning of Act 5 Scene 1. Post in the comments below your responses to the character, what he represents and why Marlowe included him in this scene.
B: Helen of Troy
Many critics see this moment with Helen of Troy as the final moment of Faustus's damnation. Read this information about the importance of Helen's appearance http://crossref-it.info/textguide/doctor-faustus/14/1719
If you were a director, how would you stage this moment? How would you deal with the problems that this character presents? How do you show 'the world's most beautiful woman' on stage? Would you remind the audience that this is actually a succubus?
You might find it helpful to research how Helen's character has been presented in previous versions.
Post your ideas and responses to Helen's character below. You may want to include some images.
ReplyDeleteThe Old Man: The old man is an allegorical character who comes after the good and the bad angels. He asks Faustus to repent his sins, urging him that there is still time to turn back. He assures Faustus that his words are spoken in “tender love” which make many people assume that he is a representation of Christ – he is encouraging Faustus to take the right path, but ultimately leaves the decision to Faustus himself. However, the old man is also seen as a symbol of Christian faith, he is obedient to the laws of God. Furthermore, he truly believes that someone who has absolute faith in God can overcome the temptations of the Devils such as Lucifer and Mephistopheles. Marlowe included the character if the old man to prove that Faustus (and all of us) have a choice. Although Marlowe was an atheist, he uses a religious context because it would have been accessible to the audiences at the time, and it was the clearest way to represent good and evil. Marlowe uses the old man as the possible saviour. He gives Faustus his last chance to repent, even after him denouncing God. He does what is in his ability to try and save Faustus’ soul, however he is not forceful because Marlowe is ultimately hinting that it is always the individual’s choice. We decide upon our actions and that is the true message of the tragedy in Faustus – we can’t always save ourselves from our own temptations.
Helen of Troy: Faustus’ devotion to Helen of Troy shows his true damnation and the point of no return. His use of language, such as “her lips struck forth my soul” are seen as blasphemous as he is mixing sexual language with religious language. This seals his fate and distances him from faith and saviour.
This scene would be difficult to present because beauty is in the eye of the beholder, yet Helen is supposedly the world’s most beautiful woman. I think it is more practical to try and achieve and ethereal presence and have more of a strange, unearthly beauty to Helen. There are instances where directors have made the decision to present Helen as a shimmery green colour, and I think this is an effective choice. It provides a captivating quality to the actress and draws eyes to her, which could provide an element of beauty. Furthermore, I believe that use of mirrors, on the actress and around the stage, would be effective as it would provide an all surrounding quality of the character, stressing her presence and importance. I would make the choice to remind the audience that Helen is a succubus as it reminds them of Faustus’ damnation. Her dominance and beauty would be down to the fact that she is a demon, perhaps encouraging the audience to see how Faustus is easily tricked by illusions. Helen’s over-powering presence would symbolise the manipulation and control Faustus has been under, by Lucifer and Mephistopheles, but also by himself. He sacrificed his life to give into his own temptation. It is a reminder to the audience how we are sometimes our own worst enemies.
Marlowe uses allegorical representations to represent the character of the old man. The old man attempts to encourages Dr Faustus to resist temptations and to preserve a good heart in the name of God, and will secure a place in heaven as it is not too late. The character of the old man represents Christian faith, as he remains firm on the religious path and still remains hope for Dr Faustus’s reformation. Marlowe whilst an atheist himself, uses allegorical representations to show to the audience that allegorical representations can be interpreted to religious viewpoints but ultimately we have the choice to heed those words or neglect them through free will.
ReplyDeleteIf I were the director, I would choose to represent the character of Helena with specific mise-en-scene to exaggerate the dangers of her beauty, to warn the audience to succubus trades. There would be florescent lighting with a harsh hue to foreshadow her cold personality. She would be dressed in red attire, to this can be interpreted as her love, the wrath of her dangerous nature however the portrayal of her presence would stress to the audience her true colors.