Marlowe's Mephistopheles

We know that classic plays are reinterpreted multiple times throughout history. In recent years, we have seen modern interpretations of a number of Shakespearean dramas on stage and film. These include, but are not limited to, the modern renderings of Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Othello. Certainly, we can agree that Marlowe's Doctor Faustus is a classic in its own rite, and thereby worthy of such reinterpretation. No matter the version of the play that we see however, the story remains the same. As such, we will first quickly overview the plot of the play Doctor Faustus. Then, with that basis in mind, we will discuss the modern renderings of the play as well as some critical interpretation of Marlowe's symbolism. All of this, with special regard to the character Mephistopheles, as he seems to be the character upon which all versions of the production tend to pivot.

The play begins with a rather long philosophical soliloquy from Faustus, who is considering all the different forms of knowledge as he sees them. As a physician, Faustus has already achieved a great deal, but no amount of worldly knowledge seems to be good enough for him. Thus, he decides that he would like to become a magician, believing that this will make him godlike.

After Faustus is done contemplating, his servant, Wagner enters. Faustus tells him to ask his friends Valdes and Cornelius to come teach him how to perform magic. While he awaits his friends, he is visi

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a knight named Benvolio, and his friends, attempt to kill Faustus, but they don't succeed because Faustus cannot be killed except by Mephistopheles. They run away, and begin growing horns from their heads. In the next scene, Faustus plays a mean joke ofn a horseman. He sells him his horse, telling him not to let it get wet. Of course, the horseman does, and it turns into straw. When the horseman comes back to get his money6 back from Faustus, however, Faustus is asleep. The horseman tries to wake him by pulling his leg, and it falls off. The horseman runs away carrying the bloody leg, and Faustus begins laughing, and restores his leg to its original shape. Faustus then leaves to go see the Duke. At the dukes court, he conjures for the duke and the duchess, and they promise to reward him. Faustus is about to die, and has given Wagner all his money. Wagner catches the audience up with the story to this point, then Faustus enters with some scholars for whom he conjures Helen of Troy. After the scholars leave, an old man enters, and tries to convince Faustus to repent again, but Mephistopheles threatens him, and he ends up reconfirming his vow to Lucifer instead. Faustus conjures Helen of Troy again, and kisses her. The final

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