The victim who sold his soul

Luis Vargas

Ms.Peifer

English 10 IB

February 3 2011

                                    Is Faustus a villain or victim?

            In the play Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus wants to know everything he can in the universe. He decides to sell his soul to the devil to gain all the knowledge that is possible in the universe.

            Doctor Faustus believes that he will actually learn everything through the dark magic’s but he becomes a victim of his own decision. Dr. Faustus becomes a victim because since he actually never accomplishes or learns mores then he already does.  Doctor Faustus sells his soul to the devil just to learn more about the beyond. He becomes a victim since the devil does not answer his questions at all. When Doctor Faustus tried to ask questions that have been unanswered, he gets a response that he could of gotten if he  just read his scriptures like the good angel told him mentioned, “O Faustus, lay the damned book aside And gaze not on it lest it tempt they soul And heap God’s heavy wrath upon thy head! Read, read the scripture that is blasphemy” (Marlowe 1.1.6.67-70). The good angel had warned him that it was better to read the scriptures then to sell his soul to the devil, the good angel knew he would become another victim of those who sell their soul to the devil. When doctor Faustus realizes that he is not gaining  more knowledge then he already he has he feels as if he had been robbed since he sold his soul to the devil. This can be proves that he has become a victim of his own decision when Faustus says “O thou bewitching fiend,’ twas thy temptation Hath robbed me of eternal happiness (Marlowe 5.2.78.95-99). This quote explains how doctor Faustus feels robbed and he has become another victim of those who sell their soul to the devil to obtain power, but do not accomplished more than what is  had accomplished. Faustus only lost his lost soul and the glory of heaven when he sold his soul to the devil.