Doctor Faustus Summary

Doctor Faustus Summary
Summary
Well respected German scholar, Doctor Faustus, becomes discontented by the constraints of conventional
knowledge forms – logic, medicine, law, and religion – and resolves to practice magic. He receives instruction in the
black arts from his friends Valdes and Cornelius, soon he embarks on a new career as a magician and summons the
devil Mephistopheles.
Choosing not to take heed in Mephistopheles’s warnings about the horrors of the underworld, Doctor Faustus
instructs the devil to return to Lucifer, his master, with an offering of Faustus’s soul in exchange for twenty-four
years of servitude from Mephistopheles. In the meantime, Wager, a servant to Faustus, has gained magical ability of
his own and uses this to compel a clown named Robin to serve him.
Soon, Mephistopheles returns with word that Lucifer is prepared to accept the offer made by Faustus. Faustus,
having experienced few uncertainties, contemplates whether he should repent in a bid to save his soul. In the end,
however, he agrees to give his soul to Lucifer and signs the contract with his own blood.
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As soon as his signature is final, the words “Homo fuge,” or “O man, fly” are branded onto his forearm. Faustus is
once again plagued by second thoughts, however, Mephistopheles showers him in riches and provides him with a
book of spells to learn. Mephistopheles soon provides Doctor Faustus with answers to questions about the nature of
the universe, avoiding only one question – who the true creator is.
This refusal prompts Faustus to once again have reservations about the decision he has made. However, Lucifer and
Mephistopheles summon the personifications of the Seven Deadly Sins to dance for Faustus. This influences him
enough to calm his doubts.
Now skilled in the magical arts, and aided by Mephistopheles, Doctor Faustus takes to the road. While in Rome, at
the pope’s court, he shrouds himself in invisibility and plays a number of tricks.
First, he interrupts a banquet by stealing food and boxing the pope’s ears. From here, he makes his way to the courts
of England, his fame increasing as he travels. Soon, he receives formal invitation to the court of the German
emperor, Charles V. An enemy to the pope, Charles V asks Faustus to permit him to see Alexander the Great.
Faustus obliges and conjures up an image of the infamous fourth-century Macedonian king. Charles is clearly
impressed by this, however, a knight heckles Faustus’s abilities, who responds by making antlers grow out of his
head. Outraged, the knight pledges to exact his revenge.
Elsewhere, Robin, the clown belonging to Wagner, has learned a few magic tricks of his own. He, along with his
fellow stable hand, Rafe, go on a series of comedic misadventures. At one point, the duo successfully summon
Mephistopheles, who portends to transform them into animals to punish them for their wrongdoings.
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Doctor Faustus continues his travels, deceiving a horse courser on the way. Faustus sells the man a horse that
transforms into a straw bale as it is ridden into a river. Soon, Faustus receives an invite to the court of the Duke of
Vanholt, where he is asked to perform a number of feats.
The horse courser arrives to the court, with him, Robin and Rafe and a number of others who have been victimized
by Faustus’s witchery. However, Faustus is quick to place them all under a spell and sends them all on their way,
much to the amusement of the duke and his wife.
As his twenty four year exchange with Lucifer comes to an end, Faustus begins to fear his imminent death. He asks
that Mephistopheles summon Helen of Troy, and attempts to use her presence to sway a group of scholars. Faustus
is urged by an old man to repent for his soul, but he drives the man away. Again, he summons Helen of Troy and
regals in her beauty.
However, with time growing short, Faustus shares details about his pact with the group of scholars, who are
noticeably affected and promise to pray for him.
On the last evening before the end of his twenty four year pact, Faustus is weak with fear and regret. He attempts to
repent, pleads for mercy, but learns that it is too late. When the clock strikes midnight, he is met by a host of devils
who tear his soul from him and descend to hell. The following morning, Faustus’s limbs are discovered by the
scholars and they plan to host a funeral for him

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