Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus: The Confluence of Religious and Moral Conflict

Sabikunnahar Reema

Apr-May-Jun

Abstract
This qualitative study explores the intricate confluence of religious and moral conflict in Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus, focusing on how the play portrays human ambition and the eternal struggle between good and evil. Utilizing a textual analysis methodology, primary data sources include the text of Doctor Faustus and secondary sources comprising scholarly articles and critical essays on Marlowe's work. Data collection involved a detailed examination of the play's pivotal stages: Faustus' yearning for knowledge, his pact with Mephistopheles, and his descent into despair and damnation. Key quotes from the play illustrate Faustus' internal conflicts and the broader societal implications of his actions. The analysis highlights how Marlowe intertwines biblical narratives and Christian doctrine with Faustus' journey, revealing the protagonist's moral dilemmas and the consequences of defying divine laws. Implications of this study are significant for understanding both historical and contemporary moral conflicts. The results highlight the enduring relevance of Doctor Faustus, emphasizing the play's critical engagement with complex ethical questions and its reflection of societal tensions between different value systems.

Keyword: Human Ambition, Moral Conflict, Religious Doctrine, Renaissance Humanism, Divine Justice

Research Area: English Literature

Country: Bangladesh

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