Drama----------- Dr Faustus:

Important instructions for Explaining a Passage from Drama.

1. Reference to the Context: Same as in poetry
2. Explanation: Try to tell who is speaking and to whom; all explanations of
dialogues should be written in the indirect form (No use of I, We, You)
3. Comments: What is the importance of these lines regarding the character
that is speaking; what is the importance of these lines in relation to the
whole story of the play.
4. What sort of language the dramatist has used; all play has been written in
blank verse.
Model Explanation: Act I, Scene iii, Lines: 57-61
“There is no chief but only Beelzebub;
To whom Faustus doth dedicate himself.
This word “damnation” terrifies not him,
For he confounds hell in Elysium:
His ghost be with the old philosophers.”
These lines have been taken from Marlowe’s famous play “Dr Faustus” Act 1,
Scene iii. Dr Faustus is a great German Scholar. Dissatisfied with his
knowledge, he decides to indulge in Magic. He performs first magical feat
and calls Mephistophilis. While talking to Mephisto, he learns that the easiest
way to acquire proficiency in necromancy is to renounce one’s faith in God,
his son and the Holy Ghost. Mephisto advises Dr Faustus to pray to Devil, the
prince of Hell.
In the lines under reference, Faustus is talking to Mephisto. He says that
before calling him up, he has already renounced his faith in the Trinity. Now
he believes that there is no chief but only the Devil. He has decided to
completely surrender himself to the prince of Hell. He is so confirmed in his
belief that the word damnation has no importance for him, and so this word
cannot strike terror in his heart. He further tells Mephisto that he makes no
distinction between hell and heaven. Like the old Greek philosophers, he
does not believe in any reward or punishment after death.
These lines are very important because they reveal that Faustus is
determined to practice magic. They indicate that he will be ready to give up
even his soul to the devil for acquiring unlimited, supernatural powers. We
also get the idea that the whole drama will revolve around the concept of
Damnation. It is ironic that the devil is pointing out the horrors of hell but
Faustus says that he is not. As regards the punishment and reward after
death, these lines seem to express Marlowe’s atheistic views on religion and
morality. In these lines, Marlowe seems to make no distinction between
Lucifer and Beelzebub while in the later scenes; they are shown, as two
persons. These lines have been written in blank verse, that is, unrhymed
iambic pentameter, and so are full of vigour, force and fire. The language
used in these lines is like the language of today.
Written&Composed By:
Prof.A.R.Somroo
M.A.English&Education.
0662610063,Cell:03339971417
Khangarh.