Trinity Harwell
Ms. Winter
13 October 2016
The Renaissance Man is a man who has broad intellectual interests and is accomplished
in both the arts and the sciences, and, as the name suggests, was societys ideal man during the
Marlowe, author of the play The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus (1604), and Oscar Wilde, author
of the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), both display the often overlooked detriments of
the Renaissance Mans extensive knowledge through the protagonists in their respective texts.
Marlowe and Wilde both write about men whose extraordinary intellects lead them to cause
harm. Marlow writes about a doctor named Faustus who thrusts himself and those around him
into danger in his extensive pursuit of knowledge and power outside of the physical world. Wilde
writes of an artist named Basil Hallward who inadvertently begins a series of catastrophic events
when he projects his complex thoughts onto his friends. The mens intellects provoke their
actions, and in the end they both die. Both Marlowe and Wilde decide to kill their protagonists to
prove that the knowledge of the Renaissance Man is too dangerous to thrive. People are not
supposed to possess such extensive information as Dr. Faustus and Basil, as peoples thoughts
Marlowe writes the character Dr. Faustus as a Renaissance Man in order to dichotomize
his intellect into negative and positive attributes. The Chorus describes Dr. Faustuss history as
such:
accomplished in both the science and art of theology, and despite his great knowledge, he still
wishes to learn more. The Chorus says that as Dr. Faustus is gluttedwith learnings golden
gifts, / He surfeits upon cursed necromancy, describing his thirst for knowledge beyond that
which he already possesses (1). Upon a cursory reading, one may believe Dr. Faustuss
abundance of intellect and his aspiration to continue learning a good thing, though Marlowe
ascertains and displays the negativity in his pursuit of knowledge. Dr. Faustuss intellect is
positive in that he is aware of the world around him, though his indulgence of his intellect is
negative, as it influences him to surfei[t] upon cursed necromancy (1). Dr. Faustus admits,
the studious artisan [who studies necromancy] (5). His ideas are impressionable, and as he
knows his justification of evil deeds will result in his reward of knowledge and power, he allows
evil to manipulate them. The practice of necromancy bears negative consequences, and as his
Harwell 3
thirst for power and knowledge leads him to commit the act, by extension, his quest for
excellence is negative as well. Furthermore, Dr. Faustus is intelligent enough to determine a way
to justify his own dealings with the devil, suggesting he has the ability to justify a plethora of
other unorthodox actions and ideas as well, which is potentially dangerous to society.
Marlowe highlights the negative attributes of Dr. Faustuss intellect to inform readers of
the threat the ideological intellectual man poses to society, and to suggest that people must have
limits on their knowledge and power. The Chorus foreshadows Dr. Faustuss downfall when he
compares Dr. Faustus to Icarus, who, swollen with cunning, of a self-conceit, / did not
mount above his reach (1) and whom the Heavens conspird [to] overthrow (1) due to his
mistake of falling to a devilish exercise (1). As expected from The Choruss allusion, Dr.
Faustus fall[s] to a devilish exercise which takes his life in the end (1). Despite one good
angels begging Dr. Faustus to think of Heaven, and heavenly things, (19) and despite the
staying of his blood when he tries to sign his name in blood in the devils book, Dr. Faustus
continues to pursue his career in evil, selling his soul to the devil in exchange for twenty-four
years of service from one of Satans fallen angels (21). His sins include [stealing] away [the
Popes] meat from the table, (34) [striking the Pope] a blow on the face, (34) and
instructing Satans fallen angel to remov[e] the horns from a knights head (41). Each act
endangers those around him, as the Pope and the knight are both injured after their encounters
with him, and thus, he is a danger to society. He is also a danger to himself, as the chaos that
ensues in Dr. Faustuss life directly correlates to his overindulgence in his own expansion of
knowledge. People need restrictions on the amount of knowledge and power they possess, as
unchecked knowledge and power results in injury. Prior to Dr. Faustuss decision to sell his soul
to the devil, Marlowe includes the quote, Si una eademque res legatur duobus, alter rem, alter
Harwell 4
valorem rei, (4) which means, If one and the same thing is bequeathed to two persons, one
gets the thing and the other the value of the thing (4). After examining the quote and comparing
it to Dr. Faustuss positions in the beginning and end of the play, one can draw the conclusion
that Marlowe included the quote from Justinians law to prove that there is a point at which
knowledge is more dangerously misleading than it is beneficial. The fact that Dr. Faustus reads
and recites Justinian law in Latin proves, yet again, he is extremely intelligent, and he likely
believes what he reads. Thus, it is plausible Dr. Faustus believes his soul is both Satans and his
own when he makes the exchange; Satan gets the thing, (4) his soul, while Dr. Faustus keeps
the value of [it] (4). If Satan only received Dr. Faustuss soul in the exchange, Dr. Faustus
would remain free, only losing the material of his soul. However, in the end, when Dr. Faustus
meets his hellish fall, Satan receives his soul in its entirety (56). Marlowe includes the
deceiving Justinian law to represent Dr. Faustuss extreme knowledge, though it does not hold up
in the end, proving that it is misleading. Likewise, Dr. Faustus, a symbol of knowledge himself,
does not hold up in the end either, as Marlowe must kill him off to make his point stronger; the
knowledge and power of the ideological Renaissance Man is too dangerous to thrive, and people
Like Marlowes Dr. Faustus, Wildes protagonist Basil Hallward is also a Renaissance
Man whom Wilde uses to negate the ideal intellectual man. Basil is an artist with extraordinary
insight, though it is his insight that leads to his demise. In fact, Lord Henry tells Basil, you
have an intellectual expression, and all that, indicating his detailed paintings and knowledge
(Wilde 7). Basil affirms Lord Henrys statement through his impressive insight on peoples
strengths, as he sees them equally as flaws. He tells Lord Henry, Your rank and wealth, Harry;
my brains, such as they aremy art, whatever it may be worth; Dorian Grays good lookswe
Harwell 5
shall all suffer for what the gods have given us, suffer terribly (8). This deeper examination of
peoples attributes suggests that Basil has the capacity in his mind for complex thoughts, past
those of average men. Unfortunately, however, his intellect is responsible for a series of
destruction and chaos, including his own murder, and thus, he is a threat to society just as Dr.
Faustus is.
Just as Dr. Faustus, Basil also does not thrive in his intellect, and his knowledge results in
his own downfall. Although Basil does not knowingly harm others as Dr. Faustus does, his
influence is what ultimately leads to the chaos which ensues in his own life, as well as Dorian
Grays and all who surround them. Basil initiates the chaos, merely in planting the idea that
Dorian Gray is more than a just man, but rather a suggestionof a new manner (Wilde 14).
Basil states that Unconsciously, [Dorian Gray] defines for [him] the lines of a fresh school, a
school that is to have in it all the passion of the romantic spirit, all the perfection of the spirit that
is Greek. The harmony of soul and body (13). He states that Dorians personality has
suggested to [him] an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style. [That because of
Dorian he] see[s] things differently, [and] think[s] of them differently (13). These
proclamations, created through Basils advanced thought process, provide an opportunity for
Basils friend, Lord Henry, to vex Basil. Dorian Gray has an easily impressionable mind, and
Basil knows that, and tells Lord Henry, Dont try to influence him. Your influence would be
bad. The world is wide, and has many marvelous people in it. Dont take away from me the one
person who gives my art whatever charm it possesses (16). However, despite Basils wishes,
and besides that Lord Henry knows [t]here is no such thing as a good influence, he proceeds
to influence Dorian Gray anyhow, to irritate Basil (19). Lord Henry convinces Dorian Gray that
the picture, as Basil says, is greater than himself, and Dorian wishes to stay young forever, like
Harwell 6
the picture. His wish comes true and he commits the rest of his life to indulging in beauty and
scandal, and corrupting those around him so they feel the same. Dorian Gray turns to evil for
guidance, and one day, years after Basil paints the picture of Dorian Gray, Basil visits him.
Dorian, overcome with evil and hatred rushe[s] at him, and [digs a] knife into the great vein that
is behind the ear, crushing [Basils] head down on the tale, and stabbing it again and again until
Basil dies (132). Though Dorian Gray is responsible for Basils murder, as well as the deaths and
ruined lives of others, at the base of all Dorian Grays problems is Basil. Basil does not
intentionally provoke his own death, nor any other heinous crimes Dorian Gray commits. In fact,
in telling Lord Henry not to influence Dorian Gray, he is trying to avoid chaos as such. However,
Lord Henry only thinks to influence Dorian Gray due to Basils warning against it, and
furthermore, the idea that first possesses Dorian, that the painting represents more than merely a
canvas, is Basils original idea. Thus, despite that Basils chain reaction of death and destruction
It is important that both Marlowe and Wilde choose to kill their protagonists, as it
demonstrates the affects the characters actions have on themselves as well as others, and instills
their points that the idea of the Renaissance Man is too dangerous to thrive. Possessing
extraordinary knowledge and power as Dr. Faustus and Basil have seems beneficial, though it is
truly more dangerous than helpful as people are impressionable and extensive knowledge can
easily manipulate them to turn to evil. Dr. Faustus turns to necromancy merely as a study,
though, due to his impressionable mind, he engulfs himself fully in evil for the rest of eternity.
On the other hand, Basil does not turn to evil, but his words, through Lord Henry, influence
Dorian Gray and instigate the changes in his thoughts, personality, behavior, and actions.
Through the chaos and destruction caused as a result of Dr. Faustuss and Basils knowledge and
Harwell 7
power, Marlowe and Wilde solidify that as a result of the ease with which knowledge can
manipulate peoples minds, people must have restrictions on how much knowledge they have so
that all people are kept on more or less the same intellectual playing field.
Harwell 8
Works Cited
Marlowe, Christopher. The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus. New York: Dover Publication,
1994. Print.
The American Heritage College Dictionary. Fourth ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, n.d.
Print.
Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2007. Print.