Discuss the Roles of the Comedic Scenes as Parodies of Faustus

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Christopher Marlow’s tragic play “Doctor Faustus” reinforces the renaissance theme of an individual’s desire for knowledge, power and material goods. Doctor Faustus, the protagonist of the play, represents the nature of a tragic hero with his degradation and ultimate fall. A tragic hero is a key element of traditional Greek tragedies and is a character essentially doomed due to hubris and corrupt actions. Faustus therefore replicates a tragic hero whose initial ambitions for power reduce down to mediocre values because of his inability to resist his excessive pride and greed. The numerous comedic scenes within the play, act as parodies of Faustus by reflecting the degradation of his objectives as well as his soul. Scene VI, a comedic scene in the play, reflects Faustus’ downfall through the contrast between his initial aspirations and the reduction to lustful desires. The scene refers to the sexual desires of man by Rafe stating “our/ kitchen-maid, then turn her and wind her to thy own use, as often/ as thou wilt” (lines 25-26). The phrase “turn her and wind her to thy own use” illustrates how Rafe proceeds to use magic to allow his companion, Robin, to have sex with the kitchen maid. The specification of “own use as thou wilt” exemplifies the selfishness of this act and thus reflects Faustus’ increasing focus on self-regarding, lustful desires. Earlier, Faustus states, “I’ll have them fill the public schools with silk” (scene I, line 90), which contrasts with his proclamation, “that I might have unto my paramour/ that heavenly Helen” (scene XII, lines 82-83). This demonstrates that he originally sought to help educate aspiring scholars, yet his ambitions reduced to that of a selfish, lecherous desire and thus illustrates his degradation. “Heavenly Helen” indicates how Faustus sees her as a godly figure, which exemplifies his ignorance and is parodied by the
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