1. Act and scene summaries and key notes
DOCTOR FAUSTUS
Act and scene summaries and key notes

2. Act 1 Scene 1: Intro to Faustus
Synopsis
Introduction to Faustus and his story in the prologue. Then, Faustus speaks of his desire for knowledge and considers the magical methods by which he can acquire it.
Key quotations
“glutted with learning’s golden gifts”
“necromantic books are heavenly”
“his waxen wings did mount above his reach”
“This night I conjure, though I die therefore”
“’Tis magic, magic that hath ravished me”
“The reward of sin is death?”
Comments
Introduction to Faustus as a Renaissance man
Faustus speaks a long soliloquy – intoxicating and oppressive start to the play
Introduction to Good and Evil angels which represent each side of the sinful ideology

3. Act 1 Scene 2: Wagner and scholars
Synopsis
A short scene in which two scholars and Wagner (an ostensibly lowly character who serves Faustus) mockingly suggest performing their own act of necromancy. The scene ends with the suggestion that they should try to “reclaim” Faustus
Key quotations
“I fear me nothing can reclaim him”
“I am by nature phlegmatic, slow to wrath, and prone to lechery”
Comments
This scene parodies and diminishes Faustus’ quest for forbidden knowledge, because even the ‘lowly’ can perform necromancy, and do so in a perhaps comic way
Shows omnipresence of supernatural, even around the rationale of scholars; there is temptation everywhere
Wagner’s language is a parody of academic discourse and debate
Introduction to the idea of dramatic parallelism in the play

4. Act 1 Scene 3: First conjuring
Synopsis
Faustus conjures the devil for the first time and demands that he give him whatever he wants. Mephistopheles appears and tells Faustus that the charge for this will be his soul, leading to the tipping of the power balance already.
Key quotations
“I am a servant to great Lucifer”
“We fly in hope to get his glorious soul”
“Why, this is hell, nor am I out of it”
“he surrenders up to him his soul”
“try the uttermost magic can perform”
Comments
Strong evidence of sacrilege and inverting religious practice
Mephistopheles speaks little and when he does it is “terse and dignified” (William Tydeman) – he holds the power. Interestingly, he does not tempt Faustus much – as a tragedy, the protagonist is responsible for his own downfall?
The conjuring of the devil is described as a “perform”ance, almost an illusion
Formality and constraint of iambic pentameter
Mephistopheles did not come in answer to Faustus’ magic incantations but simply because he heard someone abuse the name of God
Dramatic irony
Faustus becomes increasingly desperate in his desires and impatient for the fulfilment of his demands

5. Act 1 Scene 4: Farce of Robin and Wagner
Synopsis
The serious tone of the previous scene may now be replaced by the farce of Robin and Wagner’s intercourse. They discuss Faustus’ actions and enact their own magical correspondence. Elements of transformation, supernatural and slapstick.
Key quotations
“he would give his soul to the devil for a shoulder of mutton, though it were blood raw”
“bind yourself presently unto me for seven years”
“’he has killed the devil’”
“all he devils have horns, and all she devils has clefts and cloven feet”
“quasi vestigiis nostris insistere” – as though treading in our footsteps
“I will teach thee to turn thyself to anything, to a dog, or a cat”
Comments
Continuation of dramatic parallelism
Prose rather than verse. Reflects lowly status of characters
Diminishes weightiness of Faustus’ quest for knowledge

6. Act 2 Scene 1: The Transaction
Synopsis
Faustus summons Mephistopheles to his study once more. Faustus sacrifices his blood and the transaction is complete. Faustus demands knowledge from Mephistopheles but receives continually receives ambiguous and unsatisfactory responses.
Key quotations
“I’ll … offer lukewarm blood of new-born babes”
“the love of Beelzebub”
“Veni, veni, Mephistophile!”
“write a deed of gift with thine own blood”
“And then thou be as great as Lucifer”
“I cut mine arm … / Assure my soul to be great Lucifer’s”
“Consummatum est” (it is finished)
“I swear by hell and Lucifer / To effect all promises between us made”
“I think hell’s a fable”
“All places shall be hell that is not heaven”
“If thou lovest me, think no more of it”
“Let me have one book more”
Comments
The audience is for the first time shown the way Mephistopheles does not fulfil his promises and that the whole transaction is corrupt
Gothic power struggle
Parody of religious convention
Frequent and blunt gothic motifs (e.g. blood)
Anti-climatic

7. Act 2 Scene 2: Robin and Rafe’s plans
Synopsis
Short scene in which Robin and Rafe discuss conjuring the devil using Faustus’ book that Robin has purloined.
Key quotations
“I mean to search some circles for my own use”
“Let’s go … to our conjuring, in the devil’s name”2
Comments
Dramatic parallelism with Faustus and Mephistopheles, perhaps to a ludicrous extent
Degrades Faustus’ achievements – even the lowly characters can do what he does
Scenes flit between the comic and the more serious. Deliberately provocative
Robin’s sexual aims mock the childish urges of Faustus

8. Act 2 Scene 3: Seven Deadly Sins
Synopsis
A return to Faustus’ study, where F and M discuss heaven. Faustus contemplates repentance (appearance of Good and Evil angel to reinforce debate). A rather neutral question and answer session ensues about astronomy. Lucifer then appears, who Faustus tries desperately to impress. The 7 Deadly Sins appear to lure Faustus.
Key quotations
“My heart’s so hardened I cannot repent”
“my Mephistopheles”
“Sweet Mephistopheles, tell me”
“Faustus vows never to look to heaven”
“O, this feeds my soul!”
Comments
Faustus faces a dilemma between repentance and temptation. Representatives of hell and sin appear to seduce him
Mephistopheles and Lucifer use their rhetoric like politician to convince Faustus
Metaphysical debate between F and M increases the pace towards one of the play’s climaxes
Swift oscillation in Faustus’ mood

9. Act 3 Scene 1: The Pope Scene
Synopsis
Wagner speaking as the chorus, the audience is updated on Faustus’ somewhat meaningless travels. The carnivalesque scene in which Faustus tricks the Pope at his “banquet”.
Key quotations
“I have taken up his Holiness’ privy chamber for our use”
“A troupe of bald-pate friars / Whose summum bonum is in belly cheer”
“do what thou wilt, thou shalt not be discerned”
“We shall be cursed with bell, book and candle”
“Et omnes sancti” (And all the saints (may these also curse him))
Comments
Reveals the sinfulness and corruption of the Roman Catholic Church
Exposes the idea that selling his soul has not been worth it for Faustus
The scene once more shows that Mephistopheles is almost like the parent of Faustus who will set out rules that are to be broken

10. Act 3 Scene 2: An ape and a dog
Synopsis
A short scene in which Robin and Rafe attempt and succeed to conjure Mephistopheles whose reaction is more peevish than mighty. The scene concludes with a gothic but potentially humorous transformation.
Key quotations
“Ecce signum!” (Behold the sign) – reminiscent of Catholic mass
“I’ll gull [the Vintner] supernaturally”
I charge you in the name of Beelzebub”
Mephistopheles is “vexed with these villains’ charms”
“Well, villains, for your presumption I transform thee into an ape and thee into a dog”
Comments
A satire of knowledge – how important or exclusive is it really?
Gothic transformation

11. Act 4 Scene 1: Emperor and Horse-Courser
Synopsis
A long and pivotal scene which represents the beginning of Faustus’ fall in this tragedy. Following the update of the chorus, the Emperor asks Faustus to bring back Alexander the Great and his mistress from the dead. Mephistopheles is sent to accomplish the task. The Knight sees through Faustus. Next, Faustus attempts to trick the Horse- Courser but poignantly falls asleep.
Key quotations
“Faustus is feasted ‘mongst his noblemen”
“I’faith, that’s as true as Diana turned me to a stag”
“short’ning my days and thread of vital life”
Comments
Faustus’ demise is being proleptically referenced by the Knight’s suspicion, Faustus’ failure to gull the Horse-Courser, and his sleep
The line between comic and serious becomes more blurred
There are parallels between Faustus and Horse- Courser; both are faced with temptation

12. Act 4 Scene 2: The Grapes Synopsis
Faustus does little more than entertain the Duke and Duchess by magically producing grapes. The Duke says he will give Faustus a reward for this
Key quotations
“Master Doctor, this merriment hath much pleased me”
“I would desire no better meat than a dish of ripe grapes”
“Mephistopheles, begone!”
“Come, Master Doctor, follow us and receive your reward”
Comments
A short scene which shows the play’s structural decline
Quick pace moving over tipping point

13. Act 5 Scene 1: Old Man, Helen of Troy
Synopsis
The scene begins with an update and a prophecy from Wagner. The scholars ask Faustus to conjure Helen of Troy. The Old Man appears to attempt to save Faustus for the last time; Mephistopheles argues for the other side. Faustus is in indecision between repentance or suicide. Helen of Troy appears and kisses Faustus’ soul away. The Old Man damns Faustus.
Key quotations
“the feast is ended” (The Last Supper)
“Be silent then, for danger is in words”
“break heart, drop blood and mingle it with tears”
“Hell strives with grace for conquest in my breast”
“Let me crave of thee / To glut the longing of my heart’s desire”
“Her lips suck forth my soul”
Comments
Faustus is caught in the ultimate dilemma between faith and sin and cannot resist sin’s seduction
Faustus addresses Mephistopheles as “sweet”
Continued allusions to gluttony, blood and hell, in keeping with the Gothic

14. Act 5 Scene 2: Faustus has one hour to live
Synopsis
Faustus comes to the realisation that he is now eternally damned and reflects on his previous actions. He dies with complete ambiguity.
Key quotations
“The serpent that tempted Eve may be saved, but not Faustus”
“God forbade it indeed, but Faustus hath done it”
“Perpetual day”
“One drop would save my soul, half a drop. Ah, my Christ!”
“Curse Lucifer, that hath deprived thee of the joys of heaven”
“I’ll burn my books. Ah, Mephistopheles!”
Comments
Faustus’ dialogue is often stripped of verse
Audience comes to the realisation that Faustus is perhaps one-dimensional
Intense emotions as hell is imminent
Fragmented and unsettling dialogue
Irony of Renaissance Man
The final line is utterly ambiguous. Desperation? Realisation? Anger? Lust? Desire?