Table of ContentsIntroductionHeaven and Hell in Doctor FaustusThe Transformative Factors of FaustusConclusionReferencesIntroductionIn the play Doctor Faustus, the central theme revolves around the dichotomy of good and evil. On one side, there is the representation of goodness embodied by God and Heaven, while on the other side, the forces of evil are embodied by Lucifer and Hell. This fundamental division is further illustrated by contrasting characters and elements, such as the old man and the Good Angel who oppose Mephistopheles and the Bad Angel. At first, Faustus struggles with this internal conflict, torn between the attraction of good and the temptation of evil, especially as he considers entering into a blood pact. However, as the narrative unfolds, the overwhelming influence of evil gradually takes over, ultimately leading Faustus to his ultimate damnation. This essay will analyze the idea of ​​Heaven versus Hell in Doctor Faustus as well as the role of the seven deadly sins in the play. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Heaven and Hell in Doctor Faustus The conflict between good and evil begins in Faustus's own conscience. The personifications of these opposing forces are the good and bad angels, representing the tension between Faustus's quest for knowledge and his desire for power. The stark contrast between good and evil is evident when the Good Angel exhorts Faustus to “think of heaven and heavenly things,” while the Bad Angel lures him with thoughts of “honor and wealth.” However, as the play progresses, the Good Angel and the Bad Angel stop making appearances. Their absence symbolizes Faustus' irrevocable commitment to the path of evil, as evidenced by his blood pact. Faustus no longer thinks of returning to God nor does he express remorse for the choices he has made. Instead, he wastes his new powers on frivolous pranks and entertains royalty, such as his pranks on the Pope and his conjuring of Alexander the Great. The pivotal moment in the conflict between good and evil occurs when Faustus undergoes a transformation from a pursuit of good. to an embrace of evil. By the time the seven deadly sins are presented to him, Faustus has firmly chosen the path of evil. Before this meeting, Faustus initially had good intentions, as evidenced by his promise to provide silk to public schools, with the aim of clothing students in luxury. He remains committed to his quest for knowledge, despite his naivety about the eternal damnation that awaits him in hell. Faustus is even repelled by the physical embodiment of evil, leading him to ask Mephistopheles to change his appearance to that of an old Franciscan friar, because he thinks this holy appearance better suits the devil. Faustus's aversion to the reality of Hell leads him to misinterpret its true nature, sometimes even dismissing it as a mere myth, as evidenced by his concise response to Mephistopheles' horrifying description of Hell. However, following the blood pact with Mephistopheles, Faustus enthusiastically embraces the seven deadly sins, even when confronted with them directly. He looks forward to this experience, as he confesses to Lucifer: “This view will be as pleasant to me as Paradise was to Adam on the first day of his creation. » Unlike his earlier revulsion at the evil form of Mephistopheles, Faustus now wholeheartedly accepts evil and delights in it. This transition becomes evident, freeing him from his initial pretensions of benevolent intentions, as he engages in a series ofpranks and frivolous exploits. Factors in Faustus' Transformation Three essential factors contribute to Faustus' transformation from a seeker of knowledge to a harbinger of evil, particularly after encountering the seven deadly sins. First, Faustus's insatiable thirst for the forbidden and ultimate knowledge is shattered when he realizes that the answers he sought are elementary and insignificant. When Mephistopheles provides him with answers about astronomy, Faustus disdainfully declares: "Tush, these small trifles Wagner can decide." Doesn't Mephistopheles have a greater skill?... Tush, these are freshers' assumptions. The hardest blow comes when he is denied any knowledge about the origin of the world. In this moment of despair, Faustus cries out for salvation, but his appeal is rejected and he fully realizes that his pact with the devil is irrevocable. This realization of his impending damnation serves as the second major catalyst pushing Faustus toward evil. During his desperate appeal to Christ, Lucifer appears and extinguishes all hope of redemption by asserting: “Christ cannot save your soul for he is righteous. There isn't one but I'm interested in him. Following this crucial encounter, Faustus believes that no matter how fervently he repents, he has already committed a grave sin and is condemned to eternal damnation. He becomes convinced that salvation is unattainable and seeks comfort in pranks and distractions to drown out thoughts of repentance. For example, after deceiving the horse dealer, he reflects on his impending mortality and only finds comfort in "mistaking these passions for quiet sleep." His pranks and frivolous exploits serve as distractions to appease his inclination to repent, because he believes he has chosen the path of evil. A crucial event that underscores Faustus's descent into evil is his fervent request for Helen near the conclusion of the play. Notably, he openly admits to having committed one of the deadly sins, which is rare in his behavior. By begging Mephistopheles to “let him desire thee, to satisfy the desire of his heart,” Faustus demonstrates that he is aware of the path he is taking, and yet he commits the sinful act. Whether he can still be saved no longer matters, because he willingly gives himself over to evil. Faustus implores Helen to “make him immortal with a kiss” and exclaims how “her lips suck his soul”. The immortality he seeks is, in fact, the eternal torment of hell, and he might recognize the deep evil that lies dormant within his soul. Moreover, immediately after the guilty act, his first thought is to ask Helene to give him back her “soul”. Thus, the awareness of his irreversible damnation frees him from any obligation to do good and encourages him to commit sins repeatedly. The third influential factor that pushes Faustus toward evil is the overwhelming presence of evil over good. Strangely, God remains absent throughout the play, while Lucifer and Mephistopheles consistently appear at critical moments when Faustus is plagued by doubt. Their presence is crucial, preventing Faustus, who initially regrets his decision, from renouncing their evil contract. For example, as Faustus considers repenting, Mephistopheles intervenes and threatens to tear him apart, with no parry or divine intervention in sight. The closest influences resembling a counterforce to the overwhelming evil are the Good Angel and the Old Man, both powerless to influence Faustus' conscience. When the Good Angel implores Faustus to repent, he immediately dispels all doubt and proceeds to sign the contract. The Old Man is finally condemned to suffer.