The Nature of Mephistopheles

How should he be played on stage? What do we learn about his relationship with Faustus?

As an otherworldly being, I would expect Mephistopheles to have a detached air about him, the way he speaks is often short and snappy "Arch-regent and commander of all spirits.” like a soldier responding to his captain, this is rightly so as M is a servant of Lucifer.

Though M is Faustus' servant and companion throughout the play, we must remember the true reason he is there - to secure Faustus' soul. The first line spoken to M by Faustus is "I charge thee to return and change thy shape." Faustus chooses to be ignorant of whom and what M really is: a devil. Therefore M in my opinion is always running a double act: to happily fulfil Faustus' desires and be his friend "Nay I know not, we shall be cursed with bell, book, and candle (joking with Faustus)." whilst bringing a firm hand when he falters from the pact "Revolt, or I'll in piecemeal tear thy flesh." "Think thou on hell, Faustus, for thou art damned."

Simultaneously though M for the most part speaks with a subordinate tone to Faustus after the pact is signed and done. Before that, in Act 1 Scene 3 M is less respectful to Faustus taking on a more teacher role to Faustus in lines 78-84 when answering questions on Hell. This surfaces the idea that M is manipulative, acting according to whether he sees the potential to gain a soul for Lucifer.

M does not seem to care much for hold his relationship with Faustus if we carry on the idea he is only working for his soul. As we can see in Act 3 Scene 2, he appears to Robin and Rafe in hopes of securing more souls, we can see that this is a regular routine for M and Faustus is just another soul on the list "(Aside) O, what will not I do to obtain his soul?" - Act 2 Scene 1; M is just a desperate devil out for a desperate soul.

M is not without a sense of humour and takes his own delight in playing tricks on Faustus bringing Faustus a devil when he asks for a wife "Tell, Faustus, how dost thou like thy wife?" and if we interpret M to be playing dumb with the Horse-Courser "Come, villain, to the constable." Faustus' leg falling off may have been M's prank.

M's relationship with Faustus sometimes takes on a parental bond. Act 2 Scene 3 like a parent tired of a child's pestering questions, M ceases to answer Faustus' questions when they reach the subject of who created the world. Act 3 Scene 1 M refers to Faustus with the endearment 'my' in the line "And now, my Faustus, that thou mayst perceive", as if he has brought a child to a play area (Rome). Act 4 Scene 1 M watches over Faustus as he sleeps and would rather he not be disturbed "I tell thee he has not slept this eight nights." M sympathises with Faustus' tiredness.

Nonetheless whatever kindness, friendship and amusement M provides all fall back on his desire for Faustus' soul in Act 5 Scene 1. This is shown by M's anger at Faustus' near-repentance and desperation to rewrite the deed "Do it then quickly, with unfeignéd heart," M's threats "Lest greater danger do attend thy drift." and M's re-assumed 'kind' persona "thou shalt desire Shall be performed in the twinkling of an eye.".

Faustus on the other hand seems oblivious to M's manipulation, or perhaps too desperate for a companion to convince himself M is only out for his soul. Faustus' final line "Ah Mephistopheles!" may be spoken in sad relief that his fate is to be with his one and only friend or anger at the damnation M has brought on him, either of these, it demonstrates the huge role M has had in Faustus' life.

Dr Faustus Reading Journal ^ Act Five

Act 4, Scene 1:

• Summary: Chorus tells of Faustus return to Germany; having travelled the world and gained much knowledge, he is famous and will dine with the Emperor to put on a show with his magic. For the Emperor, Faustus conjures apparitions of Alexander the Great and his paramour whilst punishing a Knight for undermining his power. Faustus sells a horse-courier a fake horse and the man returns for compensation but instead momentarily pulls off Faustus leg.
• Faustus powers are put to much pettier uses than he intended, as time has gone on, he has exhausted his passion for astrology and instead of making grand feats such as 'chasing the Prince of Parma from our lands', he uses magic to entertain a king instead. A mere entertainer than a pioneer in discovery and ruler of lands.
• "that not only gives thee horns but makes thee wear them." - Faustus lowly entertainment is matched with his crude wit and serves to further liken him to commoners like Robin and Rafe.
• "hereafter speak well of scholars." - Faustus punishment of the Knight shows he has not changed completely, he is still arrogant. May also show Faustus taking on Pride from the Seven Deadly Sins.
• "Short'ning my days and thread of vital life," - Alludes to Faustus life in the hands Three Fates similar to Macbeth's life being manipulated by the Three Witches.
• "if thous lik'st him for fifty, take him." - Faustus seems more and more petty as he initially refuses to sell his horse for just ten dollars more than offered, even though money is of no significance to Faustus who wields anything he desires.
• "Confound these passions with a quiet sleep." - Like Victor during his hunt for the Creation, Faustus looks to sleep to numb his mind
• Though Faustus having his leg pulled off is quite comical, it may foreshadow his fate when he is to-be ripped apart.
• "Christ did call the thief upon the cross," - Just like the thief crucified alongside Christ who was offered paradise at his last minute repentance, Faustus believes and hopes himself that he may repent and be saved at the last hour.

Act 4, Scene 2:

• Summary: Faustus meets with the Duke of Vanholt and offers to help his pregnant wife by getting her grapes. The Duchess is both impressed and grateful and the Duke offers a reward.
• Faustus as a womaniser? Faustus as a genuinely kind man? Faustus as a show-off? Faustus as a lonely old man trying to do some good?
• Faustus' visits become less and less impressive as his twenty four years runs down: from the Pope to the Emperor to a nobleman, Faustus' feats of magic become more and more pathetic with each host.
• Interesting juxtaposition between the old and dying Faustus and the pregnant woman symbolising new life.

Act 5, Scene 1:

• Summary: Wagner announces that Faustus must be intending to die soon as Faustus has willed all his possessions to him and now dines a merry feast with his scholars. After the feast, an Old Man speaks to persuade Faustus to repent but after Mephistopheles' threats, Faustus instead asks for the Old Man's torment and to be with Helen of Troy.
• Parallels between Faustus' feast and Christ's Last Supper; a blasphemous parody with the entertainment by a beautiful woman and Christ's miracles matched with Faustus' magic.
• May be seen that Mephistopheles is only out for Faustus' soul as he hands him a dagger for him to commit suicide and reiterates to Faustus the pact he has made with Lucifer.
• The confirmation of Faustus' lost soul is shown by the use of 'sweet friend' first towards the Old Man (line 58) but then towards Mephistopheles (line 76). By calling M 'friend', he is aligning himself to the order of the devils; 'our hell'.
• "Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss." - Faustus looks to human desires to save him from Hell but he does this with a devil "Her lips such forth my soul". In the mortal sense, it may very well be that "heaven be in these lips," but it is in fact ironic that through kissing this fake-Helen, Faustus is further damning himself.
• Lines 98-110: Faustus' speech here is reminiscent of the earlier Faustus who spoke eloquently and grandly, towards his final moments, Faustus drops the crude persona he gained.
• "For hence I fly unto my God." - Unlike Faustus, the Old Man's faith in God is strong enough to protect and save him from Hell's torments, the use of the word 'fly' stresses that Faustus is held down by Lucifer.
• Accurséd Faustus, miserable man," - Like Victor in his last moments, Faustus is claimed to be miserable and wretched.

Act 5, Scene 2:

• Summary: The ultimate scene, Faustus tells his scholars of his pact with Lucifer, they agree to pray for him as the hour comes whilst Faustus realises damnation is inevitable and curses Lucifer for having deprived him of the joys of heaven, Faustus is dragged to hell.
• "but the devil threatened to tear me in pieces if I named God" - The constant presence of fear, both Gothic and demonstrative that Faustus does not choose damnation.
• "Fair nature's eye, rise, rise again, and make" - the regular rhythm of Faustus speech echoes the inevitability of what is to come and the chiming of the clock which represents the motion and unstoppableness of time; making man weak and insignificant compared to the activities of supernatural otherworldly powers in play "You stars that reigned at my nativity,".
• Mountains and hills, come, come and fall on me," - Faustus like Victor looks to nature for comfort and security, but where Victor worshiped nature's beauty, Faustus looks to its power to free him for Heaven.
• "Why wert thou not a creature wanting soul?" - Faustus believes that creatures have no souls much the same way Victor struggles to see a soul and being within the Creation.
• "That have deprived thee of the joys of heaven." - Faustus is finally able to see what Mephistopheles meant about being deprived of heaven meaning he has completed his transformation into a spirit.
• "I'll burn my books. Ah Mephistopheles!" - That Faustus pleads for salvation by burning his books suggests that selling his soul really was in the name of knowledge. I interpret the way 'Ah Mephistopheles!" is spoken is with sad relief as M has been Faustus only friend for most of Faustus' life and he meets him with content that he will be in Hell with him.
• The twenty four years of Faustus' pact pass remarkably quickly, especially given that the audience is only shown three major events. Whilst we are told that Faustus has made many journeys, it is difficult to perceive the speed at which things have happened. This pace coupled with the shortness of the play helps the audience empathise what Faustus is experiencing, that a lifetime is short and slipping away and his fate draws ever closer.

Epilogue:

• Summary: Finalises the play as a Christian tragedy that man should not reach further than God allows.
• "To practise more than heavenly power permits." - Faustus is very much like Victor here in the sense they both went against nature and God to pursue knowledge and fell as a result.
• "Cut is the branch that might have grown full straight," - Like Macbeth and Victor, Faustus had so much potential to be great but failed through chasing greatness against the natural order.