Pick One Already!!

Doctor Faustus must be one of the most evil men on earth. He has summoned demons, but more importantly he has served the devil lukewarm babies’ blood. The audience that would attend Doctor Faustus would have a solid understanding of the bible. There are moments in the first two acts of the play that would lead one to believe Doctor Faustus is a very evil man. For example, Doctor Faustus states “To [Lucifer] I’ll build an alter and a church and offer lukewarm blood of newborn babes” (Marlowe, [2.1] 13-14). If using the blood of newborn babes isn’t bad enough, it’s also lukewarm. Being lukewarm is a terrible thing according to God “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation, 3:15-16). Is the babies’ blood a metaphor for his uncertain allegiance? Throughout the first two acts Doctor Faustus was having a hard time deciding if he was on Lucifer’s side or God’s side. Doctor Faustus is having an internal battle of what to choose, he states, “I will renounce this magic and repent” (Marlowe, [2.2] 11). Just a few lines later he says, “I am resolved, Faustus shall not repent” (Marlowe, [2.2] 30). This back and forth clearly shows his lukewarm attitude toward God. As if summoning demons and serving babies blood isn’t bad enough his unsure nature is just adding fuel to the pyre… I meant fire. Not only has God labeled him a lukewarm rotten apple, the audience has also found his confusion to be unacceptable. In the end who could trust someone with such a muddled thought process.