A Lack of Grand Magic

An overarching theme of this play is Doctor Faustus’s inability to take full advantage of the opportunity at hand. Faustus has sacrificed his soul to the devil in order to have full use of his own personal demon and his magic, yet he does not seem to choose particularly exciting ways to utilize this. This is highlighted in act four, scene five when Faustus sells a “horse” to a horse-courser, only for it to turn into straw when it encounters water. When the horse-courser returns in a fury and demands his money back, Faustus is ever amused, faking pain and screaming, “Stop him, stop him, stop him! – Ha, ha, ha! Faustus hath his leg again and the horse-courser a bundle of hay for his forty dollars” (4.3.47-49). Although it may not be ethical or wise to sell one’s soul to the devil, it does come with the benefit of having any deed you desire to come to fruition, and Faustus either has overlooked his power or simply does not understand it’s magnitude.

While Faustus never takes full advantage of Mephostophilis in acts three and four, the acts do start out bigger and gradually decline. For example, in the beginning of act four, when visiting the emperor, Mephostophilis creates spirits to resemble Alexander the Great, his enemy Darius and his paramour. Alexander conquers Darius and then embraces his lover: a scene that impresses Faustus’s host. However, in act four, scene seven Faustus is simply sending Mephostophilis to fetch ripe grapes for the Duchess of Vanholt. These actions are two examples that showcase the downward spiral Faustus’s magic and requests seem to be on.