Dr Faustus

Act 2 Scenes 1 - 3

My notes from Act 2 is when we are brought back to Dr Faustus in his study, which is the same as when we where first introduced into him in act 2.

This is when Faustus is known for having his first wobbly step after deciding to change his life from education to magic. His study has been used to remind the audience of his educational status. He has used the reference of 'Beezlebub' more than once and it raises the question why does he use this instead of Lucifer? As they both fit the metre.

Fautus' first speech is about him deciding either a life of magic or God. Then the good and bad angel come back and they seem to give Fautus an idea of what he should do.. either good or bad.

•  The play is told in second person.

Mephistopheles returns and tells Faustus that if he is still up for the deal he must sign with his own blood.   'deed of gift with thine own blood,' this line relates back to the Gothic genre. Lucifer demands a written guarantee. Also, 'I cut mine arm, and with my proper blood' another feature of the Gothic drama.
When Faustus is drawing his blood his blood congeals. This could be read as a sign that what he is doing is bad and that he shouldn't do it. A significant moment is when he says 'Consummatum est.' This is significant because it was supposedly the last words of Jesus Christ and now Faustus is saying them. 'Faustus boasts of the virtue of his heavenly words; and Mephistopheles urges Fautus to pray devoutly to the prince of hell. As Johnathon Dolimore observes 'Faustus is not liberating himself, he is ending himself. "its finished".'

• Lucifer is used as a reference to light within the Gothic Drama. (light bearer)

When Faustus starts to doubt what he is doing, he is kept into the loop by being offered good things in life.

1. The deed specifies that Faustus may be a spirit and that Mephistopheles will be at his command. In return, Lucifer is allowed to carry Faustus off, body and soul at the end of the 24 years.
2. Faustus asks Mephistopheles a series of questions about hell, scoffing at the concept of eternal torment.
3. Mephistopheles provides Faustus with a 'wife' in the form of a devil dressed like a woman, alive with fireworks, and gives him books of the necromantic spells and astronomy.
4. Robin has stolen one of Faustus books and tells Rafe the stable boy what delights he will be able to accomplish.
5. Wondering at the stars, Faustus curses Lucifer for having deprived him of the joys of heaven.
6. Listening to the promptings of the good and evil angels, Faustus is unable to repent. He consoles himself with reminders of the pleasures he has experienced thanks to his new-won powers.
7. Mephistopheles answers Faustus's questions about the universe, but refuses to tell him who made the world.
8. Mephistopheles angrily departs when Faustus pushes him to an answer, returning with Lucifer and another of his chief ministers, Beezlebub. Lucifer reminds Faustus of his pact.
9. Lucifer distracts and entertains Faustus with a show of the seven deadly sins.
10. This sins continue to describe themselves to Faustus, one by one.
11. Faustus is delighted by the vision of the sins and by a book given to him by Lucifer.