Here you will get the detailed summary of IGNOU MEG 2 Block 1 – Christopher Marlowe: Doctor Faustus.
We have provided the summary of all units starting from unit 1 to unit 6.
Introduction
Block 1 of MEG-2 focuses on Doctor Faustus, a famous play written by Christopher Marlowe, one of the most important playwrights of the Elizabethan era. This block not only introduces the play itself but also provides a broader understanding of the historical, literary, and philosophical background that shaped it.
Through six detailed units, the block explores Marlowe’s role in the development of English drama, the tragic structure of the play, and key themes like ambition, sin, free will, and repentance. It also examines how the play reflects the intellectual shifts of the Renaissance and the Reformation, and how Marlowe’s poetic style adds to the emotional and dramatic power of the story.
Doctor Faustus is more than just a tale of a man who sells his soul to the devil—it is a deep exploration of human nature, the limits of knowledge, and the struggle between good and evil. This block helps readers understand the play from multiple perspectives, making it easier to appreciate its lasting impact on English literature and theatre.
Unit 1: Christopher Marlowe and The Elizabethan Drama
This unit introduces Christopher Marlowe as one of the most influential playwrights of the Elizabethan period. It discusses how he transformed English drama by moving away from traditional morality plays to more human-centered tragedies.
Marlowe used blank verse and created characters with strong individual personalities. His plays often deal with themes like ambition, power, and the human struggle between good and evil. Doctor Faustus is a key example of how Elizabethan drama started focusing on personal choices and inner conflict.
Unit 2: The Tragic Drama of Doctor Faustus
This unit explains the plot and structure of Doctor Faustus as a tragedy. Faustus, a well-educated man, is not satisfied with traditional knowledge and turns to necromancy (black magic). He makes a pact with Lucifer, selling his soul in exchange for magical powers for 24 years.
The tragedy lies in Faustus’s downfall due to his own choices. He has opportunities to repent and save himself, but his pride and desire for power prevent him. The play ends with his soul being dragged to hell. The unit emphasizes that Faustus is a tragic figure because he brings about his own destruction.
Unit 2: The Tragic Drama of Doctor Faustus
This unit explains the plot and structure of Doctor Faustus as a tragedy. Faustus, a well-educated man, is not satisfied with traditional knowledge and turns to necromancy (black magic). He makes a pact with Lucifer, selling his soul in exchange for magical powers for 24 years.
The tragedy lies in Faustus’s downfall due to his own choices. He has opportunities to repent and save himself, but his pride and desire for power prevent him. The play ends with his soul being dragged to hell. The unit emphasizes that Faustus is a tragic figure because he brings about his own destruction.
Unit 3: Irony and the Tragic Dilemma in Doctor Faustus
This unit focuses on the use of irony in the play. Faustus seeks freedom and power, but ironically becomes a slave to the devil. He thinks he is gaining control over the world, but in reality, he is losing control of his soul.
The tragic dilemma in the play is Faustus’s constant struggle between repentance and continuing with his sinful path. Even when he wants to turn back, he convinces himself it’s too late or unnecessary. The irony and inner conflict highlight the tragedy and make the audience reflect on human weakness and temptation.
Unit 4: The Renaissance and Reformation in Doctor Faustus
This unit explores how the play reflects ideas from two major historical movements:
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The Renaissance promoted humanism, individual achievement, and the pursuit of knowledge. Faustus represents this spirit through his desire to go beyond the limits of human understanding.
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The Reformation emphasized religious faith, salvation, and the power of God’s grace. Faustus rejects God and the church, which aligns with the tension many felt during that period between religion and new scientific or philosophical thinking.
The play shows the conflict between reason and faith, between the new values of the Renaissance and the religious warnings of the Reformation.
Unit 5: Dramatic Poetry in Doctor Faustus
This unit analyzes Marlowe’s use of poetry in the play. Most of the play is written in blank verse, which is unrhymed iambic pentameter. Marlowe’s poetic style gives emotional depth to Faustus’s speeches.
Faustus’s soliloquies (long speeches to himself) are especially important. They express his ambitions, doubts, regrets, and fear. The poetic form adds to the intensity and beauty of the play, making the audience feel the full impact of Faustus’s inner turmoil and eventual doom.
Unit 6: The Performance of Doctor Faustus
This unit looks at how Doctor Faustus has been staged and performed over time. Early performances often emphasized the comic and magical elements, such as the scenes with Mephistopheles and the Seven Deadly Sins.
Modern productions, however, tend to highlight the tragic and philosophical aspects—Faustus’s internal struggle, the consequences of his choices, and the emotional depth of the final scenes. The play is flexible and can be interpreted in different ways depending on the focus of the performance.