Doctor Faustus by Marlowe - General Introduction

 Doctor Faustus by Marlowe 

Written 1588-1592; published 1604

Doctor Faustus, full name -  The Tragicall History of D. Faustus, tragedy in five acts.

        This play tells the story of the man who sells his soul to the devil in return for 24 years of power and knowledge - a legend that began in Germany in the 1500s. The story has inspired countless writers, dramatists and composers ever since, but the first major stage version of the story in England is this one by Shakespeare's contemporary Christopher Marlowe (1564-93). Written sometime between 1588 and 1592, but first published in 1604, the play was extremely controversial at the time, as it explores the paths human beings can take when they allow the devil into their lives. 

        Doctor Faustus was performed many times around the year of Marlowe's death, and its demonic impact on the audiences became the stuff of legend. During the Elizabethan period, the popularity of theatre had grown so much that the Crown was concerned about the effects of controversial plays. Plays were given an official licence if they were deemed suitable, but playwrights could be censored, arrested or even imprisoned. James I passed an act in 1606, which forbade any blasphemous or profane references to God or Christ - actors were fined £10 for each profanity. Marlow was forced to make a number of revisions to Doctor Faustus.

Play Summery of Doctor Faustus

Character list in the play - Doctor Faustus

General Introduction - Doctor Faustus by Marlowe

Character list in the play - Doctor Faustus

 Doctor John Faustus - 

Main Character, 

A learned scholar in Germany during the fifteenth century who becomes dissatisfied with the limitations of knowledge and pledges his soul to Lucifer in exchange for unlimited power.

Wagner 

Faustus' servant, 

He tries to imitate (copy) Faustus' methods of reasoning and fails in a ridiculous and comic manner.

Valdes and Cornelius 

Two German scholars who are versed in the practice of magic and who teach Faustus about the art of conjuring.

Lucifer 

King of the underworld and a fallen angel who had rebelled against God and thereafter tries desperately to win souls away from the Lord.

Mephistophilis

 A prince of the underworld who appears to Faustus and becomes his servant for twenty-four years.

Good Angel and Evil Angel 

Two figures who appear to Faustus and attempt to influence him.

The Clown 

The clown who becomes a servant of Wagner as Mephistophilis becomes a servant to Faustus.

Horse-

Courser A gullible man who buys Faustus' horse, which disappears when it is ridden into a pond.

The Pope 

The head of the Roman Catholic church, whom Faustus and Mephistophilis use as a butt of their practical jokes.

Charles V, 

Emperor of Germany The emperor who holds a feast for Faustus and at whose court Faustus illustrates his magical powers.

Knight

 A haughty and disdainful knight who insults Faustus. In revenge, Faustus makes a pair of horns appear on the knight.

Duke and Duchess of Vanholt

 A couple whom Faustus visits and for whom he conjures up some grapes.

Robin 

An ostler who steals some of Dr. Faustus' books and tries to conjure up some devils.

Rafe (Ralph)

 A friend of Robin's who is present with Robin during the attempt to conjure up devils.

Vintner

A man who appears and tries to get payment for a goblet from Robin.

Old Man He appears to Faustus during the last scene and tries to tell Faustus that there is still time to repent.

Seven Deadly Sins, - Alexander, - Helen of Troy, and - Alexander's Paramour

 Spirits or apparitions which appear during the course of the play.

Chorus A device used to comment upon the action of the play or to provide exposition.

Read Also Topic Given Below

Play Summery of Doctor Faustus

Character list in the play - Doctor Faustus

General Introduction - Doctor Faustus by Marlowe

Play Summery of Doctor Faustus

     Faustus becomes dissatisfied with his studies of medicine, law, logic and theology; therefore, he decides to turn to the dangerous practice of necromancy, or magic. He has his servant Wagner summon Valdes and Cornelius, two German experts in magic. Faustus tells them that he has decided to experiment in necromancy and needs them to teach him some of the fundamentals.

        When he is alone in his study, Faustus begins experimenting with magical incantations, and suddenly Mephistophilis appears, in the form of an ugly devil. Faustus sends him away, telling him to reappear in the form of a friar. Faustus discovers that it is not his conjuring which brings forth Mephistophilis but, instead, that when anyone curses the trinity, devils automatically appear. Faustus sends Mephistophilis back to hell with the bargain that if Faustus is given twenty-four years of absolute power, he will then sell his soul to Lucifer.

        Later, in his study, when Faustus begins to despair, a Good Angel and a Bad Angel appear to him; each encourages Faustus to follow his advice. Mephistophilis appears and Faust agrees to sign a contract in blood with the devil even though several omens appear which warn him not to make this bond.

        Faustus begins to repent of his bargain as the voice of the Good Angel continues to urge him to repent. To divert Faustus, Mephistophilis and Lucifer both appear and parade the seven deadly sins before Faustus. After this, Mephistophilis takes Faustus to Rome and leads him into the pope's private chambers, where the two become invisible and play pranks on the pope and some unsuspecting friars.

        After this episode, Faustus and Mephistophilis go to the German emperor's court, where they conjure up Alexander the Great. At this time, Faustus also makes a pair of horns suddenly appear on one of the knights who had been skeptical about Faustus' powers. After this episode, Faustus is next seen selling his horse to a horse-courser with the advice that the man must not ride the horse into the water. Later, the horse-courser enters Faustus' study and accuses Faustus of false dealings because the horse had turned into a bundle of hay in the middle of a pond.

        After performing other magical tricks such as bringing forth fresh grapes in the dead of winter, Faustus returns to his study, where at the request of his fellow scholars, he conjures up the apparition of Helen of Troy. An old man appears and tries to get Faustus to hope for salvation and yet Faustus cannot. He knows it is now too late to turn away from the evil and ask for forgiveness. When the scholars leave, the clock strikes eleven and Faustus realizes that he must give up his soul within an hour.

        As the clock marks each passing segment of time, Faustus sinks deeper and deeper into despair. When the clock strikes twelve, devils appear amid thunder and lightning and carry Faustus off to his eternal damnation.

Read Also Topic Given Below

Play Summery of Doctor Faustus

Character list in the play - Doctor Faustus

General Introduction - Doctor Faustus by Marlowe

Detailed note on Mahesh Dattani

 Mahesh Dattani is a dramatist, actor, dancer, director, and mentor. In 1998, his play Final Solutions got the Sahitya Akademi Award for Indian English drama. Although he has written several plays in English, he hails from such a background with hardly any literary aromas. Some of these plays have been considered and are now part of the curricula of Indian and international universities. He was born on August 7, 1958, in Bangalore, and attended Baldwin's High School and Bangalore's St. Joseph's College of Arts and Science. His mother tongue is Gujrati, but he received English language schooling along with his siblings, which enabled him in learning English as a second language. He holds a bachelor's degree in Arts and a master's degree in Marketing and Advertising Management. He began his work as a copywriter for an advertising agency before joining his family's business.

Dattani writes plays about scintillating issues that are relevant to today's society. He focuses on the issues that some of his predecessors have addressed in their plays, such as gender discrimination, child sexual abuse, patriarchy, and taboos that are not allowed to be acknowledged vociferously, such as homosexuality and the plight of eunuchs, and, of course, he writes vis-à-vis communalism, which is an apple of discord among various castes, classes, and colours.

In Where There's a Will and Dance Like a Man, Dattani depicts patriarchy's constitution and authoritarian attitude, gender discrimination in Tara, and the heart-wrenching topic of child sexual abuse in Thirty Days in September, as well as the contemplated status of eunuchs and their marginality in society in Seven Steps Around the Fire, homosexuality and LGBT issues in On a Muggy Night in Mumbai and Bravely Fought the Queen, and Do the Needful, respectively. Communalism in Final Solution and Some other predicaments blur the tension and the prejudice of superiority in The Tale of a Mother Feeding Her Child, in which a foreigner feeds her breast milk to almost an orphan child having forgotten the condition of her child, believing in humanity and having firm faith in God, because HE is omniscient and helps kind-hearted human beings.

The objective of this paper is to discover the girl child's ordeal in a culture dominated by male chauvinism. Tara by Dattani is a drama that addresses the issue of gender discrimination in contemporary Indian society. Woman in a patriarchal society is "the image of the woman holding the mirror to her face is the typical feminine image. In a male-dominated society, a woman is valued for her beauty and sex appeal. She is always afraid of her beauty withering with time and therefore she holds up a mirror which tells her of her youth, beauty and sexual attractiveness remain intact" (Satwana Halder, 

Since the dawn of civilization, women have grappled with a myriad of subjects. They have been stereotyped as sex objects and vulnerable members of society. From dawn to dust, they have been given to do numerous domestic chores to accomplish. And they are obligated to do the assignment within the time constraint, irrespective of whether they are suffering from a headache or backache. Paula Kaplan, in her book, The Myth of Woman's Masochism, asserts, that the myth that “women enjoy their suffering” becomes “responsible for profound and far- reaching emotional and physical harm to girls” 

Dattani's play Tara is a two-act stage play that was first performed by Dattani's Playpen performing Arts Group on October 23, 1990, at the Chowdiah Memorial Hall in Bangalore as Twinkle Tara. It was subsequently performed as Tara by Theatre Group, Bombay on November 9, 1991, directed by Alyque Padamsee, and received the Sahitya Kerala Akademy award for the same year.

Tara is the story of Siamese twins who were conjoined from the hip down and had three legs. They were surgically separated, and one of them may have two legs. The two legs were suited for Tara's body because Tara's body supplied the majority of the blood, but they (legs) were given to Chandan, albeit the linked leg was eventually flaked off because it could not sustain as dead flesh. The premise of the play Tara is the emotional separation that develops between two conjoned twins after their mother and grandfather manipulate their physical separation to favour the male (Chandan) over the girl

Dattani has shown the middle-class society that is supposed to itself well educated and has a respectable status in society. He is an expert in mirroring the real conditions of girls who have been living in a crucial society where they have no respect and honor. When Tara wants to know how the girls were being treated in the Patels' family, Roopa, Tara's neighbour, says, “Since you insist, I will tell you. It will not be true. But this is what I have heard. The Patels in the old days were unhappy with getting girls babies. You know dowry and things like that so they used to draw them in milk… they could say that she choked while drinking her milk

Dr. Kalam's personality and achievement in 'The Wings of Fire'.

Dr. Kalam’s autobiography Wings of Fire begins with-

“We are all born with a Divine fire in us. Our efforts should be to get wings of this fire."

         Really Wings of Fire is a unique autobiography portrays what zest for life is all about.  His humble beginning hard work, above all a passion a for life Etc. are well described in the book.

         It is also a biography of Indian space science as well.   Throughout the book Kalam emerges as a great personality before us.  He’s like pros that meeting all olds the man can reach caught to the star.

        Dr Kalam was born to poor owner’s family at Ramnathpuram,  Dhanushkody in Rameswaram.  He sold newspapers to pay his fees and pawned (sold) his sisters jewelry to complete a diploma in engineering.  Early in life he showed a capacity for hard work and his will to succeed.  His autobiography, his passionate description of one of the greatest success stories that Modern India has seen. It is not of the Indian story of an individual, but space programme  saga

     "Wings of Fire" begin with the description of other autobiographies Kalam's childhood. As child he was sincere worker. He helped his Cousin, he tried to be independent, and he was the favorite of his teachers. His great teacher Mr. Iyer used to inspire him to be a great man and finally and he proved it by becoming a great scientist the first citizen of Indian democracy, the president of India.

        He specialized Aeronautical Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology. He made Significant develop contribution as a project director to develop India’s first SLV. It made India an exclusive member of space club. He also describe the role of visionary geniuses such Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Dr. Brahm Prakash and many others. His book is also story of his dreams come his true after constant struggle. Agni Prithvi, Akash, Trishul, Nag end many other home-grown missiles have empowered India It proves that "Nothing can stop you if you to rise"" decide

        As devoted student of Science and Technology, he made several efforts to make India. Independent in the field of specie technology. As Chairman of Technology Information and an eminent scientist. He led the country with the help of 500 experts to arrive at Technology vision.  His dream is to make India developed nation.  He was a Professor at Anna University from 2007.  He was involved in teaching and research tasks. Above all he took a mission to ignite the young mind for national development by meeting high school student across the country.

        ‘Live what you teach practice what you preach’ was his motto.  His life was full of simplicity from the very beginning. It is also reflected in the technology he is always in favor of things Made in India he was never been trained abroad.  He believes- “Do things yourself do not includes in shortcut by importing equipment’s."

        He is entire life is unique example of humbleness and sincerity in the book he notes - when Mrs.  Gandhi the Prime Minister of India invites him to congratulation for his achievement in scientific Technology he was in simple dress he Shy of it.

        Though a man of science, he is an emotional human being. He loved his family as well as his coworkers. He recalls them with almost sincerely and reality. Indeed Dr. Kalam is legendary figure of India and achievement in science and technology

 

Highlight the person who influenced author Dr. Abdul Kalam.

 Highlight the person who influenced author Dr. Abdul Kalam.

         The wing of Fire is a genuine scientific autobiography written by APJ Abdul Kalam. Autobiography is the history of particular man's life. Like most other autobiography Kalam's Wings of Fire begins with the childhood. He also describes the person who influenced him; he remembers all them with the reality and sincerity.

         During his childhood Kalam was much more influenced by his father. His father was not educated person but he is a simple and spiritual person. Under his influence he becomes a boy kind loving and hardworking. His sister Zohra is not much educated but she is devoted and loving.  She sells her jewelry to educate Kalam. Ahmed Jalaluddin Zohra’s husband was a close friend of Kalam.  He was 15 year old then Kalam yet they were good friends.  Jalaluddin could not study more because of his family’s economy but, he inspired Kalam to learn and study ahead. He was a newspaper agent in town. He was also close friend of Kalam.  By helping him Kalam earn money to pay his fees.

         His family's contribution in shaping authors career is invaluable. After his family influence most important influence on Kalam is influence of teacher.  He came across the many teachers; out of them there were some teachers who become an ideal of Kalam who were great guides and mentor of Kalam.

         In primary school at Rameshwaram his science teacher Shiva Subrahmanyam loved Kalam.  Even he ignored social rigidity.  Ramnathpuram at Schwartz High School, Iyadurai Solomon reason self-esteem in Kalam. He became a mentor of Kalam.  Ramakrishna Iyer a mathematics teacher who punished Kalam but Kalam get good marks he praises also. He was a strict, yet loving teacher

         He join send Joseph College in 1950. His English teacher T N Sequiria was a hostel warden. He was kind and loving to students. At Madras Institute of Technology Kalam was highly influenced by four professors

1.  Professor Sponder - He was an Australian. He taught him technical aerodynamics.

2. Professor KAV pandalai - Who taught him Arrow structure design and energy and enthusiastic teacher, who brought approach to the teaching course.

3.  Professor Narasing Rao - He was a mathematician. He taught him theatrical aerodynamics.

4.  Professor Shrinivasam- electric but appreciating to the student.

     Of all them Kalam was a special inclination (feeling) professor sponder who measure the capacity of Kalam.

     After finishing his education he joined directorate of technical development and production (DID&P) (AIR) as a senior assistant scientist. There he came in across with the scientist technocrats and political leaders. 

     Dr. Braham Parkas was the head of the department in Indian Institute of Science. he was also first director of VSSC  he made him Project leader of SLV 3 then Homi Jahangir Bhabha supported Kalam in scientific research.  Raja Ramanna was a guide of author.  He had failed in author’s action method. 

     Dr. Kalam Boss greatly influenced by 2 scientists Dr. Braham Prakash and Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was the guide and mentor of Kalam.

     In short Dr. Kalam was influenced by many persons. He was always eager to teach something good and learn something good from other. And his quality and hardworking made in nation worldwide and give his status.

Childhood of Dr. Kalam

 Childhood of  Dr. Kalam.

     Dr. Kalam’s autobiography The Wings of Fire is a genuine and inspiring autobiography. It is not the fictional book it has surer footing of reality. Like most other autobiography Kalam's autobiography begins with his childhood. 

     Abdul Kalam was born in 1931 at Ramnathpuram, Dhanushkodi in Rameshwaram. He was born in the middle class family. his father Jainulabdin had not education. He was not reach but he was generous and lived a simple life. He had deep faith in God. Kalam's  mother was a generous lady.  Fed many people. The high priest of Rameshwaram temple Pakshi Lakshmana Shastri was a good friend of Kalam's father. Both of them many times discuss the spiritual matters. There is the difference in their mode of worship, but there is a similarity in there thinking. If it in God and spiritual matters. His father explains him the significance of prayer. He had much respect Pakshi lakshmana Shastri.

     After his father the important influence on Kalam was jainulabdin. He was 15 year old then Kalam he become friends. Both of them used to go for evening walk. They talk spiritual matters. He was not educated but, he inspired Kalam to study. He often talk to Kalam the scientific discoveries, literature and Medical Science. He is cousin Shamsuddin also played role in shaping his boyhood.

     He had his primary education in Rameshvaram. His science teacher Shiva Subrahmaniam highly inspired him to develop his skills. He had tree Hindu friends also.  They were Ramnath Shastri, Arvindam and Shiv Prakasam.  They were his pale. They are from orthodox Hindu Brahmin families. Kalam has habit of reading from his early childhood.

     Thus, we can say that Kalam was brought up in influence of both Hindu and Muslim culture. There is a lot of influence of fundamental principle of both religions on Kalam. His parents teach him a lesson of honesty and self and deep rooted phase in goodness.