Drama A
 Name :- M.Kumail
 Class :- BS 2nd
 Section :- B
 Shift :- Morning
 Roll No :- PF-19283
 Date :- 07/07/2020
 Submitted to :- Ma’am Saima Ayaz
Task :- Comparative Analysis between the
characters of Dr. Faustus & Macbeth.
Dr. Faustus and Macbeth are both famous Renaissance tragedies that are
written by the two most important and famous writers of that period that are
Christopher Marlowe & William Shakespeare respectively. The names of the
tragedies are both based on the main protagonists that we are going to see the
similarities and differences in between. Both writers have been subject to a lot of
controversy, with a big theory in the literary world being that they were both the
same person! Conclusive evidence to support this theory has also been found
but there are other valid reasons that can also claim otherwise. Nevertheless they
both had different styles and ideas which were both revolutionary and brilliant
for their time. There’s no denying that they didn’t meet or collaborate while they
were alive as the six part saga of King Henry by Shakespeare seems a lot like it
was written in a collaboration with Marlowe. They were rivals who pushed each
other to bring out the best in each other but that doesn’t mean they necessarily
had to be enemies. That’s where the famous quote comes in, “Without
Marlowe, No Shakespeare!”
Dr. Faustus and Macbeth aren’t so different characters. They both have very
similar tragic flaws or ‘Hamartia’. The main two are, ‘Hubris’ and ‘Overambition’. Faustus is a very renowned scholar and an accomplished doctor also
holding many other degrees and belongs to well respected family, while
Macbeth is also a very honorable military leader loved by his people and his
king, so much that he’s almost considered as the right hand of the king. Taking
it from the top, as we mentioned before they both share the trait of being
overambitious, to achieve more and not stop. This trait though if channeled in
the right direction could prove very fruitful, but mostly turns out to be toxic.
Here both our characters tend to aim above the stars and reach where no man
has before, and with the help of or instigation of the side characters this is what
brings about their downfall.
Dr. Faustus is fed up with gaining all the worldly knowledge there is and
wants to pursue an art which no one has, i.e. Necromancy. Now everyone is
aware it’s a forbidden art and all but that’s where the over ambition kicks in. He
is aided in this by his scholar friends who act as the instigators, help him
summon the Prince of devils, Lucifer’s right hand man, Mephistopheles who is
the main aide of his journey. Everyone including Mephistopheles warns him of
the path he’s treading on but his arrogance and hubris makes him confident
that, heaven and hell don’t exist and they are “an old wives tales”.
Mephistopheles very clearly tells him the consequences of his actions as he
agrees to draw up pact in his blood with Lucifer to have 24 years’ worth of magic
and the service of Mephistopheles in return for his soul. As we can see, a man
of his stature who knows so much about religion and is a great scholar, but
worldly Greed and Greed for Power makes him go blind and mad, also the
other hamartias of the characters as we will see is also the case with Macbeth. He
could do so much yet he falls prey to stupid pranks and other foolish stuff,
making acquaintances with world leaders and pleasing them with his tricks. He
does however in between time to time feel the weight of the sin he’s committing
and is on many instances inclined to repent especially when he’s approached by
an old man taken to be an angel; but Mephistopheles is quick to remind him of
their agreement and prevents him from doing so. At last when his time is almost
over, in the catharsis we see these painful soliloquies from him lamenting and
cursing himself and Lucifer as he begs for repentance but it’s too late and apart
from that we see that he’s so deep in sins that he knows this one can’t be
forgiven and he can’t find the words with which to ask for forgiveness. At last we
see his painful downfall or demise as he’s torn to pieces by the devils as his soul
is dragged o hell.
With Macbeth the story is a little different. On return from a successful
military campaign he’s approached by three witches who foretell him that he’s
going to be named, Thane of Cawdor and eventually will rule Scotland one day.
Macbeth before this is literally a normal very obedient and a loyal servant to the
crown which has earned him the respect of the people of Scotland and King
Duncan, the ruler of Scotland. On his success he’s awarded him the land of
Cawdor and has elevated his position a lot. Macbeth on hearing those
predictions feels confused but when he hears of his promotion, the prediction
turns out to be true. From here on his mental turmoil intensifies and he’s torn
between accomplishing the second as well, or remaining loyal to the crown. He
shares these findings and thoughts with his wife, Lady Macbeth who plays the
role of the instigator as well as aide. She’s quite the opposite of our typical
female characters and is portrayed to be a very evil lady who spurs his ambitions
to new heights and makes her husband accept to pursue greater power. Here is
where now we see the over ambition and Greed for power and their will to do
anything for it. After this we see them plotting murders of many characters and
then actually carrying them out, starting with poor King Duncan, quickly
establishing him as the King of Scotland. Initially we see Macbeth constantly
displeased with the act and wanting to go back to normal as he’s eaten up by
guilt, until at a point he decides he’s too deep in it to back out now, just like
Faustus. He’s also not pleased about his rule as he considers his rule a tyranny
as do the people, and he wants to feel loved by the people like they loved
Duncan. After getting further predictions from the witches on his invincibility
he’s even more determined to consolidate his rule while tying up loose ends that
are the people in his way that could be potential threats. All this with his wife,
the main force and motivator behind him he doesn’t stop until he can peacefully
rule the kingdom. His hubris is elevated to a new level when the witches tell him
that, no man born of a woman can kill him, and that he’s safe until Dunsinane
hill forest moves towards his castle. All this happens while behind the actions,
first it’s him who struggles with deteriorating mental health, but then later it’s his
wife, his partner in crime who also can’t bear the burden of the crime anymore
and is driven insane. Shortly before the end she commits suicide where Macbeth
delivers a soliloquy on life and death seemingly unmoved as if nothing really
happened. That’s where half of the catharsis can be felt, while the time actually
comes and his foes come to fight him disguised as the forest which was the first
of the two predictions, his excessive pride even rejects that thought and runs out
to face the person who he had tried to murder before along with his family but
wasn’t there, Macduff. Now here we see an example of dramatic irony where we
the audience are aware that Macduff was born by C-section and will topple him,
we feel pity on Macbeth, completing the catharsis as he’s still ambitious that he
will be king. We then see him die like a dog and beheaded completing the
downfall or demise. In Faustus’s case his hubris is less compared to Macbeth’s
as he though time and again realize his mistake and tends to repent, Macbeth
wishes to be free of the burden of his sin and commit his sin more freely. He
doesn’t for one moment think at the end that he’s done something wrong and
his time of death is near so he should repent, rather he rejects the predictions
and thinks he’s invincible. Both men, in some way want to be equals with God
or even higher! That shows man’s weakness and greed.
Both plays teach very great lessons and there’s no denying they are
evergreen masterpieces. There are a lot of Macbeths and Faustuses out there in
the world, and it’s our job kind of to stop them and be good influences on them
and bring them back to their senses and certainly not be them ourselves while
also not playing the roles of the instigators or the aides!
THE END