Question

2.
Comment on Marlowe’s use of irony in Doctor Faustus

Answer 1

The prime irony of the play is the that of the soul of the leading character of Dr. Faustus himself, who is in hold of the devil who claims to be at his service 24*7. Faustus is in a diametrically opposite thought of being the master of the world, and takes pride in possessing magical powers. And in doing so, he is about to sign a pact with the devil, which would further lead him towards doom. Besides that, his interpretation of the biblical text's are ironical. It can be seen in the following line " The reward of sin is death.........Why then,we must sin, and consequently die".
He also misses the significance of repentance and the magnanimity of God, for he forgives. The entire play focuses on the divine knowledge that Faustus intends to attain, but in reality it is worthless and he has attained nothing but shallowness and hollowness.

Hope it helps

Answer 2

Marlowe has woven an interplay of irony at various levels in 'Dr. Faustus' who as the title suggests is a scholar but chooses to drift from the traditional forms of knowledge like logic, medicine, law and religion and decides to practice magic. The play is set in the time of transition when individualism gripped its hold and medieval beliefs were changing. A doctor taking to magic portrays an irony as someone with intellect opting for magic is striking. His interaction with devil Mephostophilis and Lucifer signify how his very purpose of selling his soul for additional twenty-four years of power and knowledge was defeated, hence the irony. The dramatic irony is deftly interwoven as Dr. Faustus keeps on acting on his whims bringing his own doom which is very clear to the reader but Faustus himself is oblivious to it. At the end of twenty-four years, he is sent to hell.