The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe
This book mainly deals with the corruption of a man named Faustus when he decides to sell his soul to the Devil in exchange for power over one demon for 24 years.
Quote: "...Till swol'n with cunning, of a self-conceit, His waxen wings did mount above his reach, And, melting, heavens conspir'd his overthrow; For, falling to a devilish exercise, And glutted now with learning's golden gifts, He surfeits upon cursed necromancy...”
Faustus is a great scholar and a good man, until his pride and ambition lead him down the wrong path. He like so many people is willing to (in this case, literally) lose his soul in order to get what he wants. This quote shows the theme of pride leading to destruction because Faustus decides to pursue power and riches in spite of the consequences he knows will follow. He chooses to ignore the reality of Hell because he is so caught up in the excitement of the idea of living 24 years with everything he could possibly want.
This quote contains an allusion to the story of Icarus, Daedalus's son, from Greek mythology. Icarus and his father were escaping from their imprisonment wearing wings Daedalus had made from feathers and wax. He warned his son not to fly too high because the wax would melt and he would fall. But Icarus ignores the warning once he starts flying because he doesn't really believe in the danger of what he is doing. He gets caught up in the enjoyment of flying, melts his wings, and falls to his death. The theme is the same as the one in Doctor Faustus: pride leads to destruction in the end.
This book mainly deals with the corruption of a man named Faustus when he decides to sell his soul to the Devil in exchange for power over one demon for 24 years.
Quote:
"...Till swol'n with cunning, of a self-conceit,
His waxen wings did mount above his reach,
And, melting, heavens conspir'd his overthrow;
For, falling to a devilish exercise,
And glutted now with learning's golden gifts,
He surfeits upon cursed necromancy...”
Faustus is a great scholar and a good man, until his pride and ambition lead him down the wrong path. He like so many people is willing to (in this case, literally) lose his soul in order to get what he wants. This quote shows the theme of pride leading to destruction because Faustus decides to pursue power and riches in spite of the consequences he knows will follow. He chooses to ignore the reality of Hell because he is so caught up in the excitement of the idea of living 24 years with everything he could possibly want.
This quote contains an allusion to the story of Icarus, Daedalus's son, from Greek mythology. Icarus and his father were escaping from their imprisonment wearing wings Daedalus had made from feathers and wax. He warned his son not to fly too high because the wax would melt and he would fall. But Icarus ignores the warning once he starts flying because he doesn't really believe in the danger of what he is doing. He gets caught up in the enjoyment of flying, melts his wings, and falls to his death. The theme is the same as the one in Doctor Faustus: pride leads to destruction in the end.