1. LITERATURE ASSIGNMENT
IMPACTOF HUMANISM IN RENAISSANCE’s PLAYWRIGHT ‘THE
TRAGICAL HISTORY OF DOCTOR FAUSTUS’
Renaissance is a French word means ‘rebirth’ .It was a fervent period of European
cultural, artistic and political ‘rebirth ‘after the miserable dark ages. It rose in 14th century
Italy and spread towards the Western Europe, till 17th century, characterized by the
adoption of a humanist philosophy and the recovery of the classical antiquity. It
benefited from the printing, making quicker for the books and ideas to reach the
audience including criticism of Catholic Church. The east rediscover ancient ideas that
lead to a new way of looking humanity. By realizing that people are more than just a
God’s creation and are worthy in their own rights, this is called humanism. These ideas
lead to the questioning of church’s right besides people’s personal matter, church
imposed censorship. The Europeans leave catholic churches and joined protestant
churches to seek space for writing books. The platonic ideas were revived in,
Protestants experienced the renaissance differently. The period focused on the self-
actualization in one’s ability.
Humanism, letters (-ism) signifying belief in something, was an intellectual
movement that was started in Italy by Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio in the 14th
century, It’s a chief characteristic of this period, means “man’s concern with himself as
an object of contemplation”
Humanism have core belief in:
ALISHPA IMTIAZ
BS-ENGLISH 1C
INDIVISUALISM SECULARISM
2. LITERATURE ASSIGNMENT
Some writers of this period:
The Tragical Historyof Doctor Faustus,end is a tragedy, but, presented
humanistic spirit. A medieval morality play mostly advocated religious or secular, yet
Dr.Faustus is a hero revolting against God‘s authority and seeking for earthly life. He
rebukes the theology ―disgusting, despicable and contemptible person, and denies the
other world and hell. Even more, in spite of God warning, he goes its own way, ― “I am
determined to have, and will not repent, if my souls are multiple as the stars, I will
sell them to the devil‖”. Although filled with contradictions, and influenced by
theological shackles, he always chooses earthly happiness on behalf of the ―evil‖
earthly happiness. In the play, Faust‘s soul is internalized the struggle between two
angels. Good angel represents ―good virtue of Christianity leading people to believe in
Ed.spencer
Shakespeare
Cristopher Marlowe
(1564-1593), playwright poet of
the Elizabethan era. Marlowe’s
plays are the first to use blank
verse, became the standard and
are disguised by their
overreaching protagonist.
Marlow’s humanism highly
praised human being’s strength.
He has been titled as “the
Farther of English Tragedy”,
contribute to advocate
humanism in his plays by
describing the hero’s “desire” in
his tragedies,
J. Milton
3. LITERATURE ASSIGNMENT
God and give up worldly enjoyment. Evil angel induces people to enjoy the earthly life to
obey the devil, actually was struggle of two ethics. One is the Christian faith and the
other is the ancient Greek secular belief. He was not the humble soul controlled by the
concept of original sin and salvation in play but a religious rebel and a humanism thinker
of exploring the mysteries of life. The poet's noble temperament and magnificent spirit
makes him more own rich flavor of the times. Of course, Faust in action also showed
hesitation. Because he was reflecting the inherent weakness of bourgeoisie with new
ideas yet not completely free from the old theological ideas. The significance of his
tragedy lies in the fact that the weight of the feudal church‘s power and his self-
contradiction make ―a noble heart broken up. Faust‘s courage that gives up
opportunities for the salvation of souls to deal with the devil for knowledge and beauty
just reflect the people's state of mind of that period: they are eager to get rid of thought
imprisonment from medieval theology, Faust image described by Marlowe eventually
became a tragic figure. As what Mr. Yang Zhouhan said, Marlowe‘s Faust reflected,
―to obtain scientific knowledge in medieval ignorance is processes of painful
struggle just like baby dystopia. Faust dissatisfies Middle Ages’s knowledge and
pursuits new knowledge but he was deeply suffered the bondage of medieval theology
and can‘t get rid of the heavy shackles which is his inner shield, pain and Tragedy.
