Doctor Faustus Faustus Quotes

Faustus

Quote 52

FAUSTUS
Had I as many souls as there be stars,
I'd give them all for Mephistopheles.
By him I'll be great emperor of the world
And make a bridge through the moving air
To pass the ocean with a band of men.
I'll join the hills that bind the Afric shore
And make that country continent to Spain,
And both contributary to my crown.
The Emperor shall not live but by my leave,
Nor any potentate in Germany. (1.3.100-109)

Aw, Faustus wants to bring the whole world together. That's kind of sweet. Oh, wait. This is not some high-minded idea about the value of community. Nope, Faustus is all about having power over all the nations. So sure, he wants to bring the world together, but only under his rule. That's not so warm and fuzzy.

Faustus

Quote 53

FAUSTUS
I, John Faustus of Wittenberg, Doctor, by these presents, do give both body and soul to Lucifer, Prince of the East, and his minister, Mephistopheles, and furthermore grant unto them that, twenty-four years being expired, and these articles above written being inviolate, full power to fetch or carry the said John Faustus' body and soul, flesh, blood, into their habitation wheresoever. By me, John Faustus. (2.1.99-105)

Faustus's contract with Lucifer is written "in manner of a deed of gift" (2.1.58), a document that assigns ownership of something away from one person to another. Mephistopheles insists that Faustus write the document and then also read it aloud, probably to help give it all the pomp and circumstance needed to make the whole deal legit. Of course we think it's totally not legit. The absurdity of giving away a soul in a deed of gift raises the possibility that other similar transactions—like slavery, for example—are equally absurd.

Faustus > Faustus

Quote 54

FAUSTUS
Now, Faustus, must thou needs be damned?
Canst thou not be saved?
What boots it, then, to think on God or heaven?
Away with such vain fancies, and despair.
Despair in God and trust in Beelzebub. (2.1.1-5)

Or maybe Faustus isn't quite convinced that he has zero hope of heaven. In this quote, he's still considering the possibility of salvation for himself. He seems almost desperate here, like he's clinging to one last hope, no matter how pathetic. But of course, he'll soon be distracted by the devils, so no matter.