Doctor Faustus Summary

Term Paper Title	Doctor Faustus Summary
# of Words	954
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	3.82

Doctor Faustus Summary

     In the beginning Faustus, the main character, is unsatisfied with his studies.  He feels that he has learned everything that is humanly possible.  So he requested that his servant Wagner to go get Valdes and Cornelius to help teach him the ways of magic.  Before they arrive Faustus is confronted by a Good Angel and an Evil Angel who try to persuade him to take either the side with God or with Satan.  When the two men arrive Faustus explains that he is going to try to conjure something at night.
     In the next scene two scholars from the university find Wagner and ask him where Faustus is.  He tells them that Faustus is eating with Valdes and Cornelius.  The scholars fear for Faustus because they know the two men are evil and they decide to go talk to the rector to see if he can reclaim Faustus before it's too late.
     Faustus casts a spell and Mephistophilis appears in a hideous form.  Faustus tells him to go away and come back in the shape of a friar.  Faustus is proud that he has the power to call forth a demon but Mephistophilis explains that he did not come because Faustus requested, instead he came because Faustus renounced the Trinity.  Faustus asks Mephistophilis how it is that he has left hell.  Mephistophilis explains that he hasn't left hell because hell is where ever God is not.  Faustus then tells Mephistophilis to go tell Lucifer that he will give away his soul to him in exchange for anything he wants for the next twenty-four years.
     Wagner finds Robin the clown and tells him if he doesn't become his servant then he will have thousands of lice tear him apart.  He also summons Belcher, a devil, to help Robin with his decision.  Robin decides to be Wagner servant for seven years.
     Faustus is alone in his study.  The Bad Angel and Good Angel appear again to try to persuade him to one of their sides.  Faustus ends up thinking unholy thoughts about the wealth that he will have.  Then Mephistophilis appears and says that Lucifer will agree to the terms in the contract.  Faustus begins to sign the contract and is interrupted by two signs while doing so but still ends up signing it.    Faustus then requests a wife and Mephistophilis talks him out of it by explaining to him that marriage is only ceremonial and that he will give Faustus a new woman to wake up next to every morning if he wants.
     Later Faustus and Mephistophilis are back in the study and Faustus starts thinking again about heaven.  He gets so upset that he renounces Mephistophilis and the magic he has given him.  The two angels enter again; the Good telling him to repent and the Bad telling him it's already too late....

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