In what ways does ‘Dr Faustus’ raise the problems of writing a play about knowledge? How does Marlowe attempt to come to terms with these problems?

Knowledge is a subject which often arouses much controversy, as much today as in the Jacobean era. Biblically, knowledge was often associated with overreachers, primarily Eve who commits original sin. During the Renaissance the idea of knowledge evolved into a more celebrated and revered notion, albeit with some opposition from the Church. Marlowe however, at certain points in the novel, does attempt to celebrate the acquisition of knowledge, particularly as he too was regarded as ‘base of stock’. Both scientific and more controversial knowledge such as necromancy are both addressed equally within the play, leaving the audience to question the price of knowledge, as seen with Faustus downfall. Firstly, we must address the idea of knowledge being associated with sin and inherent evil. In the creation story, Eve is tempted by a Lucifer who appears as a serpent and persuades her to eat an apple from the tree of knowledge. She transgresses a boundary set by God and is established as the first literary archetype of the overreacher. This too can be seen in ‘Dr Faustus’ who is quickly accepted as an overreacher in the prologue in Marlowe’s reference to Icarus; ‘his waxen wings did mount above their reach’. Marlowe’s use of mythology and intertextuality foreshadows Faustus’ downfall at the end of the play as well as revealing his excessive pride and ambition, which serves as his fatal flaw, a common feature in classical tragedies. Faustus’ ambitious nature permits him to seek a forbidden knowledge which causes his to transgress a boundary, reflected in the quote ‘necromantic books are heavenly’. The juxtaposition created between the words ‘necromantic’ and ‘heavenly’ reflects Faustus’ internal struggle and excitement at this newfound darker knowledge, but also is subversive by contrasting religious and transgressive lexis. However, Jeffery suggests Faustus had ambitions other than knowledge, exchanging his soul instead for the ‘ordinary price of sensual pleasure’. In this way Marlowe criticises not Faustus’ pursuit of knowledge but his ulterior motives for power, as during the Renaissance period, the acquisition of knowledge was clearly encouraged.