In the European history, the Renaissance was a period from the 14th to the 17th Century. The rebirth of European culture after the dark ages developed in the modern era of individualism, secularism, logic, rationality, art, and literature. William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe’s works were influenced by this era. In the plays The Tragedies of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, and Doctor Faustus there are references of religion, politic and science and both plays give us a feel of the history and the transition from Medieval Times to the Renaissance. Both tragic heroes, Prince Hamlet and Dr. Faustus symbolize that time period. By comparing Dr. Faustus and Prince Hamlet, we can find many similarities between the two in terms of their goals and thoughts. Both of them are not satisfied with the way things are in their environment and want to reach a resolution - Hamlet goal is to avenge his father’s death, while Faustus’ goal is to gain ultimate knowledge. Both have valid goals, but they approach it differently. Hamlet is paranoid from his avenging thoughts and looks for ways to justify his actions in order to act right in the name of God. Faustus, on the other hand, acts against God and seeks ultimate knowledge and power by making a deal with Lucifer. Hamlet’s temperament is one of paranoia, while Faustus temperament is irrational and egoistic.
Prince Hamlet and Dr. Faustus attended the same university, Wittenberg, in Germany and were excellent student and scholars of logic and philosophy. They come from different backgrounds and have different personalities, however, both man struggle similarly to connect with the world. In the plays, both characters are captivated by their own thoughts, and both are conflicted with the questions of God and the purpose of life and death. Prince Hamlet contemplates death and displays suffering and anxiety as he is asked by the ghost of his father to avenge his murder. In his distress, Prince Hamlet reveals his innermost thoughts about his search for answers to the questions of existence. Similarly, Dr. Faustus questions God, The Heavens, and the contemporary education of the time which fail to satisfy him. Both characters goals get conflicted with their spiritual beliefs, and as they sink in deeper despair they alienate themselves from the world, which eventually costs them their lives.
Faustus’ pursuit to acquire greater knowledge beyond academics makes him turn to magic in his desire to gain power and learn about the world, the universe, and immortality. His desire of god-like qualities and unlimited knowledge fill his mind with irrational judgments. “Settle thy studies, Faustus, and begin to sound the depth of that wilt profess” (502) This is the first lines that Faustus says to himself when alone in his study which reveal his desire to reach out the the dark powers for greater knowledge. He does not fear the consequences of his desire and complies with any rule that will bring him closer to what he believes is greater power. "According to the Renaissance view, Faustus rebels against the limitations of medieval knowledge and the restriction put upon humankind decreeing that he must accept his place in the universe without challenging it." (Fitzwater)
Prince Hamlet ultimate goal is to avenge his father’s death. Prince Hamlet is searching for a justified revenge and is fearful of making a mistake. Being unsure of himself, he ponders and contemplates dark thoughts such as suicide in his soliloquy “To be or not to be” (53) which has a great effect on his sanity. As a believer of God, Prince Hamlet believes that taking revenge on a crime that is not committed is wrong. Although he is tormented from the news of his father’s murder, he still doubts it: “The spirit that has seen may be the devil, and the devil hath power to assume a pleasing shape.” (138-140) Prince Hamlet fears that the ghost is playing tricks on him and needs more time to think before taking any action against his uncle Claudius. By putting on a play for the court which would re-enact the murder of his father, Prince Hamlet hopes to see a reaction from his uncle which could serve as proof of the murder.
Prince Hamlet aims to commit a crime against a man, his uncle, and he can not bring himself to act upon his goal. As a philosophical thinker he continuously questions the rationality of everything, and seeks to justify his actions. Furthermore, even when he witnessed his uncle at the alter confessing to the murder, Prince Hamlet still hesitates to carry on with his revenge because he reasons that since his uncle repented, killing him in prayer will only send him to heaven. While Faustus commits a crime against himself, he damned himself when he sold his soul to Lucifer in exchange for promised unlimited knowledge and power. Faustus signs a contract with the devil with his own blood and is definite to attain his goals.
By comparing Prince Hamlet and Dr. Faustus’s thoughts we can learn about their differences, and weaknesses. Hamlet thoughts are agonized by the circle of constant questioning on everything and anything that he can think about in terms of justifying his revenge. He is imprisoned in his own mind and beaten by waves of questions that make him sink deeper and deeper into the verge of insanity. He thinks of tricks and scenario to ambush his uncle. He torments himself and contemplates suicide as he knows deep inside that he needs to overcome all that he believes in order to commit murder. Contrary to Hamlet, Faustus thoughts are clear in the beginning. He wants to acquire power through magic. But the first thing he wishes for once he signed the deal with Lucifer is a wife which shows that maybe all he wanted was love and companionship rather than search for ultimate knowledge and divine power. Then his curiosity of knowledge dies and he desires praise, as he travel around the world to get it. His thoughts are fearful and he plays cruel jokes on the Pope and a group of friars. He is however undecided every time he has to make a decision about repenting and going back to God; the Good and Bad Angels appear to influence him every time he is doubtful. He ends up making a decision and rationalizing his decision for the comfort of his own mind and pride. However, after the big voyage around the world, the pranks and praise, the time has never stopped clicking, his final hour is approaching and Dr. Faustus knows that. Upon his return, and during his last hour Dr. Faustus agonizes his faith and is in total despair. Nothing can save him because he is disconnected with God and can not call upon him as he doesn’t trust God will let him repent. If Faustus has learned one lesson it will be that superpower is for the Gods and anyone that attempts to deal with magic powers must face eternal damnation. In contrast, Hamlet inactivity toward his goal costs him his life too and his goal of revenge led him to anxiety and tension.
Both characters in their own times are overwhelmed with their tragic circumstances and are in despair at some points. Both are debating their own thoughts and rationalizing things over and over again. Ironically, Both Prince Hamlet and Dr. Faustus are scholars and students of logic, however, they both fail to attain their goals because of their confidence on logic and their failure to account for practical evidence. Dr. Faustus in contrast of Hamlet validates his thoughts, and rationalizes his irrationality and acts upon them; whereas Hamlet lingers over his thoughts irrationalizing his thoughts and finding flaws into them, leading him to doubts his own conclusions and questions himself constantly. The contrast with both characters’ thoughts is that while both rationalize and irrationalize their ideas in order to get an answer that aligns with what they believe is the truth, both have different ideas about the consequences of their actions. Prince Hamlet seems to fear making a mistake and continue to dig deeper for other possible answers that can bring him to act toward his goal accurately and to justify his act of vengeance; while Dr. Faustus doesn’t seem to have any remorse at first and up until the last hour - for choosing to sell his soul to Lucifer. Dr. Faustus is an overachiever and acts upon his desires. Whether they seem to be wrong or not he is only focused on the end results. Even though Faustus’ thoughts are irrational, he still finds comfort in them. As he steps beyond what’s been known as realistic and makes logical what’s unnatural, his beliefs become logical to him. Hamlet does not rationalize every thought but as a philosophical thinker thinks everything over and, contrary to Dr. Faustus, find flaws in his thoughts and ideas in order to avoid taking vengeful action. By overanalyzing everything, Hamlet ends up losing his mind over burning thoughts and ideas that are too hurtful to his soul to keep him balanced and sane.
Hamlet spends the most of the time thinking about his goal rather than taking action towards it. Contrary, Faustus takes action to achieve his goal, and when confronted with the consequences he quickly rationalizes his actions. Faustus acts upon his goal without much contemplating, while Hamlet contemplates his goal without much action.
"Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves" - Confucius
Fitzwater, Eva. CliffsNotes on Marlowe's Doctor Faustus (Kindle Location 667). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Kindle Edition.
Marlowe, Christopher. Doctor Faustus. The Norton Anthology: English Literature. Ed. Julia, Reidhead. New York: W.W Norton & Company, Inc 2013
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Dover Thrift Editions. Ed. Appelbaum Stanley and Weller Shane. Dover Publications, Inc. New York. 2016
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