Introduction
Psychoanalysis in literature helps learn how bestseller authors develop their ideas to improve mental health and solve behavioral problems. Carl Jung introduced a doctrine of collective unconscious, in which literary symbols and images are closely related to the human past (Niaz et al. 37).
In Doctor Faustus, Christopher Marlowe creates several symbolic images to appeal to human senses and feelings and succeeds in visual representation. The purpose is to underline the power of personal choices and knowledge. The struggle between the character’s superego and id is strengthened by such bright images as blood, a good angel, and a bad angel, symbolizing the division of the soul through choices and sacrifices people make.
Analysis of Imagery in Doctor Faustus
Blood
Blood is one of the strongest images in Marlow’s play, denoting the connection between real human-made decisions and the supernatural world to raise the reader’s uncertainty about the pact between Mephistopheles and Faustus. Many people commonly understand blood as something that unifies life and death, health and sickness, physical traumas, and mystic rituals. Faustus admits, “My blood congeals, and I can write no more” (Marlowe 5.62). The worth of this image is excellent due to the inconsistent nature of blood and a symbolic rebellion against what Faustus is going to do. His superego seems to give the character one more chance to think over the situation and make another choice. Unfortunately, his pride and pursuit of knowledge prevail to ignore all precautions and sell his soul.
Good Angel
In addition, talking about the division of the human soul and exquisite temptation forms, the visits of a good angel should be mentioned. It does not take much time for the reader to guess that this angel symbolizes the encouragement of all those good things in human life. The angel comes to Faustus several times to explain that it is necessary to “gaze not on it, lest it tempt thy soul” but “read the Scriptures” (Marlowe 1.71, 74). This image proves that all people deserve the right to forgiveness and mercy regardless of the severity of their sins and mistakes. It provokes warm feelings and a sense of safety that supports and motivates even when something bad becomes inevitable.
Bad Angel
Finally, together with a good angel, the image of a bad angel constantly appears to demonstrate Marlowe’s intention never to stop the battle within the human soul. Contrary to the good angel, the bad one aims to confuse Faustus and give more reasons for making mistakes and wrong choices. Each time the bad angel comes, it offers explanations that cherish the character’s pride and lust because the faith in God provokes “rather illusions, fruits of lunacy, that make men foolish that do use them most” (Marlowe 5. 18-19). The play reveals that taking the wrong side and serving Lucifer is easier because it allows for the neglect of rules and the already-established social expectations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Doctor Faustus’s imagery is associated with many meaningful lessons for modern people. Today, society lives according to the rules and standards that enhance their freedoms and individual choices, forgetting about the worth of faith and dignity. Marlowe does not overfill his play with multiple symbols to pay the reader’s attention to the basics that determine human actions and feelings. The good and bad angels and blood symbolize the struggle that never stops in life, and it is high time to improve people’s awareness about the outcomes made at a crossroads.
Works Cited
Marlowe, Christopher. “Doctor Faustus.” The Norton Anthology of English Literature: Core Selections Ebook, edited by M. H. Abrams et al., 10th ed., W. W. Norton & Company, New York, 2020.
Niaz, Azadkhan, et al. “Review of Freud’s Psychoanalysis Approach to Literary Studies.” American International Journal of Social Science Research, vol. 4, no. 2, 2019, pp. 35-44. Web.