Dr Faustus Key Quotes

'The reward of sin is death'

Faustus fails to quote the rest of the verse form the Bible, Romans 6:23, 'But the gift of God is eternal life'

'Waxen wings did mount above his reach'

The Chorus refer to Icarus to foreshadow Faustus fall, his ambition will drag him down.

'These necromantic books are heavenly'

Blasphemy and contrast in this sentence show the delusion in Faustus, and how he worships ungodly things

'Que sera sera'

In his opening monologue Faustus acknowledges that what will be, shall be, perhaps a reflection that his fate is pre-determined.

'I do repent, and yet I do despair'

Contradiction as despair is the belief that one has no saviour, and to many this is the one most unforgivable sin. Faustus admits that he has no saviour, suggesting therefore he has no God.

'Come not Lucifer, I'll burn my books'

In his last futile attempt to save his soul Faustus suggests burning his books. But lighting the written word aflame will not burn the impurities of his soul.

'Ah, Mephistopheles'

These are his last words, he cries out to Meph, not God

' I, who saw the face of God,

And tasted the eternal joys of heaven,

Am not tormented with ten thousand hells

In being deprived of everlasting bliss?'

Meph rages that hell is having seen God's face, and thus acknowledges Gods power, yet God does not appear to do so himself in the play. personification, rhetorical question, hyperbole.

'Chiefest bliss'

Faustus settles for petty tricks and foolery in return for an eternity in hell, instead of settling for what he had and gaining bliss in heaven.

'A sound magician is a mighty God'

Faustus lusts over power.

'where we are is hell,

And where hell is, there must we ever be'

'This is hell, nor am I out of it'

hell is all around, perhaps Faustus is already in hell, hell is the state of the soul

'My blood congeals'

Natural, his body tries to prevent what the mind wants

'Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss'

Faustus even as his time on earth is ending, wishes to be immortal, not to repent. He doesn't ask for Gods forgiveness, he asks for Helens affection.

'I am a servant to great Lucifer'

Is Meph ever truly Faustus' servant? Or is he manipulating Faustus in order to gain his soul?

'Ah, Mephistopheles'

These are his last words, he cries out to Meph, not God

This word “damnation” terrifies not him,

Foreshadowing: Faustus will be damned and will terrify him

O, it strikes, it strikes!

The anaphora of the phrase “it strikes” and the exclamation point illustrate his panic that he will be eternally damned in hell as a result of his deal with Lucifer.