Doctor Faustus

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This remarkable tragedy of intellectual overreaching introduces the ambitions and contradictions of the English Renaissance. It follows Faustus, a renowned medieval German scholar, who, bored with his mastery of disciplines, turns to magic. He summons the demon Mephistopheles, who facilitates a pact with the Devil: Faustus trades his soul for twenty-four years of magical power and Mephistopheles's service. This Norton Critical Edition presents both early versions of the play—the A-Text from 1604 and B-Text from 1616—each accompanied by detailed annotations. It includes a wealth of supplementary materials that provide valuable context and criticism. In "Sources and Contexts," readers will find primary documents from Marlowe's time, such as a letter accusing him of heresy, records of early performances, and selections from an early English translation of the German prose History of Doctor Faustus, Marlowe's source. Additionally, modern scholarly accounts explore Marlowe's biography, the relationship between the two variant texts, and the history of Renaissance magic and religion. The "Criticism" section features analyses from both early and contemporary critics, revealing the play's intricate connections to the social, political, and religious landscapes of its time.