The temptation and fall of Marlovian heroes as transitional man

Abstract

This thesis examines the nature of the heroes in four of Christopher Marlowe’s plays and concludes that Marlovian heroes are transitional men who embody both medieval and Renaissance concepts and who are tempted to pursue the Renaissance dream, but are continually haunted by the Christian dogma concerning the destiny of man. They resemble Adam and Lucifer in multiple ways as they strive, suffer, and fall in their attempts to gain power, wealth, knowledge, and godlike omnipotence. The attainment of power corrupts Marlovian heroes, and they reveal characteristics of the Machiavel as the term was understood in Elizabethan times. Their moment of death is significantly magnified as they rage, curse, stoically accept, or philosophize in poetic terror as their doom approaches. The plays included in this study are Tamburlaine: Part One and Part Two, The Jew of Malta, Edward II, and Doctor Faustus.