Dr Faustus Reading Journal: Act 1

In Act 1 we are introduced to the main character of the play Faustus. He is presented to the audience as a character tired with normality. Faustus is obviously a character that has achieved a lot at this point in his life, he is described as a great academic and is described as by the chorus as being from 'base stock' showing he is from a humble background. When this is taken into account the success of Faustus seems even more great as usually academics would of been from fairly wealthy backgrounds. Faustus seems to have achieved everything there is and due to this longs for a new challenge and looks beyond normal boundaries towards the dark arts. Faustus has a great interest in black magic as it is obvious he has had no experience with it being a respected academic 'These metaphysics of magicians,And necromantic books are heavenly' Faustus doesn't seem to be worried about religious morality as he would not be delving into the dark arts, plus he refers to it as 'heavenly' which seems like a oxymoron or even blasphemous to compare something sinister and satanic to heaven. This may be a reflection Marlowe's own beliefs as some believe Marlowe was a atheist. So far the first act has all the makings of a Gothic text containing a tragic hero with false ambition transgressing the boundaries.