Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus and Modern Psychology...

Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus and Modern Psychology Due to the fact that I recently finished reading Spirit and Will by Gerald May, I find my perception of Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus filtered through that book. May, a psychiatrist from the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Washington, D.C., makes a rather courageous attack on a sacred cow, modern psychology. He asserts that Psychology is fundamentally objective, secular, and willful whereas the core identity of religion is mysterious, spiritual, and willing (10). He criticizes religion for having sold out to psychology in its attempt to remain relevant. Like Dr. Faustus, we have pursued knowledge with a passion in order to master ourselves and our environment.†¦show more content†¦But instead of yielding himself to God, Dr. Faustus dreams of godlike power; it is his way of responding to the religious longing within him. He is not satisfied to be a successful and famous physician; he would conquer death itself, enter into a world of absolute power. Acco rding to May, modern psychology also ignores our spiritual longing, believing that expanding knowledge can take its place. Dr. Faustus turns to magic to satisfy his lust for power. I find it fascinating that May discusses in quite some detail function of magic in his chapter entitled Encounter with Evil. Whereas superstition implies a kind of childlike pleading with God--an attempt at manipulation--magic, witchcraft, and sorcery hold that assumption that individual human will can through various means actually control and manage supernatural power (285). The root meaning of magic refers to mastery. It represents a defiant challenge to the ultimate mysteries of life. It is ironic that both Dr. Faustus and modern psychology receive the knowledge and power they desire only to find that it results in mediocrity and boredom. A leveling of all difficulties cuts out the agony but also the ecstasy of life. G.K. Chesterton tells the story of two boys, Paul and Peter, playing in their front garden which was about the same size as the dinner table (1). When aShow MoreRelatedPsychological Anxieties in English Literature Essay1965 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction TheAge of Christopher Marlowe and the Age of D.H.Lawrence diverge in their socio-political-cultural-literary background but the presence of psychological anxieties in all ages is indisputable in the history of mankind, now and then. The characters and their portrayal of their mental pang due to some peculiarity in their thought process depicted in the English literature were immensely appreciated by the public. In renaissance period the hero’s in Gorboduc, The Spanish tragedy, HamletRead MoreThe difference between medieval and early modern is one of degree rather than strict demarcation. Discuss this idea in the context of any two writers you have read.(Everyman and Dr Faustus)2404 Words   |  10 PagesThe medieval and early modern periods were eras with distinctive issues and ideals. Some of their key themes were very similar, such as the importance of religion and the role it played in everyday life, while other matters were unique to their time, such as the medieval sel ling of indulgences, or the early modern Reformation of the Church. These examples illustrate clearly the mixture of change and stasis in the two ages, as a subject shared by both periods yielded so great a diversity of issues