Marlowe "Doctor Faustus" and a few thoughts on a literary devil

Following on from the Hell book I decided I really should read Marlowe's Faust. I honestly can't remember the last time I voluntarily read a play from the 16th century, I think the closest I've been to anything Shakespearean lately is translated Yuan plays. But I did enjoy the play immensly. I found it quite surprising what you could get away with then, provided it had a moral lesson at the end. All the speeches declaring alligence to Lucifer and rejecting God must have been quite shocking for an actor to say. Of course plays depicting the devil were banned shortly thereafter.

It was interesting to see how belief in science led to the devil and belief in the devil led to God. It was odd how just working with the devil made him believe that he actually did have a soul and that it was a terrible thing to loose. Of course that is one of the main principles of Christanity. But still strange to see in black and white and be totally taken for granted.

I wish Mephistopheles had had more lines. But then I always wish the Devil was a more interesting character. It reminded me a lot of the discussion at Sunday's bibliogoth meeting when everyone wished the devil girl in The Dumas Club (the novel "The Ninth Gate" was based on) had done and said a bit more. Perhaps I need to delve more into the works of the romantics in search of a more interesting devil. I also remembered that I still need to find a copy of The Devil in Love that was mentioned in The Dumas Club but that will probably have to wait until a trip to France.