Humanism in Faustus and Utopia
Order Description
Christopher Marlowe’s Faustus and Thomas More’s Utopia both were influenced by and contributed to the philosophical movement known as Humanism. Humanism stressed the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasized common human needs, and sought solely rational ways of solving human problems. It was also marked by a revival of interest in Greek and Roman thought. As a movement in thought and literature, Humanism was responsible for moving forward ideas about the structure of governments, societies, etc. However, in some ways, Humanism was also part of the backlash against Catholic doctrine.
Write a minimum two-page (500-word) essay in which you discuss what Marlowe’s Faust and More’s Utopia revealed about the tension between Humanism and religion. For instance, you might discuss what you think Marlowe’s position is on Humanism since Faustus deals with a scientific(Humanistic) man’s spiritual turmoil. You might discuss Thomas More’s Humanistic views on government. But the topic/ focus is your choice. You do not need to use secondary sources, but you may if you choose. Be sure to use MLA style to cite anything you quote or paraphrase.
In Dr. Faustus, Christopher Marlowe has vividly drawn up the character of an intelligent, learned man tragically seduced by the lure of power greater than he was mortally meant to have. The character of Dr. Faustus is, in conception, an ideal of humanism, but Marlowe has taken him and shown him to be damned nonetheless, thus satirizing the ideals of Renaissance Humanism.
M. H. Abram’s A Glossary of Literary Terms defines Renaissance Humanism, stating that some of the key concepts of the philosophy centered around “the dignity and central position of human beings in the universe” as reasoning creatures, as well as downplaying the “‘animal’ passions” of the individual. The mode of the thought also “stressed the need for a rounded development of an individual’s diverse powers… as opposed to merely technical or specialized training.” Finally, all of this was synthesized into and perhaps defined by their tendency to minimize the prevalent Christian ideal of innate corruption and withdrawal from the present, flawed world in anticipation of heaven. (p. 83)
The character of Faustus is reasoning and very aware of the moral (or immoral) status of what he is undertaking. His opening speech is devoted to working out logically why he is willing to sacrifice both the road to honest knowledge and his soul in favor of more power. (I, 1-63) He exhibits, in his search for power, anything but animal passion; he indeed exhibits a chilling logic as he talks himself out of the possible delights of heaven. Not only is he intelligent, he also demonstrates a broad base of learning, another quality admired and upheld by humanists.
