I am sure that most of us are familiar with the story of Doctor Faustus. It is a tale which goes back to the 16th century based on a German legend. It concerns a man who sells his soul to Lucifer in return for power and knowledge. A 17th century English playwright Christopher Marlowe used this complex tale as a basis for a play produced in 1604. The play ends with the assumption that Lucifer calls upon Doctor Faustus to make good his side of the bargain to honour the contract to surrender his soul in exchange for the power and knowledge he was given. I was intrigued by this tale of venal greed and speculated about the modern day equivalent that may serve as an example of such a pact being entered into. My mind immediately sprung to a contemporary figure who fitted this profile most appropriately. There is however another version of this tale which has the Doctor cheating the consequences of his actions and achieving some kind of redemption. My beliefs which I have held throughout my life insist that this is a possibility.
Posted on: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 06:53:25 +0000