What makes christopher marlowes Doctor Faustus a gothic text?
Marlowe did not write a “gothic” text, his play is described as a “tragical history”. Gothic fiction is a branch of romantic fiction, and dates from the !8th century. However Faustus does have some unusual elements. Firstly, the hero is not royal or noble, he is from the lower classes. This is very unusual for a tragedy at the time. Secondly, it has demonic elements which are also unusual. It was claimed by some that demons had actually appeared on stage during performances. Thirdly, it is set in an alien environment(Germany) Fourthly, the hero is doomed from the start, and subsequently makes decision after decision which ensure his destruction. These are attributes the play shares with the later Gothic novel. It could be said that Faustus is a forerunner of Frankenstein, and echoes the story of Icarus. However, the context and significance of the 3 stories differ, reflecting the different belief systems and societies in which they were developed.
