文档介绍：English Literature
Lecture Four: The English Renaissance (2)
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Christopher Marlowe (1564-93)
Christopher Marlowe, considered the greatest English dramatist before William Shakespeare, greatly advanced tragedy as an English dramatic form. He was also the first English playwright pose in blank verse.
Marlowe’s Work
Tamburlaine the Great is the story of Tamburlaine, who endeavors to pursue a universal power. Tamburlaine begins as a shepherd chief, and then rebels and conquers the Persian king. An unconquerable hero, he rushes like a wide tempest over the whole East, seated on his chariot drawn by captive kings, with a newly captured emperor caged before him.
The Jew of Malta is a study of lust for wealth, which characterizes a terrible old money lender Barabas that is strongly suggestive of Shakespeare’s Shylock.
The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus is Marlowe’s masterpiece, which is based on a old German legend. Faustus is a great scholar who has an insatiable thirst for knowledge. After he has gained sufficient knowledge of theology, philosophy, medicine and law, the four sciences of the time, he desires a study of magic. In order to do so, he sells himself to the Devil, on condition that he should have 24 years of absolute power and knowledge. In the following scenes, Faustus is granted by the Devil all his wishes and desires and he also experienced much internal conflict. The final scene is a soliloquy of the anguish of the hero.
Characteristics of Marlowe’s Drama
His plays show the spirit of the rising bourgeoisie, its eager curiosity for knowledge, its towering pride, its insatiable appetite for power over the intangible, its ambition for earthly dominion and for limitless revenge .
His plays emphasize the ideal of individualism. His heroes are generally distinguished by a resolute character, a scorn of orthodox creeds, and an overpowering passion.
Though es to all Marlowe’s tragic heroes, the kernel of his play lies rather in the stru