Characterization Of Paradise Lost By John Milton And Dr....

Discuss the ways in which characterisation is explored in Paradise Lost by John Milton and Dr Faustus by Christopher Marlowe. Humanity s pursuit of knowledge is an intergral part of our society, our drive to discover has supplied some of the most advance scientific breakthroughs in existence. During the time Paradise Lost and Dr Faustus were written however, the pursuit of knowledge not readily available from the Bible was considered sinful, much like Eve and then Adam s eating of the forbidden fruit. Paradise Lost references this overtly, but in Dr Faustus this idea is portrayed more covertly, in the form of dark magic and the blasphemous denouncing of God. Paradise Lost also deals with the attempted rise to power by Satan, creating in both texts the final message that the pursuit of knowledge that has been forbidden is dangerous and will only end in downfall. This essay will discuss the transgressive characterisation of Satan in Paradise Lost and compare him to the characterisation of Dr Faustus. The similarities between the two are striking; both seek to attain knowledge that will lead to power, but ulti mately ends in their downfall.Adam s character differs the the expected protrayal from Milton and therefore the reasoning and effect of this will be discussed. The character of Eve will also be compared to Dr Faustus and how they are conflicting examples of why they want to gain forbidden knowledge. Finally the characterisation of Mephastophilis will be explored and