Question

In Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, why did Faustus begin to believe that human salvation was impossible?

1) Faustus had been misled by Mephastophilis, who caused him to misread the scriptures
2) Faustus was influenced by the devil's temptations
3) Faustus had a crisis of faith
4) Faustus believed that his sins were unforgivable

Answer 1

In Marlowe's 'Doctor Faustus', Faustus deems his own sins to be beyond forgiveness leading to his belief in the impossibility of salvation a notion influenced by religious doctrines of the era.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, Faustus began to believe that human salvation was impossible primarily because he felt that his sins were unforgivable. This belief leads him to despair and consequently to his eventual downfall.

This is akin to the complex theological debates of the time regarding predestination, free will, and the nature of salvation, reflected in the beliefs of figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin. Marlowe's Faustus, overwhelmed by the weight of his sins, cannot see the possibility of redemption, a sentiment that echoes the religious discourse of the era, such as Luther's doctrine of justification by faith alone and the concept of sinfulness inherent in human nature.