Doctor Faustus Wealth Quotes Page 2

Page (2 of 3) Quotes: 1 2 3

How we cite the quotes:
(Act.Scene.Line)

Quote #4

From Venice shall they drag huge argosies,
And from America the golden fleece
That yearly stuffed Philip's treasury,
If learnèd Faustus shall be resolute. (1.1.123-126)

Faustus's friend Valdes echoes his desire to be like an explorer by exploiting the wealth of the new world. Like Faustus's desire to chase the Prince of Parma out of the region, Valdes's proposal to rob King Phillip of Spain reveals the way both men imagine wealth to be the means by which they can help their homeland excel above all other nations.

Quote #5

The spirits tell me they can dry the sea
And fetch the treasure of all foreign wrecks,
Yea, all the wealth that our forefathers hid
Within the massy entrails of the earth.
Then tell me Faustus, what shall we three want? (1.1.137-141)

Like pirates, Faustus and his friends want to search for buried treasure. While that sounds like fun, we have to say that his description of it is more than a little violent. Massy entrails? Yuck.

Quote #6

WAGNER
Well, sirrah, leave your jesting and take these guilders.
[Gives money.]
ROBIN
Yes, marry, sir, and I thank you too.
WAGNER
So, now thou at to be at an hour's warning whensoever and wheresoever the devil shall fetch thee.
ROBIN
Here, take your guilders; I'll none of 'em.
[Tries to return money.] (1.4.25-30)

This scene occurs just after Faustus has declared his intention to give his soul for Mephistopheles. But unlike Faustus, Robin is not so easily bought. Even though he desperately needs some cash flow, he does not want to belong to Wagner. In a way, even though he's a bit of a doofus, Robin is a lot stronger than Faustus, at least, for now.

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