A big motivator for Faustus's handing his soul over to the devil is his that he's jonesing for some power, big time. But here's the rub: in order to gain that power, Faustus has to give it all away—to Lucifer. Ultimately, the power Faustus dreams of could never be his. The power to rule not just men but all of creation belongs only to God in the world of Doctor Faustus. But the not-so-good doctor is not the only one in the play who has such high ambitions. Pope Adrian, too, uses his power to make all the world "stoop" (3.1.158). And we know that Lucifer fell from heaven because of his lust for power. So the Pope and Faustus are probably destined to wind up right where Lucifer is—in hell.
Questions About Power
- Which characters in the play desire power, and why?
- What kind of power does Faustus imagine himself gaining before he signs his contract with Lucifer? Does he achieve this level of power? Why or why not?
- What are the limits of Faustus's magical powers?
- Is Mephistopheles powerful? Why or why not?
- What does the pope claim as the basis of his power? Bruno? What does the pope use his power for?
Chew on This
Faustus must give away power in order to gain it.
Faustus's desire for god-like powers destines him for hell long before he ever signs a contract with Lucifer. The contract is just a symptom of a larger problem.