Themes of Dr. Faustus

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  1. The Conflict Between Good and Evil – Faustus struggles between his desire for power and the moral consequences of his choices, symbolized by the Good Angel and the Evil Angel.

  2. The Dangers of Excessive Ambition – Faustus's thirst for knowledge and power leads to his downfall, demonstrating the consequences of overreaching ambition.

  3. Fate Versus Free Will – While Faustus appears to make his own choices, his inability to repent raises questions about whether he was ever truly free to change his destiny.

  4. Salvation and Damnation – Despite multiple chances to seek forgiveness, Faustus remains loyal to Lucifer, ultimately facing eternal damnation as a result of rejecting divine grace.

  5. Illusion Versus Reality – Faustus believes his magical powers will bring true greatness, but they only result in meaningless tricks and illusions, highlighting the emptiness of his desires.

  6. The Limits of Human Knowledge – Although Faustus gains supernatural abilities, he fails to achieve true wisdom, emphasizing that some knowledge is beyond human understanding and should not be pursued recklessly.

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