The Divided Psyche: A Psychoanalytical Study of Dr. Faustus in Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus

Abstract

This research analyzes the divided psyche of Dr. Faustus. He was a brilliant German scholar and the protagonist of the Elizabethan tragedy Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe. Dr. Faustus’ psyche was conflicted between id and superego, a theory by Sigmund Freud. Throughout the story, we see that Dr. Faustus is mostly ill-motivated by his instincts and is indifferent about morality. Though the Good Angel tried to guide him toward the right path, the Bad Angel misled him. The Good Angel and the Bad Angel both reflected the conscience and the evil instinct that he already had in him. Faustus's struggle was between the pursuit of worldly desires and moral considerations. By analyzing the text through the content analysis method, this paper made a connection between Faustus’ divided psyche and his ultimate fate. . His prioritization of the id over the superego led him towards damnation. Faustus only cared about his own amusement his whole life. At the last moment of life, he realized his mistakes and wanted to go on the path of morality, but it was already too late for salvation. The paper serves as a powerful commentary on the inner turmoil arising from the psyche’s conflict between desires and moral values.