Faustus Question

Re-read the comic scenes in 3.1 and 4.1 Involving the Pope , the Knight and the Horse-courser. How far do you agree with William Tydeman's assertion that 'All the incidents demonstrate a streak of spitefulness [In Faustus] an urge to humiliate and score off others , very much in keeping with the cruelty displayed by the demonic fraternity towards him.

Here's my below-par,boring , did it in 20 minutes , falling asleep at 2 o'clock in  he morning  answer 

Faustus in both scenes is at the forefront of these satirical moments , which largely represent Faustus'  development of nature and achievement from the beginning of his damning contract. Faustus plays on the  3 men all possessing various power , though there is a gradual decline however in whom he attends to , with his treatment differing for all.

With the Pope there is a clear link to the demonic treatment as he beats down the Religious leader and his friars, playing with them for humour. When Faustus and The Pope share an encounter, Faustus is made invisible almost immediately says thing such as “The Devil choke you, and you spare" and progresses to box the pope's ears. These actions do not seem like that of the satanic dark sorcerer Faustus had described himself as previously but rather underwhelming cruel actions as much darker and more impressive actions are now expected from the man who has given his life and soul to Lucifer in return for the mystical powers he so thirsted for.

The pope was treated as a figure of fun or a threat at the time and even the antichrist! - An irony of Faustus tormenting a devil. Doctor Faustus at this point can exploit the theatre’s capacity to make contemporary political/social comment, as the scene can be lay in different ways to convey different implications about Faustus, Faustus appears dependent on Mephistopheles , who is subtly corrupting Faustus’s finer feeling instead of seeing sights of Rome as Faustus wishes , Mephistopheles suggests making fun of the Pope.  With the Emperor's Knight however Faustus demonstrates a petty, childish persona rather than any characteristics of a God or a Lucifer. However Faustus is neither forgiving nor evil and perhaps represents what humanity vests in; humour. In the case of attacking the pope, perhaps his aims are spitefully directed given Mephistopheles directs him into playing this extended farcical joke, as Faustus originally wanted to visit the beautiful sites of the city, however it provides Faustus with a piece of humour to delay his own thoughts from reaching his eternal damnation merely attacking others as a disguise to his fear of the contract. Similarly however this may be the case with the Knight, but this attack is more personal and doesn't come as a direct reflection of the demonic power like the Pope scene, but it certainly seems to act as a continuing of the Devil's influence of Faustus.

With the Horse-Courser however his treatment is only a means for his own entertainment rather than to provide for anyone else, for example when he puts the sexually symbolic thorns on the Knight's head he claims to have done it for Charles' V (emperor) humor. Although Faustus humiliates the Horse-courser it seems far-fetched to suggest he does so out of spitefulness.  This scene can be regarded as Faustus’s descent to the servant class which he so much despises. He speaks in earthy prose as Robin/Rafe did, rather than the more dignified blank verse which dominates his speech elsewhere.

Whether his cruelty to others is a reflection of Lucifer's and Mephistopheles treatment depends on each character he attacks. The rather simple fun and games had with the Pope and the Horse courser are a reflection of his humanity and humor. Arguably however Faustus chastises the greed of the House-Courser just as he chastised the pride and gluttony of the pope in scene 7 . However the way in which Faustus accepts a further 40 dollars for his supposedly missing leg represents his base desires- one should question the purpose behind Faustus's desire for money. It's by no means a requirement considering Faustus' supposed power , but here we do see a 'streak of spitefulness' that Tydeman mentions as he is accepting the money in order to make his inferior suffer by being 80 dollars poorer. At this stage however his squabbling over money may demonstrate a 'steak of spitefulness'. To make a fair account to Faustus he advises him not to bother riding the horse into water! However, Faustus functions as score of the wicked and his trick was arguably more shocking than comical at the time.

However the treatment of the Knight is somewhat symbolic of Mephistopheles treatment towards Robin and Rafe, where he transforms the pair into a monkey and a dog. Though Faustus does not witness this scene, and is not subject to this sort of transformation, it reflects an inheritance of evil to make humiliation out of others (though Mephistopheles fails, as the pair seems quite content!) Both scenes however point to a under-achievement for Faustus who merely plays jokes for a devilish living rather than anything more grand or at least half-admirable. Yes , the odd joke may be humorous for the journey but these are his highlights , there is no awe-wondering scene , it's all fun and games, until his last hours of course.