biolab.org.uk

Christopher Marlowes’s ‘The Tragical History of Doctor Faust’ has been the subject of considerable theological debate over the last century. The point of contention is whether the play challenges or supports the Calvinist doctrine of absolute predestination, a doctrine which was a one controversial in the latter half of the sixteenth century in England. Calvin asserted that predestination entailed that God will elect some people to be damned and some to be saved, the individual having no control over their ultimate fate. Many anti-Calvinists in the sixteenth century disputed the doctrine of pre-destination as it was too limiting on man’s free will in regard to faith and salvation.

The doctrine of pre-destination had recently been accepted as the orthodox position of the Church of England when Doctor Faustus was performed. Though accepted by the Puritan establishment, the doctrine was still the source of heated debate between Calvinist and anti-Calvinist scholars. The dispute had reached its zenith by the time Marlowe was a student and thus very likely influenced him. Why not use your cheapsmells discount codes to purchase Doctor Faustus and see what you think?