Doctor Faustus Essays: Applying the Psychoanalytical Approach :: Doctor Faustus Essays

Applying the Psychoanalytical Approach to Dr. Faustus               Within the text of Christopher Marlowes Doctor Faustus, a reader notices the fight down between the superego and the id. Throughout the play, Faustus struggles with himself while Lucifer and Mephistopheles struggle with him. Though these huge conflicts take place in the text they arnt the greatest of situations when one tries to apply the psychoanalytical approach. The most obvious situation arrives with the introduction of the Seven Deadly Sins. They represent the constant struggle between the id and the superego. They add to the seduction of Dr. Faustus and the constant struggle in a chaotic Hell.   The id possesses most of the sins Pride, Covetousness, Envy, Wrath, Gluttony and Lechery. All six of these sins show characteristics that are strong and powerful. Though these sound as if they were good characteristics, they are rattling extremely over-bearing. When the sins explain who they are, they dont leave any room for argument. They just say who they are, and they take what they want. For example, Pride explains what he can do with a woman I can creep into every corner of a wench sometimes, like periwig I sit upon her brow next, like a necklace I see about her neck then, like a fan of feathers I kiss her... (Marlowe, II.ii.120) Obviously, Pride feels powerful enough to take any woman he wants and perform with her any way he wants. With a sly and mischievous voice Pride states what he can do and no one can trade it. Another great representation of the id is Lechery or lust. Lechery just walks out and struts her stuff in front of Faustus. The reader realizes that her power is not in her words moreover in her carriage. Even Lucifer notices her strength because he sends her away almost as fast as she comes in. Away, to hell, away On, piper (Marlowe, II.ii.177) Lechery closes the deal on Faustus. Her presence is so powerful that Fa ustus returns to the hands of Lucifer. All six of these Seven Deadly Sins show their strength and power, for they dont back down, except to Lucifer. They do what they want and say what they please, because they are the angels of Lucifer, the most evil angel of them all. In achieving their goals they are very aggressive and Lucifer provides them all the freedom they need in order capture raw(a) souls like Faustus.