Christopher Marlowe: How to Solve a Literary Mystery

The renowned author of English literature, Christopher Marlowe, was born in Canterbury, England, in 1564. His extraordinary literary efforts remained contentious, and his brief life ended in a sad catastrophe. Marlowe was a playwright, poet, and—above all—a practitioner of free will who defied the social and religious norms of his day. He is frequently cited as Shakespeare’s forerunner. However, his untimely death at the age of 29 ended his writing career and raised questions about his lifestyle given the environment he lived in.
The Origin of Free Thought in Marlowe
Christopher Marlowe’s intellectual upbringing was greatly influenced by his scholastic experience. After completing his education at Canterbury’s King’s School, he went on to Cambridge and Corpus Christi College. Archbishop Matthew Parker paid for Marlowe’s Cambridge scholarship, and in 1584 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. He was already well-known for his unusual opinions while attending Cambridge, especially with regard to religion. He questioned the theological doctrines that ruled Elizabethan England because of his intellectual curiosity.
Marlowe’s two masterpieces, Tamburlaine the Great and Doctor Faustus, both brilliantly depict his confidence in human psychology and potential as well as the limits of divine power. The main character in Tamburlaine is shown as a victorious individual who aims to oppose both fate and the gods. This was a radical viewpoint during a period when religious dogma was in power. Like himself, Marlowe’s protagonists frequently aspired to transcend their earthly confines, motivated by a thirst for power and knowledge that defied the theological restrictions of the day. Tamburlaine’s statement, “I count religion but a childish toy, And hold there is no sin but ignorance,” demonstrates how frequently Marlowe’s conception of the human condition ran counter to the religious norms of his day.
(Part 1 of Tamburlaine)
Since Marlowe was accused of having heterodox beliefs that opposed both church and state, such defiant attitudes would subsequently come under examination.
An Examination of Free Will and Damnation in the Two Versions of Doctor Faustus
Perhaps Marlowe’s most well-known drama is Doctor Faustus, which explores ambition, human desire, and the quest for knowledge in a powerful way. The A Text, which was published in 1604, and the B Text, which was published in 1616, are the two versions of the play. Because it presents a more complex picture of Faustus’s terrible demise, the B Text is typically regarded as the most official version. In the play, Faustus rejects the traditional path to salvation via the church and instead strikes a deal with the devil in exchange for superhuman abilities. Marlowe’s doubts about religious doctrine are reflected in his eventual fate, since Faustus’s refusal to repent symbolises the results of arrogance, ignorance, and disbelief in divine power.
Marlowe criticises the strict religious system of the day through the tragic conclusion of Faustus. The character’s mental struggle and quest for knowledge highlight the battle between reason and belief, highlighting the dangerous effects of free thought in a culture where religious dogma rules. “Why, this is hell, and I’m not out of it,” moans Faustus.
Do you really believe that I, who have seen God’s face and experienced the endless joys of heaven, am not tormented with ten thousand hells for being denied eternal bliss?
(A Text of Doctor Faustus)
The existential conflict between human agency and divine fate is explored throughout Marlowe’s writing, which depicts a society where challenging authority and exercising reason results in punishment rather than reward.
Marlowe’s Inquisition and Heretical Opinions
His contemporaries were aware of Marlowe’s intellectual proclivities and were suspicious of his unconventional religious beliefs. He was well-known for his careless remarks regarding religion, frequently making fun of the church’s sanctity and doctrine. Marlowe was the subject of multiple probes because his views on religion were deemed unorthodox. Marlowe was reported to the Privy Council by notorious informant Richard Baines, who accused him of having heretical beliefs, such as rejecting the Trinity concept and denying Christ’s divinity.
Marlowe’s eventual demise was caused by his affiliation with such viewpoints. In relation to the documents discovered in his possession that contained Marlowe’s extreme religious beliefs, Thomas Kyd, another dramatist and companion of Marlowe, was also questioned. During Kyd’s interrogation, it became clear that Marlowe’s views were harmful and directly threatened the social and ecclesiastical order that was in place. The subtle nature of Marlowe’s thoughts and deeds has been highlighted by renowned literary critic L.C. Knights, underscoring the challenge of conclusively comprehending his religious position.
Marlowe’s Death: A Sad Conclusion and a Caution
Ingram Frizer is said to have slain Christopher Marlowe on May 30, 1593, during a bloody fight over a debt. The circumstances surrounding his death, however, are still unknown. Preacher Thomas Beard said that Marlowe’s murder was a political crime intended to silence a controversial thinker four years after Marlowe’s passing. Beard maintained that Marlowe’s execution was a warning to people who disagreed with religious authority and had their own beliefs.
One could argue that Marlowe’s rejection of religious orthodoxy reached its climax with his death. He was an outsider and a martyr for free thought and reasoned inquiry because of his readiness to oppose the church and existing power structures. His sad destiny highlights the Elizabethan period’s restricted theological and intolerable atmosphere, when the quest of empirical and scientific knowledge was frequently eclipsed by dogmatic religious beliefs.
Marlowe as a Victim of His Own Consciousness
In a society where religious orthodoxy and dogma rule, Christopher Marlowe’s life and death serve as a powerful reminder of the repercussions of intellectual disobedience. From Tamburlaine to Doctor Faustus, his writings demonstrate a man who is profoundly interested in challenging the bounds of knowledge, divine authority, and the essence of human existence. Marlowe ultimately became a victim of his own conscience, and his premature death resulted from his reluctance to follow the social and religious norms of his day. His sad destiny serves as a reminder of the perils independent thinkers faced in a society where seeking knowledge was sometimes resisted, viewed with mistrust, and persecuted. But Marlowe’s influence lives on because his writings still push readers to examine the boundaries of human potential and challenge conventional wisdom.