SHAKESPEARE is my Homeboy

Textual Parallels between Shakespeare's Richard III and Marlowe's Dr. Faustus

Shakespeare's Richard III and Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus were both written at about the same year. There are enough significant parallels in theme, structure, and diction between both plays, (as well as the similar composition date,) that I believe one playwright did influence the other in composition.

"Like Christopher Marlowe's Dr. Faustus… Shakespeare's play deals with the damnation of an unrepentant soul, but Shakespeare also grapples with the problem of determinism" (Lull 1). The source for Marlowe's Dr. Faustus was published in 1592. The Historie of the damnable life, and deserued death of Doctor Iohn Faustus, Newly imprinted, and in conuenient places imperfect matter amended…and translated into English by P.F. Gent(leman)….1592. Shakespeare may have had access to Marlowe's source, but beyond that, I noted similarities in structure, diction and theme of both plays.

First, both Doctor Faustus and Richard III bear some resemblance to earlier English morality plays. Each play employs the use of metaphysical apparitions. Secondly, both plays deal with similar struggles of conscience. While Faustus is haunted by visions of God's arm and "ireful brows" (Marlowe V. ii. 158), Richard is haunted by the ghosts of those he killed shortly before his death. Also, thematically, both Faustus and Richard III deal with the struggle of conscience, with the guilt of sin and the issue of repentance. These issues are perhaps most striking when comparing Faustus' final speech in Act V, and Richard's speech after his dream in Act V.

Finally, I would argue that there are many similarities in diction and style between Faustus and Richard.

In the quotes above, both characters struggle with their conscience and the thought of eternal damnation toward the end of the lives. It is significant that both characters choose to speak of small "drops" of blood or water in relation to their larger universe and perhaps even the infinity of death, and/or the afterlife.

In the passage above, both Shakespeare and Marlowe chose to use this is an interesting and unique description of the land, to suggest a corruption and sickness of the earth in both cases.

Lull points out a similarity of diction between Scene 12 of Doctor Faustus, and Richard's response after his dream which connect despair and death for both characters (Lull 12).

This similar struggle in both characters shows how both men contemplate the idea of a horrible death of eternal damnation. The connection of death with despair and damnation is significant for both men at the end of each play, and shows both men struggling with their fate and the consequence of their actions.

Finally, both Marlowe and Shakespeare both introduce the concept of predetermination into their plays. This reflects both characters as evil incarnate, predestined to damnation.

I would disagree with Lull's assertion, in the Cambridge edition, that only Shakespeare's play "grapples with the issue of determinism." In the quote above, Faustus clearly suggests in Act V that he believes that he may have been predetermined to hell from his birth.

Works Cited:

Lull, Janis. ed. The New Cambridge Edition of King Richard III. Cambridge: Cambridge UP 1999.