Dr. Faustus

Because it focuses on Faustus' aspiration for divinity, Marlowe's Dr. Faustus illustrates the Elizabethan philosophy of the Great Chain of Being. Faustus sells his soul to the devil in exchange for unlimited knowledge, making him like a divinity. This, along with the demons' desire to become as powerful as God, portrays the idea of the Great Chain of Being. One dark, stormy night, Faustus stands in a magical circle marked with various signs and words …

…of Being, a philosophy important to literature during the Elizabethan Age, is illuminated in Marlowe's Dr. Faustus because Faustus and Lucifer try to move up the totem pole of power. Faustus is not satisfied with being a man and seeks divinity, and similarly, Lucifer desires to escape his place as a divinity and become God himself. Though their plans seem ambitious, both break the laws of the chain and earn a spot in fiery hell.