Doctor Faustus
play by Christopher Marlowe
The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus is a play by Christopher Marlowe. It is a tragedy. Marlowe's source was The English Faust Book of 1592. The play was first performed about 1592. It was first published in 1604. It tells of a scholar who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for youth, power, knowledge, and wisdom. The play contains the well known line, "Was this the face that launch'd a thousand ships?" The play was released as a movie in 1967 starring Richard Burton.
| Dr. Faustus | |
|---|---|
 First edition title page, 1604 | |
| Written by | Christopher Marlowe |
| Characters | Dr. Faustus Mephistophilis |
| Date of premiere | ca. 1592 |
| Place of premiere | London, England |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | Devil worship |
| Genre | Tragedy |
| Setting | 16th century Europe |
