Christopher Marlowe
Doctor Faustus
A Classroom Presentation Scene
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Doctor Faustus — Omar
Valdes — Foysal
Cornelius — Khaled
[A dimly lit study. Books on a table. A single candle. Faustus stands alone, deep in thought. Valdes
and Cornelius enter.]
Scene — Faustus Chooses Magic
FaustusValdes, Cornelius — I am glad you came. I have spent my
whole life in study. Philosophy, medicine, law, divinity — I
mastered them all. And what did I gain? Nothing. No real
power. No glory. These subjects are for ordinary men. I want
something greater. Something that can give me true command
over the world.
ValdesThen you already know why we are here. Those fields were
never worthy of a mind like yours, Faustus. Philosophy gives
opinions. Law gives arguments. But magic — magic gives
command.
CorneliusOver spirits. Over nature. Over the very elements of this
world. And we are here to show you the way.
Faustus(slowly)
Magic. Yes. I confess — I have thought of nothing else for
weeks.
"'Tis magic, magic, that hath ravish'd me."
But tell me honestly — what can it truly do? I will not waste
my soul on empty promises.
ValdesEmpty promises? Listen carefully, Faustus.
"The spirits tell me they can dry the sea, and fetch the treasure
of all foreign wrecks."
Whatever is lost beneath the ocean — gold, jewels, ships — it
can be placed at your feet.
Cornelius"Ay, all the wealth that our forefathers hid, within the massy
entrails of the earth"
— buried for centuries, hidden from every king and emperor
— yours by a single word of command.
ValdesAnd not only wealth. The spirits shall obey us like soldiers
obey their lords. They will guard us like lions. They will
travel the world on our behalf. Such is the true power of the
magical art.
Faustus(eyes brightening)
"O, this cheers my soul!"
Then tell me — what shall we three want, if we possess this
art together?
Cornelius(smiling)
Nothing. We shall want for nothing. Faustus, your wit, our
experience, and these books together — shall make all
nations honour us.
Faustus(firmly, with full resolve)
Then I am decided. I choose magic. I will not look back. Tell
me — where do I begin?
ValdesFirst, find a quiet and solitary place to practise. You will need
the right books — Bacon's works, Albertus' writings. These
contain the foundations of the art.
"We will inform thee ere our conference cease."
CorneliusLearn the words of power before anything else. Once those
are mastered, all other ceremonies will follow.
"And then wilt thou be perfecter than I."
The miracles that magic will perform — you will never wish
to study anything else again.
Faustus(with a smile)
Then come — dine with me tonight. We will discuss every
detail together.
"We'll canvass every quiddity thereof."
I am eager. More than eager.
Valdes(to Cornelius, satisfied)
He is ready. I knew it the moment we entered.
Cornelius(gravely, turning to Faustus)
Faustus — are you truly certain? Once the first conjuration is
spoken, there is no return.
Faustus(without hesitation — walking forward)
Certain? I have never been more certain of anything in my
life.
"For, ere I sleep, I'll try what I can do: this night I'll conjure,
though I die therefore."
[The three walk out together. The candle flickers. The stage falls dark.]
— Finis —
Approximate performance time: 3 minutes
Adapted from Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus (c. 1592)
Lines in italics are quoted directly from the original text.