Scene 5 - Analysis

• In Scene 5, Faustus states "I think hell's a fable"
• In Scene 5, "I think hell's a fable", this quote reflects Faustus's hubris and arrogance, he believes he can challenge established religious beliefs through his power
• In Scene 5, "I think hell's a fable", this quote reflect Faustus' defiant nature as he rebels against religious doctrine, which was seen as heretic or demonic in the Renaissance era
• In Scene 5, "I think hell's a fable", this quote highlights how Faustus is sceptical & rebellious, as he is willing to deviate from societal norms & religious dogma to pursuit higher truths
• In Scene 5, "I think hell's a fable", this quote uses dramatic irony as Faustus doesn't realise he will arrive at eternal damnation due to his choices
• In Scene 5, "I think hell's a fable", the lexical choice "fable" suggests that Faustus views the concept of hell as a fictional tale, rather than a spiritual reality.
• In Scene 5, "I think hell's a fable", the lexical choice "Fable", a Fable is a short story which imparts wisdom and moral lessons (Faustus believes hell is a story to teach people to do morally credible things)
• In Scene 5, "I think hell's a fable", the lexical choice "Fable" is a story so has connotations of disbelief and scepticism, suggesting Faustus thinks hell is fictional to highlight a profound scepticism with religious doctrine
• In Scene 5, "I think hell's a fable", the lexical choice "Fable", this highlights Faustus' arrogance, by equating hell with a fable, Faustus positions himself as a rational sceptic and rejects religious dogm
• In Scene 5, "I think hell's a fable", the lexical choice "Fable", Faustus's dismissal of hell as a fable is highly provocative and heretical as it challenges fundamental Christian beliefs about salvation, damnation, and the afterlife
• In Scene 5, "I think hell's a fable", the lexical choice "Fable", this is symbolic of Faustus' moral & spiritual blindness, as he studied Theology for years but is now minimised to believe short stories, showing his moral depravity