Scene 14 - Analysis

• In Scene 14, when the Clock strikes 12, Faustus tries to save himself one last time and in a final attempt to save himself he exclaims the final line of the play: "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!"
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", this quote shows what is finally going to happen to Faustus - Hell is real and he is doomed to spend eternity there
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", in a final, frantic bid for escape, he vows to burn his books of spells, a traditional gesture by magicians to prove they were renouncing magic
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", Faustus short speech at the end could be seen as an Elegy (a poem of lamentation about the death of a person) creating a sense of pathos for the audience, but also warning them not to succumb to earthly pleasures
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", the end creates a sense of closure as we finally understand Faustus' true ending
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", this is an exophoric reference to when the Ephesians burned their books of magic in Acts 19:19, they converted to Christianity (Faustus is trying to do the same, but it is too late)
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", this is an exophoric reference to when the Ephesians burned their books of magic in Acts 19:19, they converted to Christianity, this provides the audience with a warning to convert to religion and endure religion
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", this is an exophoric reference, this is echoed by the magician Prospero at the end of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' who says he will "drown his books"
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", this is an exophoric reference, this is echoed by the magician Prospero at the end of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' who says he will "drown his books", however, Prospero renounces magic willingly using them to right wrong, so he is portrayed as beneficial whilst Faustus is portrayed as demonic (showing his humiliation)
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", this is an exophoric reference, this is echoed by the magician Prospero at the end of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' who says he will "drown his books", this could encapsulate that Faustus used magic in a harsh & brutal way (almost like a storm)
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", the lexical choice "books" symbolize knowledge, learning, and intellectual pursuits, so by expressing his willingness to burn them, Faustus is symbolically renouncing his pursuit of knowledge and scholarship
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", the vivid imagery of fire and destruction, symbolises Faustus's descent into darkness and damnation (encapsulates hellish imagery)
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", the last word Faustus says is Mephastophilis, this is a cry for help, yet it is ironic as Mephastophilis is the one convinced Faustus to agree with the pact and cause his damnation
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", this moment serves as Aristotle's Anagnorisis, which is the moment of recognition or realization by a character, involving a discovery about their own identity, the nature of their circumstances, or the truth about a significant aspect of their situation
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", this moment serves as Aristotle's Anagnorisis, Faustus finally realises the seriousness of his situation, and finally knows his fate
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", this is a cathartic response, Faustus expresses deep emotions within him to try and reach out for help
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", the use of catharsis is strange, Faustus expresses his emotion to Mephastophilis (the character that caused this), instead of God who tried to help him (this shows Faustus' naivety & ignorance)
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", the lexical choice "Books", these books were used as an escapism of society for Faustus, but now he is trying to escape hell which has been caused by these books
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", the lexical choice "Books" serves as a Motif for, enlightenment, & the dangers of unchecked ambition (Faustus didn't choose the Bible but necromantic books)
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", the lexical choice "Books" is ironic as Faustus was an erudite who worked at University, but instead of using his knowledge of Hell, he still used Malicious books which condemn him to Hell (showing his naivety)
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", the lexical choice "Books" is ironic as Faustus was an erudite who worked at University, this is ironic as an intellectual he knows the value & utility of books
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", the lexical choice "Books" has connotations of morals (which most books have), this suggests that Faustus has used the books and knows the moral to be taught finally, but it is still too late
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", the lexical choice "Burn" is used as a symbol of destruction or annihilation, this suggests Faustus finally wants to eradicate & purify his sins
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", the lexical choice "Burn" is historical, in medieval times, heretics & witches were burned at the stake, this encapsulates how Faustus was a heretic and needs to be punished (warning the audience not to succumb to the earthly pleasures Faustus did)
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", the use of alliteration of plosives creates a strong forceful nature, showing Faustus' passion for reconciliation and how he finally wants to change
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", the mention of Mephastophilis alludes to the demon from German folklore, emphasizing Faustus's desire to stay with him still
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", the exclamation mark adds emphasis and urgency to Faustus's plea
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", the tone shifts from despair to desperation, Faustus finally understand the anguish he will endure, and understands the magnitude of ramifications he will endure
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", The use irony calls upon the demonic figure he initially summoned for knowledge to help him, now he wants him to undo the consequences of his actions, highlighting his futile attempts to escape his fate
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", this quote encapsulates the dangers of the Faustian Bargain, and how Faustus' hubristic tendencies will now force him to live in extreme anguish (warning the audience that succumbing to ephemeral pleasures, will only lead to eternal damnation)
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", linking this to Freud's Psychoanalytical Theory, Faustus' Id was to glutinous, causing him to forget his superego and ignore his moral conscience, leading to his eternal damnation
• In Scene 14, "'I'll burn my books! Ah, Mephastophilis!", linking this to Plato, it encapsulates how Faustus tried to reach higher realms, but succumbed to Earthly pleasures, demonstrating the difficulty Faustus found balancing his unquenchable thirst for knowledge & moral norms (this will lead to his immortal soul being tormented eternally)