The Life and Death of Doctor Faustus Made into a Farce: Play Guide and Free Edition
The Life and Death of Doctor Faustus Made into a Farce: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Life and Death of Doctor Faustus Made into a Farce is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Marlowe, Christopher (1564–1593); Mountfort, William (?–1692).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Life and Death of Doctor Faustus Made into a Farce by Mountfort and Marlowe" is a comedic theatrical adaptation written by William Mountfort, likely during the late 17th century. This work falls under the genre of farce, a popular comedic form during the Restoration period, which often included exaggerated characters and absurd scenarios. The play offers a satirical take on the tragic tale of Doctor Faustus, exploring themes of ambition, knowledge, and consequence through humor rather than the original's dramatic gravitas. In this farcical retelling, Mountfort reimagines Christopher Marlowe's classic tragedy by incorporating elements of slapstick and characters from the Italian commedia dell'arte, specifically Harlequin and Scaramouche. The plot revolves around Doctor Faustus's pact with the devil, but with a humorous twist that sees his exploits take on absurd and ridiculous forms. Rather than focusing on Faustus's tragic downfall, the farce highlights comedic misunderstandings and eccentric interactions with other characters, including a humorous horse-dealer and bumbling servants. Ultimately, Faustus's adventures lead to a blend of chaotic situations, allowing the audience to enjoy a lighthearted, yet insightful commentary on the original narrative.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Life and Death of Doctor Faustus Made into a Farce
- Author credits: Marlowe, Christopher (1564–1593); Mountfort, William (?–1692)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Faust, -approximately 1540 -- Drama
Gutenberg collections
- Category: British Literature
- Category: Classics of Literature
- Category: Humour
- Category: Plays/Films/Dramas
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Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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