The Reformation, Inter-imperial World History, and Marlowe s Doctor Faustus Jane Hwang Degenhardt By: Edith Sng, Melissa Wong, Sherlyn Leo 1
Presentation Outline Intro - Hwang Degenhardt s argument The Reformation - Empire & Imperialism Interconnectedness of global commerce and military conquest Transience of Empire Our Stance Discussion Questions 2
Hwang Degenhardt s Central Argument: By drawing attention to the global economic developments that subtended the Reformation and locating the Reformation in a world history of empire, Doctor Faustus suggests that world history is motivated by a common pursuit of power, whether it takes the form of commercial exploitation or military conquest. 3
Reformation 1517-1648 - Known as the Protestant Reformation - Started in Wittenburg, Germany with the publication of the ninety-five theses by Martin Luther - Led to a schism in Western Christianity - Brought about global commerce 4
Reformation 1517-1648 - According to Hwang, Global commerce and its relation to empire provide an expansive historical framework in which the play locates the Reformation and Faustus s journey toward damnation. 5
Inter-Imperialism - Catholic & Protestant empires sought imperial sovereignty, rule, or dominion - This led to empires forming allies or rivals to pursue imperialist agendas. 6
Inter-Imperialism During Reformation Period Reformation: Religious Divide Global commerce & Inter-imperialism IMPERIAL POWER Military Conquest Commercial Exploitation 7
Hwang Degenhardt s Central Argument: Doctor Faustus suggests that world history is motivated by a common pursuit of power, whether it takes the form of commercial exploitation or military conquest. 8
MAGIC = IMPERIALISM "Faustus's temptation to abandon divinity in favour of necromancy takes the form of an imperial desire to rule" 9
Commercial Exploitation Hwang: Textual Evidence: "Thus, his appetite to rule finds immediate expression as an appetite for precious Eastern commodities and for fruits and "delicates" from the areas of the world that suggests potential colonial territories" Faustus: I ll have them fly to India for gold, / And search all corners of the new-found world / For pleasant fruits and princely delicates 10
Commercial Exploitation Hwang: Textual Evidence: In short, the magic for which Faustus has sold his soul to the devil is, in this instance, that of effortless global commerce - or, rather, the ability to attain a foreign commodity while bypassing the means of production and contingencies of exchange." Duchess: I will make known unto you what my heart desires to have; and, were it now summer, as it is January, a dead time of the winter, I would request no better meat than a dish of ripe grapes." 11
Military Conquest Hwang: Textual Evidence: Faustus s political alliance with Charles reflects poorly on Faustus not only because it suggests his collusion with Catholicism and the Counter-Reformation but also because it emphasizes an alignment between his and Charles s shared desire to rule the world." EMPEROR: "Come, Faustus: while the Emperor lives, In recompense of this thy high desert, Thou shalt command the state of Germany, And live belov d of mighty Carolus." 12
Faustus: Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss. Her lips suck forth my soul: see, where it flies! Come, Helen, come, give me my soul again. 13
Faustus: I will be Paris, and for love of thee MAGIC = IMPERIALISM In Greek mythology, Paris abduction of Helen led to the Trojan War 14 Demise
"Doctor Faustus subscribes to a similar premodern imperial schema through its consciousness of the transience of empire" EMPIRE 15
Our Stance AGREE - Magic is a legitimate allegory because it is grounded on scientific knowledge and historical evidence. - The play is a reflection of real world anxiety - Marlowe was an alleged spy supports the reading, real first-hand experience 16
Our Stance DISAGREE - Hwang suggests that Faustus aligns with Catholics and Protestants, and also states that Faustus religious stance is ambiguous. - Speculation? 17
Discussion Questions 1. How does Hwang s reading intersect with the conventional reading of Doctor Faustus as a moral play? 2. How are the uses to which Doctor Faustus puts his powers significant? What do they suggest about his character? 18
Thank You! Any questions? 19
Works Cited Cantoni, et al. Religious Competition and Reallocation: the Political Economy of Secularization in the Protestant Reformation * The Quarterly Journal of Economics Oxford Academic. OUP Academic, Oxford University Press, 6 June 2018, academic.oup.com/qje/article/133/4/2037/5033707. Degenhardt, Jane Hwang. The Reformation, Inter-Imperial World History, and Marlowe SDoctor Faustus. Pmla, vol. 130, no. 2, 2015, pp. 402 411., doi:10.1632/pmla.2015.130.2.402 Figure 2f from: Irimia R, Gottschling M (2016) Taxonomic Revision of Rochefortia Sw. (Ehretiaceae, Boraginales). Biodiversity Data Journal 4: e7720. Https://Doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.4.e7720. doi:10.3897/bdj.4.e7720.figure2f. 20