Friday, September 26, 2008
Selling Out
We have read this week of several characters who have sold their souls for personal gain. There seems to be material differences between the way Marlowe presents the idea and the way Jonson does. What differences do you see in the characters in Faust and the characters in Volpone? How does Faustus's deal, for example, differ from Volpone's?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
12 comments:
So obviously Faustus and Volpone couldn't live in Utopia where they would only need food, water, shelter and a sense of community. They both have lustful tendencies in their longing for material wealth and pleasure.
But the two indeed take different routes in attaining their riches. Doctor Faustus, a book which deals a lot more with the theme of Christianity, regards sin and redemption while it seems like Volpone doesn't ever get that far. Faustus begins to repent--knowing that he can be forgiven--but Volpone is so screwed with avarice that he knows no other way.
Another difference in the two deals is that Volpone, in his hedonistic ways, worked hard in his trickery and deception to get his money whereas Faustus simply had an ambition that he didn't know how to control.
I think it's safer to say that Faustus and not Volpone could be considered a tragic hero.
The most obvious way in which Faustus and Volpone's deals differ is in that Faustus has no recourse - he has made a deal with the Devil and, short of repenting, is not going to get out of it. Volpone's deal(s), on the other hand, are based on deceit. He has no intention of living up to any of the promises he and Mosca make to the men, and it seems he will get away with it until his conspirator turns on him. I think much more interesting, however, is the similarity between the two stories. Both men give up their entire lives out of greed...Faustus ends up playing silly pranks rather than exploring the world's mysteries as he intended, and Volpone can't enjoy his wealth for he spends all of his time either pretending to be ill or in disguise.
Well, obviously there is a great difference between the story of Faustus and that of Volpone. Faustua literally sold his soul to the devil. He conjured up a spirit and haggled eternity away for twenty-four short years on earth. Volopone on the other hand does not make a direct deal with the devil. He simply lets his own greed get the best of him.
Faustus lays out an actual deal, a contract. He has stipulations and expectations from/for the devil. Volpone has no guidelines to follow or stipulations to keep up with. He just did whatever it took (and it took a lot) to get more and more material wealth. Nevertheless, both men experience consequences for their actions; Faustus is taken to hell while Volpone is taken to jail and forced to give away all of his money. Both men end up losing the thing that means the most to them. Faustus loses his life. Volpone loses his wealth.
Faustus sold his soul to the devil for magic and spell casting powers. he wanted to have powers that he could use to impress others. he wasn't a bad person so to speak, he wanted to show off and play jokes. he went about gaining these powers the wrong way. Volpone didn't exactly sell his soul to the devil but he did compromise his intergrity for material gains. he used his conniving and cunning ability in a way that did cause others harm. They both made bad choices that either one of them could have turned away from before it got to late but they both choose not to and it cost them in the end one his soul and the other his wealth and freedom.
ok so, both Volpone and Faustus sold their souls but, they went about it in totally different ways. Volpone really just 'sold out' his soul to be a total slime ball, whereas Faustus literally sold his soul to the devil.
What is interesting is how both men don't do anything (really) with what they obtain. Faustus is the most powerful man out there and he plays pranks! He turns into an overgrown teenager. Volpone on the other hand is so consumed by the act that he gains and gains wealth but it just sits there, staring at him. They sell their souls to do nothing with it. It's kind of enfuriating. I mean once you go to the dark side, there seems to be no turning back so one would think to use the darkness instead of just looking at it or ignoring it.
Jamie, I REALLY like how you bring up that Volpone (and Faustus too) doesn’t really get to enjoy his riches earned in lust and deceit. It makes me ask the question: is it really worth it in the end if you end up in such a regretful state? I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize what I have done personally. Also--on that note--I think anything that questions the authenticity of my actions would null any and all respect. Thus, I think the two of them are complete failures in their actions. Will they ever repent? I guess in Faustus' case, we'll never know. I'm not ready to make that sacrifice.
Lacey,
I never even thought about it before, but your comment on how neither of the men did anything with what they obtained really struck me. It makes me wonder, what was the point of them selling their souls to the devil in the first place? Sure, Faustus got 24 great years out of it, but like you said, all he did was pull pranks on people. Volpone never even does anything with the wealth that he gathers. Both men get so stuck on just the fact of having power that they don't even do anything with it. I guess, however, that's why they sold their souls to the devil anyways. Only bad comes from it. If they had given their souls over to God, they would have had a positive effect in the world rather than a negative one.
Lacey,
Well we seem to be in complete agreement this week, so I'll just mention that you make a nice distinction by saying Faustus literally sold his soul, while Volpone just "sells out." I think another important difference between the two is that in Faustus' deal, he is the only one who pays...no one else loses anything. As we discussed in class, however, Volpone exploits others to gain his wealth, and clearly enjoys doing so!
Jamie,
I really enjoyed your comment. Greed really does consume both Faustus and Volpone. In fact, I think greed taints everyone. Both in the stories and in life. I like how you pointed the theme of greed out. I was too consumed with the ways they sold their souls.
lacey you really expressed the sentiment that i was trying to make both of them turned out to be fools in the end. and make no real gains from the evil that they were doing. they both ended up looking like prank playing teenagers.
The first major difference between Faustus and Volpone is the "personal gain" that they sold their souls for. Volpone is obsessed with money and he lives and breathes for material wealth. Faustus was more interested in knowledge and power.
Another major difference between the two deals is that Faustus actually interacts with the devil whereas Volpone does not.
Both characters deceive others and play tricks on them, but Volpone is more cruel in this aspect than Faustus. Faustus likes to play childish tricks and dabble with magic whereas Volpone does more serious things like faking his own death.
Also, Faustus has times where he has doubts about his deal with the devil and he thinks about repentance. Volpone did not waver in any way.
Lacey,
I also find it frustrating that both Faustus and Volpone waste their "gifts".
Really, what is the point of knowledge, power, and money if you do nothing with it?
Post a Comment