Power And Perfection

Paper Summary:

Discusses pacts made by two literary characters. Faustus in Christopher Marlowe's play "Dr. Faustus," and Alymer in Nathaniel Hawthorne's story "The Birthmark." Summary of both plots. Motivating forces of both characters. Comparison of Faustus and Alymer; their need to control their lives and world. Their pursuit of abolute knowledge. Their ultimate loss.

From the Paper:

"Introduction
The deals or pacts that are made to obtain the ultimate happiness are as new and recent as miracle creams sold on television to enhance beauty and health and as old as the Garden of Eden itself. This is a story retold in many forms about the price that is paid for what one considers may be the ultimate happiness. However, after one has paid that price, one suddenly realizes that the prize was not as great as what one gave up to obtain it. This is how it turns out when one makes bargains with the devil. This is also what happens to Dr. Faustus in Christopher Marlowe s play, as well as to Aylmer in Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Birthmark . This paper will compare the two bargains made by the gentlemen in question, paying particular attention to the nature of the pacts made by the two of them."

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