Doctor Faustus - why doesn't Mephostophilis want Faustus to have a wife?

In Doctor Faustus (my version is the B text, dunno if the A text has this scene but I expect so...), one of the first things Faustus asks Mephostophilis for is a wife, but Mephostophilis clearly doesn't want him this - "how, a wife! I prithee, Faustus, talk not of a wife"

My question is why this reaction to Faustus wanting a wife? What implications would this hold for Mephostophilis?? I'm confused.. The only reason I can think of is that then he would have to serve them both but thats a crappy guess, if anyone can shed some light on the general speculation on this question then I'd be really grateful! Thanks :smile:

Reply 1

mrsvandertramp

Mephostophilis doesn't understand why Faustus would want just one woman to marry and call his wife when he could have all the courtesans and women he wanted due to the pact.

Reply 2

Sundous

mrsvandertramp

Mephostophilis doesn't understand why Faustus would want just one woman to marry and call his wife when he could have all the courtesans and women he wanted due to the pact.

Exactly, and the fact that in the days when Dr. Faustus was written/preformed, marriage was considered to be a sacred institution recommended by the church. Hence, Mephostophilis does not comprehend why Faustus would want something like that.

Reply 3

User192499

Mephistophilis (I have seen SO mant spellings of that damn name, I'm confused) is capable of providing Faustus with all the power of Hell. But Hell has no power over that which is sacred and holy- such as the sacrament of matrimony.

Hell and Lucifer can provide the sordid "lechery" of whores and lust, but cannot provide the loving and blessed act of marriage, which is acted before the eyes of God.

It goes to show the limits of Faustus' power, hence the ironic loss: he's sold his soul, and what for? Powers that can't actually grant him everything- Heaven still has power over Hell.

Reply 4

1pamplemousse1

remember the Elizabethan audience would consider it to be sinful to have sex before marriage. Having a wife was religiously accepted, Mephastophilis, wanting Faustus to go to hell, offers him Helen of Troy (Im not sure if this happens in the B text), one of the 7 deadly sins, lust, which is also shown by the woman eating the grapes.