Home > Doctor Faustus Summary & Study Guide > Doctor Faustus Group > Discussion Board

I s Doctor Faustus a victim of free will or fate?

I believe Doctor Faustus to be a victim of free will rather than fate considering he had numerous opportunities to repent and to leave the path that led him to ruin and eternal damnation. Only because of his persistence in the choices he made does he end in hell.

Also, he was the one who called Lucifer on his own account because of his desire to rule and his pride. Faustus saw himself as intellectually superior individual who should therefore have divine powers. His pride has not left him and together with his other weaknesses (fear of death and pain) stopped him from asking God's forgiveness and mercy.