increasing belief in the freedom and independence of the individual and a questioning of the role of religion, especially scripture and religious dogma, in people's lives.

Another playwright put it succinctly in a play written just a few years later:

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. (Hamlet, 2.2.257–258)

Faustus could choose to use his mind to benefit humanity, as a philosopher, lawyer, theologian, scientist, or physician, but he is driven by his pride and ambition to rule the world and enjoy its excesses. Faustus chooses necromancy—sorcery and the dark arts—to further his goals.

Ay, these are those that Faustus most desires.
O, what a world of profit and delight,
Of power, of honour, of omnipotence,
Is promised to the studious artisan!
All things that move between the quiet poles
Shall be at my command. Emperors and kings
Are but obeyed in their several provinces,
Nor can they raise the wind, or rend the clouds;
But his dominion that exceeds in this,
Stretcheth as far as doth the mind of man;
A sound magician is a mighty god:
Here, Faustus, tire thy brains to gain a deity. (1.52–63)

Faustus makes an incantation to summon up the dark spirits, and he conjures up Mephistophilis, who has reservations about what Faustus wants to do.

MEPHISTOPHILIS: O, Faustus! leave these frivolous demands,
Which strike a terror to my fainting soul. (3.85–86)

Faustus persists, and in due time, he makes a deal with Mephistophilis: his soul in exchange for twenty-four hours of unlimited power, wealth, and pleasure.

During his twenty-four hours, Faustus has cause to doubt his deal with the devil. It appears that Faustus didn't read the fine print in the agreement that he signed in blood about having a wife, for example. A good angel appears from time to time to remind Faustus that it's never too late to repent, and at one point, Faustus agrees to repent, but he's reminded of his agreement:

GOOD ANGEL. Never too late, if Faustus can repent . . .

FAUSTUS. Ah, Christ, my Saviour,
Seek to save distressed Faustus' soul!

[Enter Lucifer, Belzebub, and Mephistophilis.]

LUCIFER. Christ cannot save thy soul, for he is just;
There's none but I have interest in the same. (5.85, 90–94)

Mephistophilis, Belzebub, and Lucifer keep Faustus distracted until it's time for Mephistophilis to take Faustus's soul to hell.

Faustus regrets his bargain with the devil. An old man appears and gives him one last chance to repent.

OLD MAN. I see an angel hovers o'er thy head,
And, with a vial full of precious grace,
Offers to pour the same into thy soul:
Then call for mercy, and avoid despair. (12.50–53)

But Mephistophilis threatens Faustus:

MEPHISTOPHILIS. Thou traitor, Faustus, I arrest thy soul
For disobedience to my sovereign lord;
Revolt, or I'll in piecemeal tear thy flesh. (12.63–65)

In despair, Faustus relents and bargains for one more thing.

FAUSTUS. One thing, good servant, let me crave of thee,
To glut the longing of my heart's desire,—
That I might have unto my paramour
That heavenly Helen which I saw of late,
Whose sweet embracings may extinguish clean
These thoughts that do dissuade me from my vow,
And keep mine oath I made to Lucifer. (12.79–85)

And in a "twinkling of an eye" (12.87), there she is: Helen of Troy.

FAUSTUS. Was this the face that launched a thousand ships,
And burnt the topless towers of Ilium? (12.89–90)

They kiss. Helen's lips "suck forth my soul; see where it flies!" (12.92), and Faustus is condemned to eternal damnation.

The most significant decision that Faustus makes is his decision to sell his soul to Lucifer in exchange for twenty-four years of the demon Mephistopheles' dedicated service. Faustus wants to become the most powerful man in the world, no longer satisfied by his training in divinity nor his fulfillment in God. Faustus relinquishes the possibility of heaven in favor of the ability to perform magic through the Mephistopheles. The consequence, of course, is that at the end of his 24-year travels around the world, performing useless supernatural tricks and frightening people in petty ways, Faustus is left unfulfilled and must follow Lucifer and Mephistopheles to hell. It is only then that Faustus understands the frivolity of the magical powers he was granted through Meph, and pleads to heaven for his life.