For example, Faustus tricks a horse-courser into buying his steed. Faustus warns the courser not to ride the horse into water, but eventually the courser does and the horse turns into straw. Irritated, the courser demands his money back from Faustus, and tries to pull on his legs to awake a sleeping Faustus. Faustus, terrifying the courser, allows for his leg to be pulled off. Faustus mostly uses his powers for trickery and the limitless power he thought he was receiving. In fact, his powers are completely limited, as he cannot reincarnate people who have passed, he can only mimic their shadows. He often performs these tricks for royalty and popes to gain their favor and more fame. However, he never actually uses his powers to command or create anything. This is all at the cost of Faustus’ soul, and it is these “…particular misguided ends that Faustus seeks include ravishment, riches, miracles, and monuments, all of which expose an intellectual appetite hijacked by egocentric desire” (Barham 15). Faustus’ ambitions for supremacy and immortality bring him a small amount of power, however, Faustus soon realizes the error of his actions when Lucifer himself comes to bring Faustus’
For example, Faustus tricks a horse-courser into buying his steed. Faustus warns the courser not to ride the horse into water, but eventually the courser does and the horse turns into straw. Irritated, the courser demands his money back from Faustus, and tries to pull on his legs to awake a sleeping Faustus. Faustus, terrifying the courser, allows for his leg to be pulled off. Faustus mostly uses his powers for trickery and the limitless power he thought he was receiving. In fact, his powers are completely limited, as he cannot reincarnate people who have passed, he can only mimic their shadows. He often performs these tricks for royalty and popes to gain their favor and more fame. However, he never actually uses his powers to command or create anything. This is all at the cost of Faustus’ soul, and it is these “…particular misguided ends that Faustus seeks include ravishment, riches, miracles, and monuments, all of which expose an intellectual appetite hijacked by egocentric desire” (Barham 15). Faustus’ ambitions for supremacy and immortality bring him a small amount of power, however, Faustus soon realizes the error of his actions when Lucifer himself comes to bring Faustus’