Faustus' Night With Helen: The Aftermath

Faustus, after sleeping with Helen, decides that her beauty will make him immortal and that he no longer needs salvation. He says, Was this the face that launched a thousand ships, And burnt the topless towers of Ilium? Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss. Her lips suck forth my soul; see, where it flies! Come, Helen, come, give me my soul again. Here will I dwell, for heaven be in these lips, And all is dross that is not Helen. Faustus, in his final hours, is seeking transcendence through Helen, believing that her kiss will bring him immortality. However, it is unclear if Helen is real or just an illusion, as Faustus has previously conjured historical figures who were not physically present. Despite his pursuit of transcendence through magic and a woman, Faustus continues to turn away from religious transcendence, marking his blind spots and wishful thinking.

Faustus reaffirms his pact with Lucifer in blood

Faced with this threat, Faustus complies, sealing his vow by stabbing his arm and inscribing it in blood. He asks Mephastophilis to punish the old man for trying to dissuade him from continuing in Lucifer’s service. Mephastophilis says that he cannot touch the old man’s soul but that he will scourge his body. Faustus then asks to see Helen again, and delivers a great speech about her beauty before kissing her.

Faustus's reaffirmation of his pact with Lucifer in blood is a direct result of his encounter with the old man, who represents the conflict between good and evil, and a Christian worldview. Faustus's desire for Helen, and his belief that her beauty will make him immortal, outweighs any temptation to repent.

Faustus asks Mephastophilis to punish the old man

Faustus's encounter with Helen of Troy, the mythical Greek woman known for her beauty, marks a pivotal moment in his journey. Faustus, having bartered his soul to Lucifer, finds himself at odds with his conscience as the end of his life draws near.

After conjuring Helen at the request of his scholar friends, Faustus is confronted by an old man who urges him to repent and seek salvation through God. Initially fearful of the impending trap of hell, Faustus wavers, but Mephastophilis intervenes, threatening Faustus for his disobedience to Lucifer. To reaffirm his commitment to Lucifer, Faustus agrees to sign another contract in blood. He then asks Mephastophilis to punish the old man for trying to dissuade him from Lucifer's service.

Mephastophilis acknowledges the old man's strong faith, stating:

> "His faith is great, I cannot touch his soul; But what I may afflict his body with I will attempt, which is but little worth."

Mephastophilis' words highlight the limitations of his power against those with strong faith. Despite his inability to touch the old man's soul, he vows to scourge his body, a threat that prompts Faustus to reconfirm his vow to Lucifer by stabbing his arm and writing in blood once more.

Faustus's request for Mephastophilis to punish the old man underscores his deepening commitment to Lucifer and his rejection of divine grace. Even as he faces his mortality and the consequences of his bargain, Faustus remains steadfast in his service to Lucifer, sealing his fate in the process.

Faustus's encounter with Helen and his subsequent actions reveal his state of mind as he grapples with his impending doom. His pursuit of Helen as a source of distraction and his rejection of the old man's pleas for repentance showcase the tragic trajectory of his character.

Faustus makes a speech about Helen's beauty

Faustus, the legendary character who sells his soul to the devil, makes a passionate speech about Helen's beauty as he nears the end of his life. He begins by addressing Helen of Troy, the mythical Greek woman known for her unparalleled beauty and for being the cause of the Trojan War:

> "Was this the face that launched a thousand ships,

> And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?

> Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss.

> Her lips suck forth my soul; see, where it flies!

> Come, Helen, come, give me my soul again.

> Here will I dwell, for heaven is in these lips,

> And all is dross that is not Helen."

Faustus's speech continues with his declaration of his undying love for Helen, comparing himself to Paris, who ran away with Helen and sparked the Trojan War. He vows to combat Menelaus and wound Achilles for her love. Faustus's obsession with Helen's beauty and his desire for her kiss reflect his search for transcendence and heavenly grace, even as he remains blind to his impending doom and the need for repentance.

Faustus's speech marks a return to the eloquence he displayed earlier in the play. However, his fixation on Helen's beauty and his belief that her kiss will grant him immortality highlight his continued blind spots and self-delusion. Faustus seeks transcendence through a woman, who may not even be real, instead of turning to religion and repentance. Despite his sense of foreboding, Faustus indulges in his powers, taking delight in conjuring Helen and seeking earthly pleasure in her embrace.

Faustus's speech about Helen's beauty is a powerful moment in the play, showcasing his character's grandeur and tragic fate. It also underscores the central conflict between good and evil, as Faustus intellectually wills his own damnation by choosing Lucifer's path over salvation through Christ.

Faustus kisses Helen

Faustus, the scholar, is known for conjuring Helen of Troy, the mythical Greek woman considered the most beautiful woman in the world. Faustus kisses Helen and delivers one of the play's most famous lines: "Was this the face that launched a thousand ships, And burnt the topless towers of Ilium? Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss."

Faustus's obsession with Helen is such that he asks Mephastophilis to make her his lover, believing that her beauty will distract him from his impending doom. He even goes as far as to say, "Here will I dwell, for heaven is in these lips, and all is dross that is not Helen." Faustus's fixation on Helen's beauty and his desire for her kisses reflect his pursuit of transcendence through female beauty and sensual pleasure rather than religion.

The scene where Faustus kisses Helen is significant as it showcases the character's blind spots and wishful thinking. Despite his proximity to death and his sense of foreboding, Faustus indulges in his powers, taking delight in conjuring Helen. This moment also highlights the conflict between good and evil, with Helen representing the beauty of the classical world, and the old man, who enters shortly after, embodying the faith of the Christian world.

Faustus's speech to Helen is filled with flowery language and emotional power, marking a return to the eloquence he displayed earlier in the play. However, it is unclear if Helen is real, as Faustus's previous conjuring of historical figures were mere illusions. This adds a layer of tragedy to the scene, as Faustus, in his final hours, may be wasting his time with a fantasy image.

The kiss between Faustus and Helen symbolizes Faustus's pursuit of forbidden knowledge and his willingness to sell his soul to the devil. It is a pivotal moment in the play, showcasing Faustus's character flaws, his self-delusion, and his tragic fate.

Faustus exits with Helen

Faustus, on the other hand, has given in to temptation. He has just reaffirmed his pact with Lucifer, agreeing to another contract in blood, in order to assure himself of Helen as his lover. He is distracted by her beauty and believes that her "sweet embracings" will extinguish his anxieties about his deal with Lucifer. Faustus's speech to Helen is passionate and eloquent, but it also reveals his blind spots. He seeks transcendence through a woman, who may not even be real, and through sex and female beauty, rather than through religion.

Faustus's desire for Helen is also a distraction from his impending doom. He is aware that his time is running out, but instead of repenting, he indulges in his desire for Helen, wasting his last hours with a fantasy image. Faustus's pursuit of Helen is symbolic of his pursuit of limitless knowledge, which is presented as incompatible with Christianity.

Faustus's exit with Helen marks a turning point in the play, as he moves closer to his inevitable damnation. Despite the warnings of the old man, Faustus remains loyal to Lucifer, sealing his fate.

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