SOURCE: "The Tragedy of Knowledge: Marlowe's Treatment of Faustus," in Quarterly Review of Literature, Vol. II, No. 4, 1945, pp. 316-32.

In the following essay, Heilman examines the tragic ramifications of Faustus's quest for knowledge.

One of the most attentive of the guests at the Conference of Science, Philosophy, and Religion some years ago was a distinguished Old World thinker who united in one rare mind the achievements of scientist, philosopher, and theologian. Ironically, however, he was the least evident of visitors. Despite his international fame, few of the conferees felt his presence; despite his intellectual venturesomeness, he was but a withdrawing, shadowy figure. Busy delegates looked right through him. Yet they might have had an illuminating word with the eminent Dr. John Faustus, sometime lecturer in the University of Wittenberg.

That Dr. Faustus was present is not of itself surprising, since by nature he was rather a gypsy scholar...