When Doctor Faustus was written, there was uproar in Elizabethan society. The ancient medieval view considered God to be the most important aspect of the world, while humanity and the natural world were ignored. This was giving way to the idea that humanity and the natural world were supreme. At first glance it seems that Doctor Faustus was written with the medieval ideal in mind, however I believe this is not the case. I believe that Marlowe adhered to the Renaissance worldview, and Doctor Faustus was intended to express Marlowe's indignation at the consequences of seeking knowledge or thinking differently during the Elizabethan era. Marlowe rejects all previous authority just as Faustus does, and with them Faustus rejects the ideals of the previous era. Marlowe goes so far as to demonize traditional society through Mephistopheles. Mephistopheles, like Elizabethan society, punishes intellectuals, but initially Mephistopheles attempts to dissuade Faustus from achieving his goals. Faustus' goals were shared with many humanists; yet the means by which he intended to realize his dreams were sinful. Faustus actually wanted to improve himself and society (gain knowledge, reshape Europe, etc.), but was punished for his noble ideals. Marlowe himself was probably punished by the authorities for his ideas, and Doctor Faustus was written with this in mind. Because Marlowe was oppressed by the authorities, Marlowe created Faustus, a man who rejected all previous authorities. He rejected Aristotle, Galen, Justinian, and St. Jerome, essentially saying logic is useless, medicine isn't good enough, and deciding he doesn't like the Bible. With these authorities, Faustus rejected the previous era, allowing new ideas to flourish. It also mentions the a......middle of paper...." Doctor Faustus was written to help bring about change, to help usher in the new Renaissance way of thinking. The fact that the main character rejects all previous authorities means that Marlowe expresses the fact that he wants to do the same. Marlowe goes out of his way to criticize orthodoxy, but masks it with an orthodox ending. The fact that Marlowe has been accused of being an atheist only serves to strengthen this theory. Instead, Doctor Faustus was written to protest the harsh treatment of intellectuals and to help move away from a medieval way of thinking. Works Cited Somroo, AR “Doctor Faustus as a Renaissance Play.” Scribd. Np, nd Web. 14 January 2014. .Marlowe, Christopher, The Tragic Story of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus. Signet Classics New York magazine edition, 2001. Print.