Task Three: The Portrayal Of Mephistopheles

 In this portrayal of Mephistopheles, he is depicted as a fallen angel. This is inline with Marlowe's representation of him in a few fleeting moments do we see that Mephistophilis is also experiencing both suffering and damnation because of his status as a fallen angel. In the third scene, he admits that he is also tormented by ten thousand hells because he had once tasted the bliss of heaven and now is in hell with Lucifer and the other fallen angels.

The most popular portrayal of Mephistopheles is heavily assocciated with the colour red and the typical connotations of the devil as this is how he is introduced in the first stage directions 'Enter a devil (MEPHISTOPHELES)'. However, Marlowe leaves it up to interpretation as Faustus sends him away immediately to return in the image of a friar.

Mephistopheles is send away due to the grotesque inhuman nature of his appearence. This is naturally quite difficult to display on stage as the revulsion required is at the extreme. During the 1989 performance a christ figure was created to shock the audience.

Pehaps the most controvertial castings of Mephistopheles have been the likes of Cassie Remington, Charlotte Windmill, Ofelia Popii all notable for their gender. Marlowe significantly under values women in his original play, giving them only minor roles. Indeed Windmill reappeared as Helen of Troy to show how the devil is all he is left with and even in the end there is no solace.