ABSTRACT
Why does Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus never save himself from the fate he is heading towards? The established critical tradition offers two possible answers: he is predestined not to; or he is too consummate a sinner. This chapter makes the case for a third option. It argues that Faustus is bound in conscience to the deed of gift he writes, subscribes, and delivers to Mephistopheles because his conscience answers not to God’s law but to the laws of the Elizabethan state. By exploring the implications of possessing a conscience adapted to the algorithms and judgements of the state, the chapter provides a fresh perspective on the stakes of the Faustian pact and underscores the variability of early modern conscience.
