Renaissance Figure or an Idiot?

The Renaissance era came after the medieval era, but not without some debate.  Some scholars would debate that the Renaissance era brought all these neat and cool ideas to the forefront, pushing philosophy, science, and the arts forward. However, others would argue that the Renaissance did not just have this spark of genius and that everyone before them was not just a bumbling fool.  Long story short, was Dr. Faustus a misunderstood Renaissance figure with some neat ideas on life or was he an idiot?  I think a little bit of both. 

            For starters, the medieval period was circular around God, Catholics, Protestants, and picking sides. Neither side condoned magic. So when Dr. Faustus decided to take up black magic he denounced both churches.  He decided that he did not believe in Christianity, therefore signing his soul to the devil, because why not? Whether the logistics of his though process are sound or not, he still had an idea of focusing his spirituality in the Renaissance camp of scientific thought through exploration.  His interest in trying to gain power over materialistic things, and controlling nature, he is leaving the older ways and into a more modern mindset. 

            Although, Dr. Faustus is a smart man to accomplish the schooling that he did early in life, he probably wasn’t signing his soul away to become some heroic trailblazer for satanic followers in sixteenth century Europe.  More likely, judging by his character, one can assume that he is just an idiot.  Instead of thinking his new idea of doing black magic through, he just listens to his friends. Which come on, didn’t his mother ever tell him not to do something just because all the cool kids are doing it?

            Furthermore, when he summons a devil he believes that he did it all on his own, when the devil just came because God’s name was being used in vain.  Dr. Faustus then argues with the devil about why the devil came, like an idiot.  Like really, your going to argue with the devil about why he decided to come or not?  Then he’s going to follow that up with telling the devil that he just doesn’t have tough enough skin to deal with hell, when he’s never even been there.  Then denounce hell as a place all-together. 

            Finally, at the very end of Act Five, Dr. Faustus finally comes to the realization that signing your soul away to the devil maybe isn’t worth not having to be bored in church.  However, he is still stubborn at he end of his life that he still doesn’t repent and try to save himself.  Then again, even if he did try to change his mind he would probably just get distracted by some dancing deadly sins and forget why he wanted to repent in the first place.