Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

6-1985

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

English

Major Professor

Norman Sanders, Nathalia Wright

Committee Members

Allan Carroll, Allison Ensor, John Osborne

Abstract

Despite the often striking similarities in the major works of Marlowe and Melville, the relationship between these two poets has been completely overlooked by scholars and critics. The intro duction of this study, therefore, seeks to examine the possible reasons for this oversight and point out that Dr. Faustus and Moby Dick are not essentially comparable to Goethe's Faust nor to the tragedies of Shakespeare. They are, in fact, consistently comparable to each other, and a comparison of them enhances the reader's understanding of the respective work.

Since both Marlowe and Melville wrote largely autobiographically. Chapters II and III are devoted to respective biographical accounts of the conditions, experiences and predispositions which seem to have produced the formulation of such similar, unorthodox attitudes and convictions as those held by the two men. Special emphasis has been placed on the step-by-step development of their anti-Christian sentiments which pervade their writing. Following these biographical summaries is a chapter which attempts to draw comparisons between their early environment, their formative educational experiences, their views of society, and their preoccupation with religious problems which culminated in their so-called "atheism."

Chapter V presents evidence that Melville was not only familiar with but in possession of a copy of Marlowe's plays. It seeks to establish the fact that, especially in his conception of Moby Dick, Melville was particularly influenced by Dr. Faustus and Tamburlaine. This chapter also suggests that Marlowe's influence on Melville can be traced through his subsequent works as well.

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