š šš®š¬šš®š¬ šš§š šš”š š š¢š«š šØš šššš¬šØš§
I’m khushi parmar, a postgraduate student at the Department of English, MKBU. This blog is written as part of the Thinking Activity for Unit 1: History of English Literature: Chaucer to Shakespeare, with reference to the blog provided by Dr. Dilip Barad.the Last Monologue of Doctor Faustus with Insights from Bhagat Singh’s Arguments Reflect on the concluding monologue of Marlowe’s incorporating insights from Bhagat Singh’s essay "Why I am an Atheist".
▪️When Literature and Revolution Meets
Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus is one of the earliest and most influential tragedies of English literature. At its heart lies the tale of a brilliant scholar, Faustus, who trades his soul to the devil in exchange for unlimited knowledge and power. But when his 24-year deal ends, he finds himself helpless-begging for mercy in the face of eternal damnation. His final monologue is an agonizing cry for time, redemption, and escape from hell.
 |
| šš”š«š¢š¬ššØš©š”šš« ššš«š„šØš°š |
In his powerful essay Why I am an Atheist (1930), written while awaiting execution, Bhagat Singh rejected the existence of God, not out of vanity or ego, but from a deep conviction in rational thought and revolutionary ethics. His refusal to believe in divine power was tied to his commitment to freedom—not only political but intellectual and spiritual.
 |
| šæš§. šššŖšØš©šŖšØ |
By bringing Bhagat Singh’s arguments into dialogue with Faustus’s final speech, we can reimagine that tragic end—not as a moment of spiritual collapse, but as one of philosophical awakening.
Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus and Bhagat Singh’s Why I am an Atheist ( may appear worlds apartone a Renaissance tragedy exploring the limits of knowledge and salvation, the other a revolutionary essay penned by a freedom fighter awaiting execution. Yet, when these texts are read side by side, a fascinating dialogue emerges. Faustus, in his final monologue, confronts the terrifying reality of damnation and lost time. Bhagat Singh, in his essay, confidently confronts death without divine fear. The former pleads with God; the latter questions God's very necessity.
 |
| Bhagat singh |
In Why I am an Atheist, Bhagat Singh boldly rejects the idea of God and divine salvation:
“I am not an atheist simply because of vanity. I deny the existence of God with full responsibility.”
For Singh, belief in God was a form of mental slavery, a submission to superstition that obstructed true freedom. In prison, facing death, he did not seek comfort in religion. Instead, he found meaning in reason, justice, and the courage to accept mortality.
His essay is a philosophical rebellion against both theological fatalism and political tyranny. For Singh, the struggle for truth, liberty, and self-awareness was the true salvation—not religious absolution.
▪️Faustus Reimagined: With the Fire of Reason
Let us now reimagine Faustus’s final monologue—not as a cry for mercy, but as a final affirmation of rational thought. Inspired by Bhagat Singh’s unwavering belief in human dignity and responsibility...
This blog attempts a unique reinterpretation of Faustus’s final monologue by incorporating the radical, rationalist insights of Bhagat Singh, particularly from his famous essay “Why I Am an Atheist.” Singh, a revolutionary Indian freedom fighter, rejected blind faith and advocated for reason, freedom, and self-awareness. His thoughts offer powerful new dimensions to Faustus’s tragic cry at the end of the play.
▪️Revolution of Thought: From Despair to Defiance
The rewritten monologue becomes a symbol of mental freedom.
Instead of asking for escape, Faustus embraces consequence as part of human growth.
Singh’s revolutionary thought becomes a liberating force—freeing Faustus from guilt and fear.
▪️Bhagat Singh’s Standpoint: Reason over Religion
In Why I Am an Atheist, Singh rejects the idea of God out of deep reasoning.
He believes blind faith is used to suppress people and halt progress.
Famous quote: “Man is a social being, and morality must arise from social conditions.”
Singh's emphasis is on human courage, not divine intervention.
▪️Rewriting the Monologue: A Rational Rebirth
Imagine Faustus rewriting his final speech, inspired by Bhagat Singh. For example:
▪️“No, I shall not call on a God I never knew in truth.
▪️Let this fate be mine, chosen not in ignorance but in pursuit of knowledge.
▪️If I burn, let me burn with the fire of reason—not regret.”
▪️Shared Themes: Knowledge, Rebellion, and the Human Spirit
Both Faustus and Singh rebel: Faustus against religious limitations, Singh against colonial and mental oppression.
Singh succeeds by grounding his fight in rationalism and sacrifice, while Faustus fails due to lack of moral clarity.
They both challenge the divine—but only Singh takes responsibility for his beliefs.
▪️Conclusion
Rewriting the last monologue of Doctor Faustus with insights from Bhagat Singh transforms the play’s ending from spiritual submission to humanistic assertion. It shifts the emphasis from divine justice to self-awareness, from eternal damnation to intellectual liberation.
Bhagat Singh teaches us that it is not fear of punishment that makes us moral—it is our capacity to think, question, and take responsibility. A Faustus influenced by Singh doesn’t beg for forgiveness; he embraces the consequences of his choices with dignity.
In the end, perhaps Faustus need not only be remembered as a cautionary tale of damnation. With Singh’s spirit, he becomes a symbol of awakening—the painful yet liberating journey from fear to understanding, from guilt to freedom.
▪️Reference
Chatgpt
https://share.google/wtOAIRn9grl8UWIbR
https://share.google/yHf43zf7ypVRZsOtm
