Angels and Demons: The Effect of Dr. John Dee's Research on Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus

Dr. John Dee, 16th century advisor to Queen Elizabeth, conducted a series of
mystical sessions to converse with angelic spirits in the early 1580s, asking a variety of
questions ranging from hidden treasures to the organization of the cosmos. At a glance
the experiments appear focused solely on the field of magic, separated from organized
scientific research or religious belief. I argue that Dee’s research within this period does
not separate the three from one another, but instead serves as a meeting point where
magic, science, and religion overlap one another. They are not separate discourses, but
instead constantly mingling as practitioners like Dee pursue knowledge. Christopher
Marlowe, a playwright of the 16th century, mirrors Dee’s research in his play Doctor
Faustus, ultimately condemning the pursuits of magic as fruitless and useful only for
one’s damnation.