The modern-day Faustus

Many people agree that the moder-day Faustus would most likely be a powerless human being, who desires to be an outcast and stand up as someone important and wise in society. Personally, I think about the modern Faustus as somebody that already possesses power and wants more, or at least wants to maintain his power until his/her last days. Being that the case, I believe the best representation of Marlowe's Faustus in the modern world is a president. This figure has the most important role in a nation's government, which is decision making. But, how to know these decisions would indeed be beneficial and productive? How to know it would bring downfall to the nation? This is why I think a president would sell his soul, in exchange for psychic and mind-reading powers. What other best quality than knowing what other people -like political leaders-think, and doing moves at the right time and place? This, would certainly make the president somewhat "perfect", since he anticipates and knows the outcome of every step he takes. As Marlowe's Faustus desires knowledge and power, in a similar way, a president would desire unlimited information about the world's treasures, the strengths and weaknesses of other countries, and then of course, how to make his country the most powerful in the world.

However, Faustus' deal only lasts for 24 years; once that time is completed, his soul would be in Lucifer's hand. In the president's case, I portray Mephy as the "people", meaning all the population living under the president's rule; not multiple individuals, but a huge devil made up of all the people. It would be a life-time deal, yet with restrictions. The president sells his soul in order to maintain his authority for life and make what is best for the nation. Nevertheless, if the president abuses of his power and uses it for his individual benefit, this gift and his soul would be removed. Faustus believes that he has outsmarted the devil; yet, in the end, it is Mephy who obtains the best of the deal, Faustus' soul. The president-people deal is an allusion to the contract Faustus signs. The president obtains permanent power and authority, but in the end, is the people who get the best of it, transforming their country as they want and making it the best of all.