Can Not Be But For It

Christopher Marlowe is a Renaissance playwright of superb talent. His literary creation is still radiating bright and boundless prospects just like the rising of morning sun when he died. It is a great pity for English even world literature. However Marlowe gives people several brilliant works within his short life. His contribution to the world literature can't be denied. He is the greatest of the English dramatists before Shakespeare because he represents fully the humanistic spirit of the Renaissance. However, his humanism is different from other humanists. He expresses the humanists' ideals about the infinite capabilities of man, in the desire for power, knowledge and wealth. And Marlowe shows his great power in creating vivid heroes. Through these heroes, his thoughts on humanism are fully expressed. His invincible emperor Tamburlaine, having lofty aspiration and great ideals, conquers the whole world; his learned Doctor Faustus looking life and death sideways, pursues to the endless universal knowledge; his Jew of Malta Barabas, being blinded by greed, "infinites riches in a little room". These three supermen of Marlowe are the best representatives of his unique humanism, which is to explore, even to surpass the infinite capabilities of man to content one's endless aspirations.