THE FACE THAT
LAUNCH’D A THOUSAND SHIPS
Christopher Marlowe
Was this the face
that launch'd a thousand ships,
And burnt the topless
towers of Ilium?
Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss.
Her lips suck forth
my soul: see where it flies!
Come, Helen, come, give me my soul again.
Here will I dwell, for heaven is in these
lips,
And all is dross that
is not Helena.
I will be Paris, and for love of thee,
Instead of Troy, shall Wittenberg be sack'd;
And I will combat
with weak Menelaus,
And wear thy colours
on my plumed crest; Yea,
I will wound Achilles
in the heel,
And then return to
Helen for a kiss.
O, thou art fairer
than the evening air
Clad in the beauty of
a thousand stars;
Brighter art thou
than flaming Jupiter
When he appear'd to
hapless Semele;
More lovely than the
monarch of the sky
In wanton Arethusa's
azur'd arms;
And none but thou
shalt be my paramour
DETAILED SUMMARY
Christopher Marlowe’s
poem “The Face That Launch’d a Thousand Ships” is an excerpt from his play Doctor
Faustus. In this passage, the main character, Faustus, is speaking about Helen
of Troy, the mythical figure whose beauty is said to have caused the Trojan
War. This short but powerful poem highlights themes of beauty, desire, and
obsession, as Faustus becomes enchanted by Helen’s appearance.
The poem begins with
a famous line: “Was this the face that launch'd a thousand ships, And burnt the
topless towers of Ilium?” Here, Marlowe refers to Helen’s legendary beauty,
which was so great that it led to the Trojan War. In Greek mythology, Helen, the
wife of Menelaus, was abducted by Paris, a prince of Troy. This act sparked the
war between the Greeks and the Trojans, with a thousand ships sent to retrieve
her. The phrase “topless towers of Ilium” refers to the city of Troy, which was
eventually destroyed by the Greeks in their efforts to win Helen back. By
beginning the poem this way, Marlowe reminds the audience of the immense impact
of Helen’s beauty.
Faustus, who speaks
these lines, is not just marveling at Helen’s beauty from a historical
perspective; he is consumed by it. He implores Helen to “make me immortal with
a kiss,” showing that he believes her love and beauty have the power to
transcend time and even death. He longs for a kiss from her, imagining that her
lips could grant him immortality. Faustus speaks with such intensity that he
says, “Her lips suck forth my soul: see where it flies!” This suggests that her
kiss has an overwhelming, almost supernatural effect on him, draining his soul
from his body. It symbolizes the complete control that Helen’s beauty has over
him.
The poem continues
with Faustus asking Helen to return his soul to him, begging her, “Come, Helen,
come, give me my soul again.” In his mind, being close to Helen, even for a
moment, is like experiencing heaven. He declares that “heaven is in these lips,”
reinforcing the idea that he finds ultimate pleasure and fulfillment in her
beauty. Everything else in the world, in comparison, is “dross,” or worthless,
to Faustus when set against Helen’s perfection. He dismisses all that is not
Helen as insignificant.
Faustus then goes
further, imagining himself in the role of Paris, the man who sparked the Trojan
War by taking Helen. He suggests that for the sake of Helen, he would allow his
own city, Wittenberg, to be destroyed, just as Troy was. He fantasizes about
fighting Menelaus, Helen’s rightful husband, and even defeating Achilles, the
greatest warrior in Greek mythology. Faustus is willing to engage in epic
battles and risk everything, all for a kiss from Helen. This reinforces the
idea that his desire for her is allconsuming and irrational.
In the final lines of
the poem, Faustus exalts Helen, comparing her to the evening sky adorned with
stars. He claims she is “brighter than flaming Jupiter,” referring to the king
of the gods in Roman mythology, and more beautiful than Arethusa, a water nymph
from Greek mythology. These comparisons place Helen’s beauty above the most awe-inspiring
natural and divine phenomena. For Faustus, Helen is more radiant and desirable
than even the gods themselves.
The poem ends with
Faustus declaring that no one else but Helen will be his “paramour,” or lover.
This final line encapsulates Faustus’s obsession with Helen, indicating that
her beauty has taken over his mind and soul, leaving no room for any other desire
or purpose.
In summary, “The Face
That Launch’d a Thousand Ships” is a poetic expression of Faustus’s infatuation
with Helen of Troy. Marlowe uses rich imagery and classical allusions to convey
the overwhelming power of Helen’s beauty, which not only caused historical
events like the Trojan War but also captivates Faustus so completely that he is
willing to sacrifice everything for her. The poem explores themes of beauty,
desire, and the destructive nature of obsession, illustrating how Faustus is
consumed by his longing for Helen’s love.
ONE MARK QUESTIONS:
1. Who wrote the poem
“The Face That Launch'd a Thousand Ships”?
Answer:
Christopher Marlowe.
2. Who is Faustus
speaking about in this poem?
Answer:
Helen of Troy.
3. What city does
"Ilium" refer to?
Answer:
Troy.
4. What is the main
theme of this poem?
Answer:
The power of beauty and desire.
5. Which mythical
event is mentioned in the first line of the poem?
Answer:
The Trojan War.
TWO MARK QUESTIONS:
1. What does Faustus
mean by “the face that launch’d a thousand ships”?
Answer:
Faustus is referring to Helen of Troy’s legendary beauty, which was so great
that it caused the Trojan War, leading to a thousand ships being sent to bring
her back from Troy.
2. Why does Faustus
ask Helen to “make me immortal with a kiss”?
Answer:
Faustus believes that Helen’s beauty and love have the power to make him
immortal, elevating him beyond the mortal realm through the sheer force of her
presence and affection.
3. What does Faustus
compare Helen to in the poem?
Answer:
Faustus compares Helen to the evening air, a sky full of stars, and brighter
than Jupiter, highlighting her extraordinary beauty.
THREE MARK QUESTIONS:
1. Explain the
significance of the line, “Her lips suck forth my soul: see where it flies!”
Answer:
This line illustrates Faustus’s deep infatuation with Helen. He feels that her
kiss is so powerful that it can draw out his very soul, symbolizing his
complete surrender to her beauty and the overwhelming effect she has on him.
2. How does Faustus
use mythology to express his feelings for Helen?
Answer:
Faustus draws on various mythological references, such as comparing Helen’s
beauty to the evening air, Jupiter, and the nymph Arethusa. These references
elevate her beauty to a divine and almost supernatural level, placing her above
even the gods.
3. What is Faustus
willing to sacrifice for Helen?
Answer:
Faustus is willing to sacrifice everything for Helen. He imagines himself as
Paris, willing to see his own city, Wittenberg, destroyed just for Helen’s
love. He also fantasizes about defeating Menelaus and even Achilles, all for a
kiss from Helen.
FOUR MARK QUESTIONS:
1. Discuss the theme
of obsession in “The Face That Launch’d a Thousand Ships.”
Answer:
The theme of obsession is central to the poem, as Faustus is completely
captivated by Helen’s beauty. His longing for her becomes irrational and all consuming,
as he is willing to forsake everything, including his city and his soul, for a
moment of her love. The poem explores how desire can blind a person, making
them forget the consequences of their actions in pursuit of unattainable
ideals.
2. What is the role
of classical allusions in the poem, and how do they enhance the meaning?
Answer:
Classical allusions in the poem, such as references to Helen, Paris, Achilles,
and Jupiter, serve to elevate Helen’s beauty to a mythical and divine level. By
comparing her to these legendary figures, Faustus emphasizes her unparalleled
beauty and his willingness to sacrifice everything for her. These allusions add
depth to Faustus’s admiration, making it clear that his obsession transcends
normal human desire, reaching a mythic level of intensity.
3. How does Faustus
describe Helen’s beauty, and what effect does it have on him?
Answer:
Faustus describes Helen’s beauty as greater than that of the evening air,
brighter than Jupiter, and more lovely than Arethusa in the arms of the sky.
Her beauty has a hypnotic effect on Faustus, causing him to lose all sense of
reason. He believes that her kiss can grant him immortality, and her beauty
makes him feel as if his soul is being pulled from his body. Faustus is so
overwhelmed that he places Helen above everything else, including heaven.
TEN MARK QUESTION:
Q: How does
Christopher Marlowe explore themes of beauty, desire, and obsession in “The
Face That Launch’d a Thousand Ships”?
Answer: In “The Face
That Launch'd a Thousand Ships,” Christopher Marlowe explores the overwhelming
power of beauty and the obsessive nature of desire through Faustus’s fixation
on Helen of Troy. The poem begins with one of the most famous lines in English
literature, describing Helen as “the face that launch’d a thousand ships.” This
reference to Helen’s role in the Trojan War immediately positions her beauty as
something so powerful that it caused destruction and chaos. Faustus is fully
aware of Helen’s historical significance, yet he is not deterred by the destruction
her beauty caused; instead, he becomes more entranced by it.
The theme of beauty
is explored through Faustus’s idealization of Helen. He elevates her above all
other things in life, calling her face the cause of immense historical events.
He further compares her to the evening air adorned with stars, claiming that
her beauty is brighter than Jupiter and more lovely than the nymph Arethusa in
the sky. These comparisons to natural and mythological phenomena emphasize that
Faustus sees Helen as more than just a beautiful woman—he perceives her as
divine, beyond human standards of beauty. Her beauty, in Faustus’s eyes, is so
great that he believes a simple kiss from her could make him immortal,
reflecting the notion that beauty can grant eternal life.
Desire in the poem is
portrayed as irrational and overpowering. Faustus’s longing for Helen goes
beyond mere admiration; he is completely consumed by his desire for her. He
begs Helen to “make me immortal with a kiss,” as though her love has the power
to transcend death itself. This shows that Faustus’s desire is not just
physical but also spiritual. He believes that her kiss can pull his soul from
his body, as seen in the line, “Her lips suck forth my soul: see where it
flies!” This metaphor suggests that Faustus’s desire for Helen has taken over
his entire being, draining him of life and rational thought.
Obsession is another
key theme in the poem. Faustus’s fixation on Helen reaches unhealthy extremes
as he imagines himself in the role of Paris, the man who sparked the Trojan War
by taking Helen. He declares that for Helen’s love, he would allow his city,
Wittenberg, to be sacked just as Troy was destroyed. He also fantasizes about
defeating Menelaus, Helen’s husband, and even wounding Achilles, the greatest
warrior in Greek mythology, all in the pursuit of Helen’s affection. This shows
how Faustus’s obsession drives him to imagine extreme and impossible scenarios,
all for the sake of being close to her.
In the final lines of
the poem, Faustus elevates Helen to the status of a goddess, claiming that she
is “fairer than the evening air” and “brighter than flaming Jupiter.” By
placing her beauty above the gods, Faustus shows that his obsession has reached
a point where Helen has become the sole focus of his existence. He ends the
poem by declaring that no one else but Helen will be his paramour, emphasizing
his single-minded devotion to her.
In conclusion, “The
Face That Launch’d a Thousand Ships” explores how beauty, desire, and obsession
can lead to irrational behavior and even self-destruction. Faustus’s obsession
with Helen of Troy blinds him to everything else in life, making him willing to
sacrifice everything for a kiss. Marlowe uses classical allusions, rich
imagery, and powerful metaphors to convey the depth of Faustus’s obsession,
illustrating the dangerous consequences of allowing desire to rule over reason.
