A Psychoanalytic approach to the Machiavellian characters in Christopher Marlowe's plays

Niccolo Machiavelli was an iconic figure in the Renaissance Period especially due to his radical views in The Prince. In its essence, Machiavellianism encourages the individual to perform whatever is necessary to reach one's goals. It is a moral issue at the same time since Machiavelli's The Prince does not have a perception of limitation so as to obtain the ultimate power. Due to its rapidly increasing popularity, many Elizabethan playwrights adapted the embodiment of Machiavellian hero that Machiavelli describes in his The Prince into their plays extensively. Therefore, this thesis focuses on Marlowe's understanding of Machiavellianism and his portrayal of the Machiavellian heroes in his plays. In the thesis, Marlowe's plays entitled Tamburlaine, Doctor Faustus, The Jew of Malta are analysed. Particularly, this study aims to reveal psychoanalytic patterns of the Machiavellian characters in Christopher Marlowe's plays. Hence, this thesis examines both the inner desires, anxieties, and fears of these characters and Marlowe's autobiographical patterns at the same time. Moreover, this study also attempts to find an answer if the characters' Machiavellianism and their use of rhetoric truly help to achieve their goals or not. Although they can be simply characterized as mere "villains" who are driven by their passions, greed, and excessive pride; Machiavellian characters' psychological motifs will help us to understand the reasons underneath their urge to do wicked things. Besides, the Machiavellian heroes' interaction with other characters, their influence on them, and their relations to Machiavellianism are remarkable points that need to be clarified and to be analysed in further detail. Thus, this thesis attempts to provide answers for a better understanding of Marlowe's attitude towards Elizabethan setting and the concept of the Renaissance.