What is hell What is the direction of hell? Who stays there? Can anyone provide adequate answers to all these questions? But they will give a big NO to the above questions. We really don’t know what hell is; your exact location and whereabouts. At this point in the discussion I can remember the golden lines written by Milton in Paradise Lost;

“The mind is in its own place, and in itself, it can make a heaven out of hell, a hell out of heaven.” lost paradise

In reality, the human heart and mind are the only place for both heaven and hell. Even Milton has also clarified the issue very well in Paradise Lost. But we like to imagine ourselves about conventional Hell as mentioned in many mythologies and we like to relate the mythical characters together with the events. We often love to imagine that hell is full of darkness. The sun’s rays cannot penetrate the deep darkness of Hell. Hell is located somehow deep underground. In the center of hell there is a cauldron that is burning twenty-four hours a day. The soul of sinners suffers constant torture. They are receiving punishment for their offense. This is the main image, oh hell, that we have in the books. But this image is purely imaginative. It is the pure creative process of writers. Practicality Hell is created within the mind of every man. And the man suffers emotionally for his offense. This is the place where he receives the maximum punishment. He fears for his near future and is off course for the impending results.

In Dr. Faustus, Marlowe addresses the concept of hell. But Marlowe reflects the spiritual aspect of hell through the central character Dr. Faustus. In the drama Dr. Faustus we have the introduction of hell in Act 1. Dr. Faustus wants to achieve supreme power. To fulfill his wishes, Mephistophilis appears before him to perform and carry out Faust’s duties.

Mephistophilis although a follower of Lucifer, the Prince of Hell, but repents of his golden days in Heaven and also of God. But now he lives in hell and walks down memory lane that leads to heaven. Fausto asks how he got out of hell. And in response to this, he says that he is not out of hell, but carries hell wherever he goes. And suddenly he remembers the face of God that he used to see in his last days.

He cannot enjoy his days in hell. Feel a constant pull between heaven and hell; Good and bad. You can’t get out of this terrible place. While carrying hell within his heart and mind. On the other hand, Dr. Faustus wants to achieve the supreme power of this world. And that is why he gives his soul to Lucifer. He signs an agreement with the blood of his own body. Faust again and again wants to know and collect information about hell and its exact location.

Mephistophilis says that hell has no limits. It is the place where sinners must go through different punishments and agonies. And all sinners carry hell in their bosom. Where the sinners are, there is only hell. Even Milton echoes the same expression in Paradise Lost; “I am hell,” Satan responds.

Faust has also committed sins and also suffers for it. Faust wants to become God. Reject and neglect God and Christianity in exchange for worldly powers and sensual pleasures. This is the gravest sin he has ever committed. He suffers for his ambitions and his pride. He wants to win a deity and therefore gives his soul to Lucifer or the devil.

Faust can get out of this suffering only by praying to God. And if you do not want mercy, you will sink deeper and deeper into darkness. Mephistophilis warns him over and over for his pride, ambition, and good humor. But Faust refuses to heed his warnings.

In the final part of the drama, Faust realizes his fault and his eternal damnation. Dr. Fausto realizes the deep agony and his soul is filled with dread. His latest soliloquy reflects the image of both conventional Hell and spiritual Hell. At last he feels the terror and the tortures of his mind and carries the thousand hells within his mind. Therefore, Mephistophilis wisely says that hell is found within the mind, heart and soul of the human being. Faust asks his soul for mercy.

He says:

“Let Faust live in hell for a thousand years

One hundred thousand, and you will be saved “

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