Function of Chorus in Doctor Faustus

In Doctor Faustus by Marlowe the chorus appears four times. it makes its first appearance at the very outset of the play and serves the purpose of the prologue. The chorus speaks directly to the audience and tells the basic background history of Faustus and explains that the play is to concern his downfall. Thus, the opening speech of the chorus functions as a prologue to define the scope of the play. The chorus makes its second appearance at the beginning of

the third Act to bridge the gap between Act II and Act III. Here the chorus narrates the unstated events to the audience to enable them to follow the career of Dr. Faustus without feeling any void in the story. The chorus delivers its third speech in the fourth Act. Here chorus narrate the return of Faustus to his home after he it tells us that Faustus’s fame has speared far and wide. Here again, the chorus bridges the time gap and also hints at the further course of action. The chorus appears for the last time at the end of the play and serves the purpose of the epilogue. The chorus here moralizes that man should not hanker after limitless power and pelf at the cost of human soul.