Tamburlaine the Great Questions

similarity and differences of both characters as tragic hero.

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Dr. Faustus is a brilliant man, who seems to have reached the limits of natural knowledge. Faustus is a scholar of the early sixteenth century in the German city of Wittenburg. He is arrogant, fiery, and possesses a thirst for knowledge. As an intellectual, Faustus is familiar with things (like demon summoning and astrology) not normally considered academic subjects by today's universities. Faustus decides to sell his soul to the devil in exchange for earthly power and knowledge and an additional 24 years of life. He proceeds to waste this time on self-indulgence and low tricks.

Faustus is the absolute center of the play, which has few truly developed characters.

Source(s): http://www.gradesaver.com/dr-faustus/study-guide/character-list/

Tamburliane, though truly a villain, has far more redeeming qualities. In part one, his main concern is overcoming his birth. He feels he has something to prove, but he does what is necessary. His character is not only decisive, but charismatic and brave as well. He embodies what are know to be the ideal
qualities of kingliness that Mycetes lacks. Tamburlaine's first acts are to replace a weak and flawed ruler.

Unlike Faustus, Tamburliane lives in a place we'd consider otherworldly, but a place that only seems that way because it was meant to mirror the Elizabethan world without depicting the Elizabethan world. We also have a case where negative characteristics about Taburliane come from his opposition rather than his supporters. Faustus sold his soul, Tamburliane lost his soul.

Source(s): Tamburlaine the Great