Audience's first impressions of Faustus!

Dr Faustus opens with the CHORUS, this includes repitition of Faustus' intelligence;
'That shortly he was Grac'd with doctors name'
'To Wertenberg he went'
Immediatly, the audience are aware that Faustus holds some of the traits of a gothic protagonist. This hints at Faustus' other traits for example, his involvement with the supernatural. Which will foreshadow what happens later in the play, when he sells his soul to the devil. He is also often in touch with the 'Good' and 'Bad' angels. Instead of the audience being directly told in the chorus that Faustus is has links with the supernatural creates a tone of suspension, and a sharp, interested focus on Faustus.

In particular the second quote is interesting as it uses past tense 'went' this linked with the previous quotation of;
'Now he is born, his parents base of stock'
This uses present tense, it gives the audience a feeling empathy towards Faustus as they get a sense of involvement in him growing up. This combined with knowing that he went to 'Wertenberg' gives the audience a more clear view of his life and him growing up.

Their is a element of sympathy from the audience towards Faustus;
'Settle my studies,Faustus, and begin'
The audience are initially are told in the chorus to hold back their judgements of Faustus, immediatly leading them to question why? If he's so intelligent, Faustus relates to himself in third person, this could suggest he is confused, not fully to grip with himself. If this is the interpretation the audience get of Faustus they could feel some what level of sympathy for Faustus.

The audience are immediatly met with Faustus' strong sense of ambition;
'Having commenc'd, be a divine in show'
Here Faustus is saying he wants to be divine and get the best he possibly can out of his intelligence, putting it to good use. Also;
'A greater subject fitteth Faustus wit'
Faustus puts forward the idea that he is better than a philosopher and can do better than that career, going on to explore other career aspirations.

With Faustus' ambition comes his arrogance;
'A greater subject fitteth Faustus' wit'
Here Faustus is explaining how he feels he is better than philosophy. Also;
'Too servile and illiberal for me'
Previously Faustus has just rejected three of the best recognised careers, he rejects law simply because he thinks he is too good for it, he wants to be free and refuses to work for anyone else, leaving the audience with a clear idea of how Fautus feels he is better than anyone or anything and will not be told what to do, wanting to be a free spirit, another element of a Gothic protagonist.

The audience are also left with the gothic side to Fautus'character, Marlowes Dr Faustus has a similarity with later published Gothic tale of terror Frannkenstein,1818. The monster created in Frankenstein has a link to the 'unhumanbeing' Faustus wishes to create of himself. This would make the audience wary of Faustus as he tries to excell all careers and be as recognisable and powerful as god, who was a very powerful figure at the time Marlowe wrote Dr Fautus. Faustus on more than one occasion disregards the bible;
'Stipendium peccati mors est. Ha!'
This would be considered as blastpheming, leaving the audience shocked. The fact Faustus dares to say this demonstrates his confidence, the audience again could take this for his arrogance.