marlowe's play dr. faustus is a social commentary. marlowe was a dickensian figure in the elizabethan era. an educated, privileged man who lived the roguish lifestyle of a political spy - while most of the men of his age hid behind fronts (like the francis bacon types who fed their shakespearean plants) - marlowe published his commentary himself. and his freemason brotherhood behind shakespeare had him murdered for it. dr faustus is one of the most critical works of the elizabethan era - be case marlowe refused to be the sellout. think about that - 🌱.