The play, Doctor Faustus, opens with a Prologue. By describing Faustus's beginnings as a child "base of stock" and his end as his "waxen wings" melted when "heaven conspired" to stop him, the Chorus subtly calls to audience's minds, as they begin to view the play, the commonly held idea of

As the audience begins to view the play after the prologue, the idea that is called to their minds is the pride. Doctor Faustus was swollen with pride which resulted to his downfall. The prologue is similar to the story of Icarus and how he flew too close to the sun and burnt/melted his wings.