His faith is great, I cannot touch his soul; But what I may afflict his body with I will attempt, which is but little worth. (scene 13, lines 75-77) Who says these words about Faustus?

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Jamison Daniel

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21 March, 20:13

His faith is great, I cannot touch his soul; But what I may afflict his body with I will attempt, which is but little worth. (scene 13, lines 75-77) Who says these words about Faustus?

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Howe · Answer 1

These words are spoken by Mephistopheles, a prince of the underworld who becomes Faustus' servant for twenty-four years after he sells his soul to Lucifer in exchange for unlimited power.

This passage appears in Act 5, Scene 1, where an Old Man appears in front of Faustus an calls him to renounce sourcery and repent, for is not to late to be saved. But Faustus sends him away, and when Mephistopheles appears, he asks the demon to torture the Old Man for offending him.

To this, Mephistopheles responds with these words, meaning that the torture will only be physical, since he cannot touch the man's soul.