Shadowhunters, Season Two

     Shadowhunters season two, like season one, also contains similarities to Doctor Faustus in the way the demons are summoned and “demonic desire” (Cox 30). For instance, the demon Azazel is summoned by Magnus Bane to help locate Isabelle Lightwood when Jace Herondale, Alec Lightwood and Clary Fairchild do not know where she is (Shadowhunters: 2.11). Another example of a demon being summoned is at the end of the season, after Jonathan Morgenstern has been stabbed by Jace for helping Valentine and hurting his adoptive brother, Max Lightwood (Shadowhunters: 2.19). Yet, before Jonathan dies, he summons Lilith by drawing a pentagram in his blood and saying, “Mother” (Shadowhunters: 2.20). Furthermore, Azazel is shown to have “demonic desire” (Cox 30) for the Mortal Cup and Lilith is shown to want to save Jonathan, who is her adoptive son (Shadowhunters: 2.11, 2.12, 2.20).

     However, to fully understand why the summoning of Azazel and Lilith in Shadowhunters bears a resemblance to Faustus summoning Mephostophilis in Doctor Faustus, one must take a closer look. To summon Azazel, Magnus, “call[s] upon the power of the pentagram” (Shadowhunters: 2.11). In this part of Shadowhunters, the use of the pentagram inside of a circle, is what is similar to Doctor Faustus. In Doctor Faustus, Faustus uses a “circle” (Marlowe 3.8; Sofer 14) in which to summon Mephostophilis, “within this circle is Jehovah’s name/Forward and backward anagrammatiz’d” (Marlowe 3.8-9).

      Furthermore, while the language in both of these texts to summon a demon are different, their intention is the same. In Shadowhunters, Magnus uses English to summon Azazel, “Azazel, I summon thee” (Shadowhunters: 2.11). While in Doctor Faustus, the language Faustus uses to summon Mephostophilis is “Latin” (Sofer 14), “Orientis princeps Lucifer, Beelzebub inferni ardentis monarcha, et/ Demogorgon, propitiamus vos ut appareat et surgat/ Mephostophilis” (Marlowe 3.18-20) and “Veni, veni, Mephostophilis” (Marlowe 5.30). Despite how the languages differ, both are calling on a demon to appear.

     In addition, the same similarities can be found for when Jonathan summons Lilith (Shadowhunters: 2.20). This is shown when Jonathan draws a pentagram inside of a circle in his blood and then calls on her when he says, “Mother” (Shadowhunters: 2.20). Furthermore, Jonathan’s use of the pentagram inside of a circle for Shadowhunters is what is similar to the way Faustus summons Mephostophilis when he uses the “circle” (Marlowe 3.8; Sofer 14), “within this circle…” (Marlowe 3. 8-9) in Doctor Faustus. Also, Jonathan’s use of the word “Mother” (Shadowhunters: 2.20), while in English is still calling for Lilith to come, like Faustus does when he uses “Latin” (Sofer 14) to call Mephostophilis, “Orientis princeps Lucifer…” (Marlowe 3.18-20) and “Veni, veni, Mephostophilis” (Marlowe 5.30).

     Yet, there is one more similarity in this scene with Jonathan and that is the use of his blood (Shadowhunters: 2.20). In Doctor Faustus, Faustus uses his “blood” (Marlowe 5.35, 5.62, 5.64) to sign the contract with Lucifer, “And write a deed of gift with thine own blood/For that security craves Lucifer” (Marlowe 5.35-36). In Shadowhunters, Jonathan uses his blood in order to summon Lilith (Shadowhunters: 2.20). While both of these uses of “blood” (Marlowe: 5.35, 5.62, 5.64; Shadowhunters: 2.20) are different, they are both used in a demonic ceremony. Faustus to sign a contract with Lucifer, “And write a…” (Marlowe 5.35-36) and Jonathan to summon Lilith, “Mother” (Shadowhunters: 2.20).

     There is also the fact of “demonic desire” (Cox 30) to consider in Shadowhunters and how it relates to Doctor Faustus. For instance, Azazel wants the Mortal Cup (Shadowhunters: 2.11). Therefore, when Magnus summons him, he offers Azazel, Valentine Morgenstern, who has been arrested and is being held at the New York Institute, in exchange for Isabelle (Shadowhunters: 2.11). Despite this, Azazel does not have Isabelle (Shadowhunters: 2.11). In addition, it is later shown that Isabelle is safe and that she calls Alec to let him know that she is okay (Shadowhunters: 2.11).

     After Azazel is summoned, he escapes the pentagram that is inside of a circle (Shadowhunters: 2.11). Azazel, upon his escape, causes havoc by switching Magnus and Valentine into each other’s bodies (Shadowhunters: 2.11). Additionally, the reason Azazel switched their bodies is because he believes that Valentine knew where the Mortal Cup is (Shadowhunters: 2.11). Later, Azazel is killed by an unsuspecting Alec (Shadowhunters: 2.12). Also, everyone learns the truth about what Azazel did and Magnus and Valentine are switched back into their own bodies (Shadowhunters: 2.12).

     While the “demonic desire” (Cox 30) in this scene is different than in Doctor Faustus, there is still the aspect that the demon wants something. In Shadowhunters, Azazel wants the Mortal Cup (Shadowhunters: 2.11) and in Doctor Faustus, Mephostophilis wants Faustus “soul” (Cox 30; Marlowe 5.73) for Lucifer,” What will not I do to obtain his soul” (Cox 29; Marlowe 5.73). Yet, the key is that each desire’s something. In addition, the only difference between them is Azazel is killed before he acquires the cup (Shadowhunters: 2.12) and Mephostophilis does succeed in his goal helping to get Faustus “soul” (Cox 30; Marlowe 5.73) for Lucifer,” Ugly hell, gape not! Come not, Lucifer/I’ll burn my books! —Ah, Mephostophilis” (Marlowe 19.189-190).

     Another character that shows “demonic desire” (Cox 30), is Lilith (Shadowhunters: 2.20). This is shown after Jonathan summons her and she learns that he has died and says, “I’m here now son” (Shadowhunters: 2.20). This can be interpreted to mean that she wants her son back. Furthermore, this is proven when one learns that she wants to bring him back to life and does (Shadowhunters: 3.01, 3.10). Here, Lilith’s “desire” (Cox 29-30) is her son and as stated previously, Mephostophilis “desire” (Cox 29-30) is Faustus “soul” (Cox 30; Marlowe 5.73) for Lucifer, “What will I…” (Cox 29; Marlowe 5.73). Additionally, while both Lilith and Mephostophilis each want something different, it still shows a form of “demonic desire” (Cox 30).

     Both of these texts are similar in the way that demons are summoned. For instance, Azazel and Lilith are both summoned through the use of a pentagram inside of a circle (Shadowhunters: 2.11, 2.20) and Faustus summons Mephostophilis with a “circle” (Marlowe 3.8; Sofer 14), “within this circle…” (Marlowe 3.8-9).  Also, English is used to summon Azazel and Lilith (Shadowhunters: 2.11, 2.20) and “Latin” (Sofer 14) to summon Mephostophilis, “Orientis princeps Lucifer…” (Marlowe 3.18-20). However, what makes them similar is the fact that both texts used a language to summon a demon.

      Also, “blood” (Marlowe: 5.35, 5.62, 5.64; Shadowhunters: 2.20) is used in both texts, during a demonic ceremony. This is shown by Jonathon using his blood to summon Lilith, “Mother” (Shadowhunters: 2.20) and Faustus to sign a contract with Lucifer, “And write a…” (Marlowe 5.35-36). In addition, there is also “demonic desire” (Cox 30) in both of these texts, albeit in a different way. In Shadowhunters, Azazel wants the Mortal Cup and eventually ends up being killed by Alec and when Lilith wants her son back and eventually succeeds (Shadowhunters: 2.11, 2.12, 2.20, 3.01, 3.10). While in Doctor Faustus, Mephostophilis wants Faustus “soul” (Cox 30; Marlowe 5.73) for Lucifer, “What will I…” (Cox 29; Marlowe 5.73) and later ends up helping Lucifer to acquire it, ”Ugly hell, gape…” (Marlowe 19.189-190). 

      Overall, both of these texts have similarities. It is depicted that making deals and summoning a demon can have consequences whether for all involved. For instance, Faustus' situation is for the worse when he ends up being damned, "Ugly hell, gape..." (Marlowe 19.189-90). While in Shadowhunters, summoning Azazel to help find Isabelle leads to the worse for the characters of Magnus and Valentine when they are switched, and the worse for Azazel when he is killed by Alec (Shadowhunters: 2.11, 2.12). However, in Jonathan's case, it leads to something better when he summons Lilith and is saved (Shadowhunters: 2.20, 3.01, 3.10). With that said, in both of these texts, the characters that deal with the supernatural end up being changed forever.