The pain in Dr. Faustus and Oroonoko In almost every writing there is reference to some type of pain, be it physical or emotional. In a story like Aphra Behn's Oroonoko, physical pain stands out above all other pain or misery. However, Christopher Marlowe's Dr. Faustus shows just as much pain, but in an emotional sense. This poses an interesting question: Is one pain worse than the other? Can pain be measured? Pain, whether physical or emotional, is an unpleasant sensation. However, something like getting hit with a safety pin or feeling sad would not be considered true pain. Physical pain is sent to the brain from other parts of the body, and when the brain recognizes pain, the body feels it too. There is no scientific evidence for the origin of emotional pain, but most people agree with Stanley Schachter's analysis of emotional pain. emotions at the end of the 1950s. Schachter stated that emotional pain "begins when a person encounters an important event or thought. The person then interprets the meaning of the encounter, and the interpretation determines the feeling that is likely to follow. (Nero 22)" Throughout history, people have documented their encounters with physical and emotional pain in works such as short stories or poems. Neither pain was studied extensively until the late 19th century, so neither Marlowe nor Behn had any documentation of the causes and effects of physical and emotional pain. But both were able to take painful elements from their environment and insert them into their lyrics. Marlowe wrote Dr. Faustus in 1592, at the height of the Elizabethan era. The story revolves around a man who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for several years of "forbidden knowledge". Dr. Faustus is written in theatrical (to be staged) form, a genre popularized during Elizabeth's reign by writers such as Marlowe and Shakespeare. This form allowed authors to develop characters and experience emotions through dialogue, something authors were unable to do in poetry and had yet to do in stories. Dr. Faustus reads like a commentary on religion intended for the wealthier members of society: Don't ask for things outside your means or status. The story could also be a warning to monarchs who believe they are superhuman or divine. Due to the nature of the story, the pain expressed in Dr.