What we expect from our gothic protagonist:
A touch of evil, sinister traits,
A high ranking, a title, high social status/class
quite often male
Have an element of mystery, and of the supernatural, unknown elements,
Intimidating appearance, often beast-like, commonly linked to animals (in the way they talk for example growling.)
PROLOGUE
The next 5 lines imply that the following novel will not revolve around love, fighting, action etc. They will simply revolve around Faustus 'fortunes, good or bad.'
It tells us Faustus' parents were 'base of stock', implying he grew up with a very basic standard of living - which contradicts the expectations of gothic protagonist.
It informs us of Faustus' intelligence, it says 'Of riper years to Wittenberg he went', Wittenburg being the highest ranking place to study in Germany. Also 'graced with doctor's name'.
'So soon he profits in divinity' - He does extremely well in the study of God. (which later contradicts what he says in the first chapter in his study, when he rejects the study of religion)
It then implies he gets too big for his boots, 'His waxen wings did mount above his reach', which is in reference to the tale of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun with his wings and they melted and they fell.
'falling to a devilish exercise' - the devils trick
'necromancy' - calling upon the dead
and then it seems 'sweet as magic is to him' - he turns to magic.
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