Christopher Marlowe's four major works (Doctor Faustus, Edward II, The Jew of Malta and Tamburlaine) are remarkable pieces of theatre, daring explorations of themes such as the nature of kingship, salvation and damnation, sexuality, and ethnic prejudice. This book looks in depth at extracts from each of these plays, exploring them in parallel to uncover key concerns, including heroes and anti-heroes, gender, and power and politics. As well as guiding readers in an understanding of the place of these issues in their Elizabethan context, and inviting them to consider there resonance today, the book looks at Marlowe's style and his significance in the evolution of English drama.