The long scene allows the audience to see the development of Faustus' character as he hesitates over his earlier decision to sell his soul.

`Away with such vain fancies and despair;

Despair in God and trust in Belzebub'

He eventually decides to go ahead and `be resolute' by dismissing God and heaven as `vain fancies'. Once again he underestimates repentance and does not see that it is not too late.

The moment of doubt is mirrored in other parts of the play; scene 6 and the final scene. Whenever Faustus is experiencing doubt or confusion, his inner conflict is shown through the personification of his conscience as good and evil angels. The angels exchange of stichomythic lines represent a balance (an equilibrium of good and evil...