Two issues are to be considered in answering the question - whether or not Dr. Faustus is a morality play, and also whether or not the play has a moral. In order to categorise Dr. Faustus, the characteristics of a morality play must be defined - they are essentially dramatised sermons, usually on repentence; typically an 'Everyman' figure begins in innocence, is tempted by others and finally redeemed.

In some respects Dr. Faustus conforms to the morality play tradition (e.g. there are characters who tempt Faustus into sin; many characters in the play are representations of type rather than individuals), but in other important ways it breaks with morality tradition (e.g. Mephistopheles has depth as a character rather than only representing sin and temptation; Faustus is led into damnation, but it is ambiguous as to whether he is an innocent victim led into temptation by others or responsible for his own fate through refusing to accept human limitations).

An alternative point of view can be argued, that Dr. Faustus is in fact a tragedy. Evidence for this includes the central protagonist being depicted as an individual rather than an 'Everyman' figure, with strong personal characteristics and whose character develops through the play. It can be argued that Faustus is a tragic hero, as he has a tragic flaw (his pride) which leads to his downfall from an initial elevated position. Faustus cannot repent due to his pride and is not saved and redeemed by God, again breaking with morality tradition. The tragic aspects of the play seem to outweigh the morality aspects.

The play does appear to have a moral - not to aspire to what humans cannot achieve, and to believe in the reality of damnation - which is foregrounded through the opening and closing speeches of the Chorus. The Old Man conveys a moral concerning God and repentence, that it is never too late to beg forgiveness. By damning Faustus Marlowe makes it clear that his moral failure is being unable to repent and having a lack of faith in God.

However, the tragic elements of the play appear to outweigh the moralistic elements: it is concerned with the fate of a very particular individual, which would make it difficult for an audience to relate to Faustus and his tragedy: I believe that the play is primarily the discussion of a tragic character, with lessons and morals inevitably included.

Dr. Faustus is a tragedy which uses aspects of the morality play, possibly because it provided Marlowe with a suitable form for what he wanted to say. The play does contain a moral but seems primarily about the tragedy of an individual.