The line, “was this the face that launched a thousand ships?” is asked by this title character in a play written in the 16th century

On Friday, October 10, 2025, Jeopardy! closed the week with a thought-provoking clue in the category “Classic Drama.” The Final Jeopardy clue was: “The line, ‘was this the face that launched a thousand ships?’ is asked by this title character in a play written in the 16th century.”

Who is Doctor Faustus?

The line “Was this the face that launched a thousand ships?” is one of the most quoted phrases in English literature. It appears in Doctor Faustus, a tragedy written by Christopher Marlowe and first performed around 1592. The phrase refers to Helen of Troy, whose legendary beauty, according to Greek mythology, sparked the Trojan War. In Marlowe’s play, Faustus conjures her image through his pact with the devil, and he speaks the line as he gazes upon her supernatural beauty.

Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus is a defining work of Elizabethan drama and a landmark in the early modern tragic tradition. Unlike Shakespeare’s sprawling narratives, Marlowe’s work focused intensely on ambition, morality, and damnation. In this context, Faustus’s awe at Helen’s beauty isn’t just poetic admiration—it also reflects his descent into the temptations of sin and eternal damnation.

Who Was Doctor Faustus?

Doctor Faustus is a fictional scholar who becomes dissatisfied with the limits of traditional forms of knowledge and turns to necromancy in search of greater power. He strikes a deal with Mephistopheles, a demon who serves Lucifer, in exchange for 24 years of service and magical abilities. Throughout the play, Faustus uses his powers to satisfy his desires but ultimately faces the consequences of his ambition.

The moment he summons Helen of Troy is one of the play’s climactic scenes. Helen symbolizes both the height of beauty and the depth of Faustus’s spiritual downfall. While he marvels at her form, the audience is meant to see this as a hollow triumph—beauty that cannot save him from the fate he has chosen. The iconic line underscores the tragedy of Faustus’s choices and Marlowe’s warning about unchecked ambition.

Marlowe and the 16th Century Stage

Christopher Marlowe was one of the most prominent playwrights of the Elizabethan era, a contemporary of William Shakespeare, and a significant influence on him. Marlowe’s works were known for their poetic grandeur, psychological depth, and exploration of controversial themes such as atheism, ambition, and power.

Doctor Faustus stands out as one of the earliest plays to dramatize the Faustian bargain—a motif that would be revisited in later literature, music, and film. Its blend of Renaissance humanism and medieval morality gave it enduring relevance. The use of blank verse, bold themes, and tragic structure places it firmly within the literary traditions of the time while also pushing dramatic boundaries.

Why the Line Endures

The phrase “the face that launched a thousand ships” has entered the cultural lexicon as shorthand for irresistible beauty. Its use in Doctor Faustus elevates Helen of Troy’s mythic status while also acting as a turning point in the protagonist’s arc. Faustus is no longer seeking knowledge or truth—he is now consumed by desire and illusion.

This line encapsulates the tension in the play between surface and substance, illusion and reality. Marlowe’s poetic craftsmanship makes the line memorable, but it is its placement within Faustus’s downward spiral that gives it its haunting power. It invites reflection on the costs of desire and the fleeting nature of worldly glory.

Jeopardy’s Spotlight on Classic Literature

Jeopardy! often uses its Final Jeopardy clues to showcase enduring works of literature and drama. This particular clue brought attention to a foundational work of English tragedy that still resonates with modern audiences. The reference to Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus not only challenged contestants to recall a specific line but also highlighted one of the most enduring symbols of beauty and consequence in literary history.

Friday’s clue was a strong closer to the week’s episodes, rewarding players who are well-read in Renaissance drama and familiar with the deep currents of Western literary tradition. It also served as a reminder of how timeless phrases and characters can continue to echo through centuries of storytelling