Conversation so far:
when was the tragical history of the life and death of doctor faustus written
The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor was written sometime between 1589 and 1592
who is the author of the tragical history of the life and death of doctor faustus
The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus was written by Christopher Marlowe
who is the tragical history of the life and death of doctor faustus based on
The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus is based on German stories about the title character Faust.

Question: was the character based on a real person
Self-contained rewrite: was the character faust based on a real person