"Was this the face that launched a thousand ships, and burnt the topless towers of Ileum?"

This quote is from Christopher Marlowe's play "Doctor Faustus" and is a recommendation to the story of Helen of Troy. In Greek folklore, Helen was the child of Zeus and was renowned for her beauty. Her appeal was so excellent that it caused the Trojan War when Paris, a prince of Troy, abducted her. The quote is describing Helen's charm and the power it had to introduce a thousand ships and burn the topless towers of Ileum. This quote is a pointer of the power of beauty and how it can cause damage and mayhem. It likewise acts as a cautioning to be mindful of the power of appeal and to not let it consume us. The quote is a suggestion of the consequences of charm and how it can be both a true blessing and a curse.