The 'Idol' of Prophet Muhammad in Greene’s Alphonsus

Abstract

The image of Prophet Muhammad (570-632) is entirely inaccurate in Early Modern Drama. A ridiculous form of the name of the Prophet, 'Mahomet', was an artifact of abuse, distortion and misrepresentation placed at the focus of Western prejudgment of Islam. It is worth exploring the way myth works in relation to Greene’s Alphonsus, in order to understand better Renaissance views of Prophet Muhammad. His only prejudice seems to be against Prophet Muhammad in representing his image in a speaking brazen head. The Mediaeval tradition maintained its dislike of the Prophet himself as a dreadful deity who had established his doctrines by his resolution and his arms, but whose faith subsequently became more generous of error than he would have adored. Greene presented a striking antipathy to the Prophet and Islam. It is a heathenish image to tarnish the Turkish theology. Greene's Amurack essentially represents Islam for the Elizabethan audience in which he was defeated in front of the Christian hero Alphonsus.  Greene’s play influences the political and ideological conflicts between the Turks and the Christendom.