Auf ein Miniaturbild klicken, um zu Google Books zu gelangen.
Lädt ... Mahomet the prophet; or, Fanaticism: a tragedy in five actsvon Voltaire
Keine Lädt ...
Melde dich bei LibraryThing an um herauszufinden, ob du dieses Buch mögen würdest. Keine aktuelle Diskussion zu diesem Buch. keine Rezensionen | Rezension hinzufügen
Ist enthalten in
"A new translation of Voltaire's melodrama, originally titled, Le fanatisme, ou Mahomet le prophete, intended for a modern, English-speaking audience, with introductory materials explaining the play in its historical context and Voltaire's relation to Islam"--Provided by publisher. Keine Bibliotheksbeschreibungen gefunden. |
Aktuelle DiskussionenKeineBeliebte Umschlagbilder
Google Books — Lädt ... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)842.5Literature French French drama 18th century 1715–89Klassifikation der Library of Congress [LCC] (USA)BewertungDurchschnitt:
Bist das du?Werde ein LibraryThing-Autor. |
Mahomet's theme of religious fanaticism and tyranny also, sadly, remains a topical one. Whilst the play, written in 1741, is widely agreed to have been a condemnation of Catholic oppression that used the cover of Islam just to get past the French censors, the horror of the terrorist attacks in Paris just a couple of days ago (Friday 13th November 2015) were very much on my mind when reading Mahomet, and consequently I couldn't help but read the play as a straight critique of Islamic fanaticism. (Indeed, one of the Paris attacks took place on Boulevard Voltaire, named in honour of the writer. One imagines what he would think of our modern struggle with Islam; I'd wager he would be one of its fiercest and most uncompromising critics.) Read from this perspective, it reminded me just how little has changed in the intervening centuries. Religious fanaticism, for all our modern rationalisations and excuses about alienated youths and oppressed minorities and unjust foreign wars, is still the same animal as it ever was. It is still very much a blight on human decency, as has been brought home very clearly and tragically to Voltaire's native France.
"He [Mahomet] has thirty nations extolling the very crimes we deplore here. Meanwhile, within our own city is a group of misguided souls all too eager to guzzle the poison of lies and perpetuate the illusion of his false miracles. They spread fanaticism and sedition, and they're calling in his army. They believe a fearsome God has granted him inspiration, guidance, and invincibility. All of our true citizens are on your side. But is the best advice always followed? False ardour, the love of novelty, and fear, have been a scourge within Mecca's trembling gates. The people appeal to your kindness. They're crying out to their father for peace." (pg. 39) ( )