Tamburlaine

Marlowe’s treatment – and, I suppose, Renaissance views – of race are curious. While the Jew is demonized, the Muslim is revered. I think the connections betweens Jews and money and between Muslims and military force are largely responsible here. The fear of Jews manifests itself in lore of poisoned wells and kidnapped children, whereas the Islamic nations posed a significant and real threat. And, along those lines, the Jewish threat was perceived as very real, but didn’t really exist, while the Islamic threat seemed to be less realized but in actuality was very great. These fears even seemed to be echoed today, with a strong perception of an Islamic military (or terrorist) threat and the sort of conspiracy theory idea that the U.S. government and the nation of Israel have a political, and more influential financial relationship.

My favorite lines come not from Tamburlaine, but from Techelles in 1.2.52-54: "As princely lions when the rouse themselves, / Stretching their paws, and threat'ning herds of beasts, / So in his armor looketh Tamburlaine."