The Courageous Ottoman in Goffe's Amurath I (1619)

Fahd Mohammed Taleb Al-Olaqi

Abstract


Thomas Goffe favorably represents the image of Sultan Murad I. The presence of the Turkish Sultan serves to highlight the political and cultural significance. The play depicts the disappearance of the cultural, ethnic, and religious boundaries between the Turks and the English.  In the tragedy, the Ottoman Amurath loves his wife, Eumorphe. However, his Machiavellian tutor Lala Schahin persuades Amurath to murder her and depart to martial invasions. The legend Eumorphe is a symbol of Ottoman despotism in Europe. The play points on Amurath’s mortal stand and his atrocities towards Christians which is punished by the Serbian assignation. The show accomplishes with the first Battle of Kosovo, in which Amurath is successful but is slain by the Serbian protagonist Cobelitz. According to the Ottoman tradition, his elder son Bajazet gets to the top but then he is enforced to slay his younger brother to avoid his rivalry for the authority.

Keywords: Goffe, Turk, Ottoman, Murad I/Amurath I, Eumorphe, Mahomet, Cobelitz


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