From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia

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-	{{Template}}	+	#REDIRECT [[Conquest of Mecca]]
-	'''''Mahomet''''' (''Le fanatisme, ou Mahomet le Prophete'', literally ''Fanaticism, or Mahomet the Prophet'') is a five-act [[tragedy]] written in 1736 by [[France|French]] [[playwright]] and [[philosopher]] [[Voltaire]]. It received its debut performance in [[Lille]] on 25 April [[1741 in literature|1741]].	+	{{R from move}}
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-	The play is a study of [[religious fanaticism]] and self-serving [[manipulation]] based on an episode in the traditional biography of [[Muhammad]] in which he orders the murder of his critics.	+
-	==Plot summary==	+
-	The story of "Mahomet" unfolds during Muhammad's post exile [[Occupation of Mecca|siege of Mecca]] in 629 AD, when the opposing forces are under a short term [[truce]] called to discuss the terms and course of the war.	+
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-	In the first act the audience is introduced to a fictional leader of the [[Mecca]]ns, Zopir, an ardent and defiant advocate of [[free will]] and [[liberty]] who rejects Mahomet. Mahomet is presented through his conversations with his second in command Omar and with his opponent Zopir and with two of Zopir's long lost children (Seid and Palmira) whom, unbeknownst to Zopir, Mahomet had abducted and enslaved in their infancy, fifteen years earlier.	+
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-	The now young and beautiful captive Palmira has become the object of Mahomet's desires and jealousy. Having observed a growing affection between Palmira and Seid, Mahomet devises a plan to steer Seid away from her heart by indoctrinating young Seid in religious fanaticism and sending him on a [[suicide attack]] to assassinate Zopir in Mecca, an event which he hopes will rid him of both Zopir and Seid and free Palmira's affections for his own conquest. Mahomet invokes divine authority to justify his conduct.	+
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-	Seid, still respectful of Zopir's nobility of character, hesitates at first about carrying out his assignment, but eventually his fanatical loyalty to Mahomet overtakes him and he slays Zopir. Phanor arrives and reveals to Seid and Palmira to their disbelief that Zopir was their father. Omar arrives and deceptively orders Seid arrested for Zopir's murder, despite knowing that it was Mahomet who had ordered the assassination. Mahomet decides to cover up the whole event so as to not be seen as the deceitful impostor and tyrant that he is.	+
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-	Having now uncovered Mahomet's vile deception, Palmira renounces Mahomet's god and commits suicide rather than fall into the clutches of Mahomet.	+
-	{{GFDL}}	+

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Current revision

1. REDIRECT Conquest of Mecca

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