In May 1593, London faced anti-Protestant backlash with bills referencing Christopher Marlowe's work. The authorities arrested playwright Thomas Kyd for alleged involvement after discovering blasphemous literature claimed to belong to Marlowe. Under duress, Kyd accused Marlowe of making heretical statements, inciting fear in a religiously volatile atmosphere. Past denunciations, such as Robert Greene's, had already portrayed Marlowe as a dangerous figure, further complicating Kyd's defense. Ultimately, this period epitomizes the intersection of art, dissent, and state power beneath Queen Elizabeth I's rule.
The religious climate of 1593 in England was fraught with tension, where dissent against Protestant norms specifically attracted severe governmental scrutiny and persecution.
Thomas Kyd, under threat of torture, implicated Christopher Marlowe's atheistic views as the basis for several heretical pamphlets that circulated in London.
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