Analysis of Othello

The article Turning Turk in Othello: The Conversion and Damnation of the Moor by Daniel Vitkus was a very intriguing article on the "Moor" Othello in Shakespeare's play. I found it interesting that the phrase "turning Turke" actually referred to a prostitute returning to the streets or the brothel. I liked the analysis that the word "turning" could be applied to Othello, a Christian soldier of dark skin, who turns into "an enraged murder", similar to "turning Turke." This does seem like a very racial and insensitive comment, but literature and analysis like this was very common in Shakespeare's time. Of course Othello would ultimately be the villain in Shakespeare's work, encouraged by the European fear of Middle Eastern overtake and domination.


I also thought is was intriguing that many European Christians believed that Moors were look upon as having skin "demonic black, burnt by hellfire and cursed by god." It seems that seventeenth century Christians were very uninformed of the Islamic religion and there were quite a few misunderstandings "reviled by Western Europeans" and was probably the cause for so much animosity in the past, and possibly still presently. Although there was much cause for alarm because of the barbaric attacks by African and Middle Eastern tribes, I believe that there was an excess of worry by much of the English community. One could possibly compare this to the present outlook on people of Middle Eastern descent, given the past six years of tension, terrorist attacks and war. I even catch myself sometimes judging a person based mearly on their skin or what they are wearing. Some would argue that this is good and others would argue that it is bad. I think that this is simply left up to interpretation, and in some cases, it could be a good thing, but probably more commonly that not, it is more of racial discrimination. Islam used to be "defined as a licentious religion of sensuality and sexuality." I find it interesting that today we think of it as almost completely opposite, representing a repressive outlook towards women and a overall lack of love, sex, and sensuality.