Weekly Response 9/24

1a)       “The transformation of Othello, the “Moor of Venice,” from a virtuous lover and Christian soldier to an enraged murder may be read in the context of early modern conversion, or “turning,” with particular attention to the sense of conversion as a sensual, sexual transgression” (Vitkus 154).

1b)        “Ay, let her not rot and perish and be damned tonight, for she shall not live! No, my heart is turned to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand.” (Othello 4.1.176-78). 

2)         During the time of Shakespeare, England was extremely worried about the Ottoman Turks and their power to convert people.  How does conversion, religious or otherwise, play a part in Othello’s demise?

3)         Daniel J. Vitkus’ “Turning Turk in Othello” shows how fear was embedded in the audience during the time Othello was written.  The constant threat of Turk attacks and their ability to convert Christians allowed them to make connections between the events in Othello and their notions about Turks and other groups that could harm their Protestant religion.  Vitkus states that Othello’s view of Desmondia from “wife” to “whore” is linked to the racial idea of “turning Turk” (146). 

The idea of “converting” plays a big part in Othello’s demise, mainly due to his “turn” to downfall and his accusations of other characters “turning”.  The fear of “converting” to something much more evil is echoed in the play with Iago pushing Othello to turn due to “sexual transgressions”.  As Desmondia is incorrectly perceived to be a “whore” in Othello’s eyes, his conversion to “murder” can be seen as religious in nature.  Vitkus recants how writers of this era would often include stories of prostitutes and conversion to religious betterment.   As Othello states his heart “turned” to stone due to Desmondia’s “whore” actions, the audience can see the foolishness of him putting the blame on Desmondia.  His murder shows the collapse of a proper conversion and to remind the audience of how preconceived notions of outside forces could affect their ability to understand a greater threat.  The idea of “turning” in this play invokes that once you “turn”, you can never go back.