Cultural perceptions and interactions: shakespeare's othello and teaching the image of the turk to a non-eurocentric mind

This paper is set out to explore the image of the Turk via the fundamental historical, socio-political and ethnical premises prevailing in one of the most well known pieces of English literature, Shakespeare’s Othello. It is set out to examine the image of the Turk and Turkish material culture in Shakespeare’s play set against a specific, controversial and often violent historical background. The dominating factor during the Renaissance and Reformation was the dichotomy of Catholic Church and Protestants. The unfolding of this “domestic” religious dichotomy, not only revealed the tensions within Christianity but also the conflicts between Christianity and what is known as Islam. It forms the “perception” on the one hand, of the catalytic Figure in Islamic history – the Prophet and in Christianity- the Savior or the Messiah Jesus Christ on the other. It is not a coincidence that the history of emotions is the motive in these simplistic perceptions. All these created images and perceptions can be delved into through a deep analysis which is the anchor while teaching a piece of English Literature to the learners who have not breathed within the philosophy of Eurocentrism.