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SHAKESPEARE AND TURKS 

 

Nargile MEMMEDEOVA 

Qafqaz University 

[e-mail] 

 

 

This article deals with information about Shakespeare's attitude to Turks and his discussion about Turks in his plays. 

All data was collected by the research of Shakespearian works and several articles, comments which written on 

Shakespeare's plays. 

 

Shakespeare was the most influential writer of English Literature. Since he touched more actual problems of his time 

his works were successful and world-known. However Shakespeare was a member of Western Literature, there are many 

oriental references in his works.  

 

Shakespeare discussed about Turks (mentioning either Turks or Tatars) in his several plays. Obviously a question 

appears that 'How he mentioned about Turks in his plays?' since during the period of Shakespeare's time Ottoman Empire 

was really nightmare in the west. On the base of historical facts we know that there were several wars between Turks and 

Western people.  

 

So Shakespeare himself also showed his attitude to Turks in his plays. He did a little in the "Othello", "King Henry V", 

"Richard II", "Merchant of Venice". 

 

From the Turkish religion Shakespeare offers some word such as Mohammad, Moslem, Islam, Holy Koran, Allah, and 

Mecca that nowhere appears. So he touches on the practical teaching of faith. He knows that Prophet Mohammad forbade 

his followers to quarrel with one another. So for Othello disgusted at the 'mutiny' rebukes his officers. 

 

Are We turn'd Turks? and to ourselves do that 

 

Which Heaven hath forbid the Ottomites 

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