The Role of the Turk in Othello as a Deep-Seated Fear of Islamic Dominance

"The English faced the problem of British subjects--men, women, and children--being captured and enslaved by 'Turkish' privateers operating in the Mediterranean and the northeastern Atlantic. This crisis led English writers of the early modern period to produce demonizing representations of 'the Turk', not from the perspective of cultural domination but from the fear of being conquered, captured, and converted."

-Viktus, Turning Turk in Othello

"From whence ariseth this?

Are we turned Turks? and to ourselves do that 

Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites?

For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl!

He that stirs next, to carve for his own rage,

Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion."

-Shakespeare, Othello

How does Shakespeare demonize the Turks and what are the consequences of "turning Turk" in this passage?

Viktus explains in Turning Turk in Othello that Islams were believed to be more unified than Christians and that converting to Islam was associated with the devil and falling to his minions. This is a very serious attitude regarding the Turks, who were Muslim, and accounts for the deep fear and misunderstanding of Muslims that is still not completely eradicated today. Othello's troops were fighting amongst themselves, prompting Othello to become angry and accuse his troops of "turning Turk". When he says, "and to ourselve do that / Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites" Shakespeare may be metaphorically conveying that the divisions between different sects of Christianity could divide and conquer them, making it easy for the Ottoman empire to move in and force them to convert. Shakespeare uses this Othello to demonize the Turk: "He that stirs next, to carve his own rage, / Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion". Othello is telling his troops here that anyone who moves against his fellow soldier will be damned to hell, for violence and bickering among themselves will allow the Turks to come in and convert them. He also uses the term "Christian shame", which would serve to put the Christian soldiers back into their place and realize their folly. Converting to Islam would result in serious consequences through the eyes of a Christian in this early modern period--his soul would be damned. This idea alone could have been the impetus for the defeating the Turks and defending their souls.