Audience+Ottoman

The Ottoman Empire is a common theme in Shakespeare’s Othello. According to the history database ABC-CLIO, “ The Ottoman dynasty was first established in the 13th century in Central [|Asia]  in what is today the nation of [|Turkey] ” ( Ottoman Empire). The nation of “Turkey” is home to the Turkish people who were previously called the Ottomites or Ottomans. Shakespeare focuses on these people in his well-known play making the Turkish population a large audience. However, in the article “Turkey and Shakespeare,” the author discusses how the plays were changed to better suit the Ottoman people. He states, “ From the Ottoman period through the early 1920s, many Shakespeare works were censored for theme or language. Shakespeare’s negative references to Turks were omitted in translation” (Bakay). The intended audiences of Othello’s performances were taken into consideration by interpreters when they chose to “omit” and “censor” the play for “theme” and “language” in order to not offend the Ottomans that would view the play. While discussing specific interpreters of the play, the author continues, “Differences in culture led to the omission, or adaptation, of some parts of the plays. The use of Ducis’ translations rather than the original works meant that his own changes were reproduced in the Turkish versions. Ducis was not ashamed to confess that he had altered many of the play’s tragic events in order to render them more bearable for the audience” (Bakay). The Turkish “versions” of Othello often times did not display what Shakespeare intended. These “changes” were further “reproduced” to “render” the play more “bearable” for its Turkish audience.
 * Audience **
 * Mariah Nunes **

Furthermore, considering the special changes the Ottomans made to the play which otherwise would have been offensive, the article “Tukey and Shakespeare” discusses, Othello treats various themes that have special resonance for Turkish audiences: the theme of the ‘other’, alienation, loneliness, the life of a soldier – even the problem of Cyprus” (Bakay). These “themes” found in Othello, which contain special “resonance” or depth to the Turkish may be a reason why, even though the play was meant to be offensive toward them, they are such a large audience. Throughout history, the Ottomans or Ottomites, now known as the Turkish or Turks have felt “lonliness” and “alienation.” They can relate to the theme of the “other” and know what it is like to have the “life of a soldier.” The Ottomites are a very large audience to Shakespeare’s Othello whether it was intended or not. The impact Shakespeare’s play has on the lives of the Turkish will continue on even if the Ottoman Empire is forgotten.

Works Cited Bakay, Gönül. "Turkey and Shakespeare." Open Democracy. 16 Dec. 2004. Web. 04 Jan. 2012. "Ottoman Empire." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 5 Jan. 2012.