The Vitkus Article

I read the Vitkus article and found that I really enjoyed his interpretation of Othello and the ideas of "turning" and conversion seem to be well founded. Othello is full imagery about moving from pure or white to evil or black. Othello is set up to fail from the beginning of for no other reason than his skin. It seems that protestant Christians did not really believe in heartfelt conversions from Islam or at least doubted that the conversion changed the nature or the people. Othello retains his violent and inconsolable side despite his conversion and slips back into that nature. The parallel between the backward moving fleet of Turks and the backsliding of Othello is something I did not and would not have noticed without having it pointed out to me. I also like the part where Vitkus shows that once Othello's "heart is turned to stone" he no longer doubts his conclusions about Desdemona or Cassio, he is convinced of their treachery. His heart turning stone shows his heartfelt conversion to Islam and thus a conversion to delusion and violence. The comparisons of Othello to Muhammad do little to help the cause of religious tolerance. As Othello becomes more distraught and deranged in his thinking he starts to be compared to Muhammad. His epileptic fit is reminiscent of Muhammad's and Othello's behavior fits the stereotype of the Muslims or Turks at the time. Othello's suicided being the last step of the conversion to Islam or a Turk nature is very well thought out. I love that Vitkus points out the even Othello's desperation to the point where he kills himself is considered evil and a form of conversion as it symbolizes his circumcision. Othello's unwillingness to repent and ask for help from God shows his lack of Christian nature and his full evil and demonic Turkish tendencies.

There is a point that where Vitkus says that conversions to Islam from Christianity were beginning to happen frequently and at a high rate. In response to this, English authorities adopted strategies to prevent the conversions by using sermons that condemned all conversions to Islam. Here it appears that the conversions where more a political problem than a religious one and that those in power used religion to combat the problem. The English authorities seemed wary of losing their power to the Turks because so many people were converting and if the English authorities were tied to the Catholic church, then it may be that the pope and the church was also concerned with losing its power and authority. I will look the role of the church tonight.