Staging the Ottoman Turk

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In the aftermath of the fear that enveloped Europe following the fall of Constantinople in 1453, English dramatists, alongside continental artists, began depicting the Ottoman Turks in plays inspired by historical events. These representations were influenced by complex themes such as tyranny, captivity, war, and conquests, reflecting a perception of Islam. The Ottoman milieu offered English audiences a shared experience of fascination and fear of the Other. However, the Ottomans' defeat in the second siege of Vienna in 1683 marked a shift in how Turks were portrayed on stage. As European alliances grew stronger, curbing Ottoman expansion, the aesthetic imagination of eighteenth-century England became captivated by the sultan's seraglio, showcasing extravagance and decadence. Esin Akalın's exploration of selected seventeenth and eighteenth-century plays provides insights into how one culture represents another through discourse, historiography, and drama, from both non-European and Western perspectives. The book delves into identity and difference, examining the historical, ideological, and political dimensions of representation. Ultimately, it addresses how history informs literature and the extent to which literature shapes historical narratives.