The Image of "Turkishness" in Two Jacobean Plays

Bc. Anna Mikyšková

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

Cílem této práce je analyzovat dvě anglické renesanční hry, A Christian Turned Turk od Roberta Daborna a The Renegado od Philipa Massingera, s ohledem na tak zvanou „tureckost“, tj. stereotypní portrét Turků a jejich kultury. První část práce se zabývá historickým kontextem, následuje literární analýza her. Přesvědčení Angličanů o jejich duchovní a morální nadřazenosti, které vedlo ke stereotypnímu zobrazení Turků na anglickém jevišti, je následně zahrnuto do pojmu „anglickost“. Závěr práce pak zkoumá vztah mezi „anglickostí“ a „tureckostí“.

Abstract:

The aim of this thesis is to analyse two English early modern plays, A Christian Turned Turk written by Robert Daborne and The Renegado written by Philip Massinger, with respect to the image of “Turkishness”, i.e., the stereotypical portrayal of the Turks and their culture. After taking into account the historical context of the period, a literary analysis of the two plays follows. Subsequently, the Englishmen’s conviction of their spiritual and moral superiority over the Turks, which was manifested by the stereotypical portrayal of the Turks on the English stage, is identified as a concept of “Englishness”. Lastly, the relationship of “Englishness” and “Turkishness” is explored.

Keywords

English drama, Turkishness, Renaissance, Ottoman Empire, Turkish, Muslim, Christian, stereotype, Englishness

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 14. 5. 2015

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 15. 6. 2015
• Supervisor: Mgr. Filip Krajník, Ph.D.
• Reader: Mgr. Alexandra Stachurová

Masaryk University

Faculty of Arts

Bachelor programme / field:
Philology / English Language and Literature