1a) "The transformation of Othello, the 'Moor of Venice,' from a virtuous lover and Christian soldier to an enraged murderer may be read in the context of early modern conversion, or 'turning'....." (154)
b) "That handkerchief, which I so loved and gave thee, thous gav'st to Cassio." (105)
2. Is Desdemona's alleged infidelity a symbol of something larger at hand that was taking place?
3. During this period, religious wars between the Muslims and Christians were going on, specifically between Ottoman Turks and Venetian Christians, thus making religious purity a hotly debated topic. Thus when Desdemona, a Venetian, allegedly cheated on Othello, a foreigner, it was a question of impurity. Similarly, Christianity was considered to be pure whereas Islam was considered impure. Thus it was the illogical idea of turning to the "darkside," if you will, of the time that I believe this scenario in Othello was getting at.
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