REPRESENTATIONS OF THE MUSLIM WOMAN ON THE ENGLISH RENAISSANCE STAGE

In this essay I discuss the evolving representation of Muslim women in English Renaissance drama. Unlike later Orientalist narratives, early modern texts portray Muslim women with complexity and nuance. I trace the development of these representations from medieval literature, where Muslim women are often depicted as assertive, noble figures, to early modern plays that reflect England's emerging political and economic relations with the Ottoman Empire. I argue that while Muslim women in Renaissance drama embody the wealth and power of the Islamic world, they are also shaped by patriarchal and religious anxieties. By examining key plays, I aim to shed light on how these depictions both challenged and reinforced Western ideologies of gender, power, and cultural difference.