Stereotyping and the Politics of Oriental Representation: A Study of Thomas Preston’s Cambises and John Denham’s The Sophy

The purpose of this article is to critically examine two plays, namely Cambises (1569) by Thomas Preston and The Sophy (1641) by John Denham, through the lens of Edward Said’s theoretical framework. These works, although relatively unfamiliar in our country, offer valuable insights into the prevailing political and cultural discourse of Renaissance England, during which the nation's expansionist policies were beginning to form. In line with the prevailing tendencies among writers of their era, Preston and Denham, whether deliberately or indeliberately, practiced Stereotyping and Othering, because their knowledge of the East was neither objective nor direct; it was merely a reproduction of the stereotypical images in previous texts. Through misrepresenting the East and its people, their works became a part of the broader political and cultural discourse of their country, reflecting a thirst for superiority. It is crucial to recognize that such cultural misrepresentations played a significant role in shaping public sentiments, laying the groundwork for expansionism and colonialism. Through a contrapuntal reading of these dramatic works, we can uncover the intricate relationship between cultural artifacts and the underlying power dynamics at play, which provides us with a nuanced understanding of their impact.