Othello: Was Shakespeare’s muse Leo Africanus?
Read the background information on Leo Africanus, a well-known figure during Shakespeare’s time.
Then, read the excerpts from Africanus’ History and Description of Africa. Describe in the “What does it
mean?” column how each passage describes the traits, behaviors and perspectives of Africans,
specifically the Moors, in England during the 1600s. Finally, use textual evidence from Othello to decide
whether any of Africanus’ “virtues” and “vices” describe Othello.
Background Information on Leo Africanus
Leo Africanus, also known as John Leo, was born Al-Hasan Ibn Muhammad in Granada, Spain between
1489 and 1495. He was raised on the Barbary Coast in northern Africa, where Morocco is today. As an
adult, he traveled to other areas of Africa, including the Sudan, Mali, and Bornu (modern-day Nigeria).
Captured by pirates around the year 1518, he was taken to Rome to be a slave of Pope Leo X. There he
converted to Christianity and took the name of Giovanni (John) Leo. The Pope soon recognized Leo’s
intelligence and set him free; however, Leo stayed in Italy where he taught Arabic and published an
Arabic grammar book and medical dictionary. It is believed that he returned to North Africa and died a
Muslim around 1552.
Leo’s History and Description of Africa, from which the following passages was taken, was originally
written in Arabic, then translated into Italian in 1526. The book soon became popular among Europeans
and was for many years the only known source on the Sudan. Shakespeare probably read the English
translation by John Pory, which was published in 1600, and used Leo’s description of the inhabitants of
Barbary to draw the character of Othello. In fact, he may have based Othello on Leo himself—a wise and
respected north African who had undergone many adventures, then converted to Christianity and lived
among the Italians.
Excerpts from History and Description of Africa by Leo Africanus
Excerpt from Africanus
What does it mean?
The commendable actions and virtues of
the Africans
The Arabians which inhabit in Barbary or
upon the coast of the Mediterranean Sea
are greatly addicted unto the study of
good arts and sciences, and those things
which concern their law and religion are
esteemed by them in the first
place...Moreover those which inhabit
Barbary are of great cunning & dexterity
for building & for mathematical
inventions, which a man may easily
conjure by their artificial works...Likewise
they are most strong and valiant people,
especially those which dwell upon the
mountains. They keep their covenant
most faithfully; insomuch that they had
rather die than break a promise. No
nation in the world is so subject unto
Does this describe Othello?
jealousy; for they will rather lose their
lives than put up any disgrace in behalf of
their women...They have always been
much delighted with all kinds of civility
and modest behavior... They be most
faithful observers of their word and
promise...
What vices the foresaid Africans are
subject unto
Never was there any people or nation so
perfectly endued with virtue, but that
they had their contrary faults and
blemishes: now therefore let us consider
whether the vices of the Africans do
surpass their virtues & good parts. Those
which we named the inhabitants of the
cities of Barbary are somewhat needy
and covetous, being also very proud and
high-minded, and wonderfully addicted
unto wrath; insomuch that (according to
the proverb) they will deeply engrave in
marble any injury be it never so small, &
will in no wise blot it out of their
remembrance... So rustical they are &
void of good manners, that scarcely can
any stranger obtain their familiarity and
friendship. Their wits are but mean, and
they are so credulous that they will
believe matters impossible, which are
told them... Mindful they have always
been of injuries, but most forgetful of
benefits. Their minds are perpetually
possessed with vexation and strife, so
that they will seldom or never show
themselves tractable to any man...