Stereotypes In Othello Essay
FINAL PAPER: Race is currently a hot topic in contemporary society. How minority populations are represented in the media, literature, and other modes of communication is constantly criticized. Although, societies are slowly eliminating and punishing racial prejudices, they still exist. Stereotypical portrayals of non-white characters have existed in western civilization for thousands of years. Literature produced in a predominantly white European context has historically been plagued with politically incorrect renderings of minorities. Marginalized characters have frequently embodied stereotypical traits that negatively and inappropriately represent them. Patriarchal ideologies helped to establish hegemonic societal views on other races, …show more content…
Iago had a great deal of influence in shaping Othello’s identity. He could almost be considered the main character simply due to the amount of lines he has. Iago “employs his comic verve to try to destroy his virtuous antagonist and whose colloquial intimacy with the audience often half-succeeds in winning the audience over” (Greenblatt 427). Although, Iago’s devious actions transform his character into a villain his style of speaking help spectators and readers to easily identify with him. Iago provides the first description of Othello before the protagonist is even seen. During the opening scene he informs Brabantio that his daughter is in love with Othello the moor. Iago expresses his distaste for this nuptial by referring to Othello as an “old black ram” (1.1 66) and “barbary horse”. He essentially is trying to convince Brabantio that Othello is comparable to a savage beast. Iago offers a prejudiced initial description of Othello and would go on to persistently uses racial slurs to describe him. The frequency of these racial insults would shape the audience's view of Othello that negatively portrayed him. Although, Shakespeare attempted to shatter these horrendous descriptions of Othello with third party flattery, iago’s persistence ensures that spectators would recognize Othello’s racially stereotypic
I Am Black By Adrian Piper
736 Words | 3 PagesSince a certain few have narrated much of the history of art, the voice of the other is open to constructs that often misrepresent the oppressed. When the oppressed are deprived of their identity us, a character is assigned to them that defines us for centuries. The result is a generalized negative stereotype that persists through time to describe entire groups of people, rather than seeing people as individuals. Stereotypes serve as cognitive shortcuts; our brains want to make a rash judgment about somebody based on their gender, race, or age.
Examples Of Prejudice In Othello
1010 Words | 5 PagesThe tragedy that unfolds in Shakespeare's Othello (1604) is caused by societal prejudice that triggers Othello's inherent naivety and susceptibility to jealousy. The Jacobean era's newfound creative nature influenced Shakespeare to include certain religious ideologies such as The Great Chain of Being. Through consistent racial prejudice directed towards Othello, we witness the belief that those of African descent are low class. Through prejudice, Othello gains a reverence for social status, which manifests into jealousy that allows him to be easily manipulated. The nature of Venetian society made it exceptionally difficult for Othello to gain social status.
Theme Of Sacrifice In Othello
565 Words | 3 PagesIn the beginning of the novel, Shakespeare describes Iago as a mastermind of manipulating others. Iago holds a grudge and resentment towards the Moor, Othello, because another soldier, lieutenant Cassio, has been promoted
Self Confidence In Othello
1344 Words | 6 Pages(III.iii.230-234). Thus he reminded Othello that possibly he was not considered suitable for her love. Knowing that his blackness placed him in society as an outsider, Othello began to suspect that his personality and accomplishments could never overcome his inferior background. He questioned his confidence in the reputation and social standing he thought he had gained, and he failed to notice the presence of evil and dishonesty in others. Iago’s appearance, as a
Othello Rhetoric Analysis
1095 Words | 5 PagesRhetoric is an incredibly powerful tool capable of seducing even the most obdurate of people. As one of the most illustrious playwrights ever, Shakespeare was no stranger to the power of rhetoric. Rhetoric served as the fountainhead of Shakespearian allure. We watch the dramatic works of Shakespeare because we enjoy having our emotions manipulated; we enjoy the catharsis and self-reflection that accompanies a trip to the theater. Shakespeare truly was a master manipulator, but his manipulation was generally beneficial.
Jealousy And Manipulation In Othello
700 Words | 3 Pages“Othello” written by William Shakespeare revolves around this protagonist who is depicted as strong and powerful. To everyone he is known as Othello or the Moor. Throughout the play, Shakespeare portrays numerous counts of jealousy and manipulation around many of the characters. It is mainly illustrated through Iago, the antagonist of the play, who manipulates other to their downfall. Iago who is known for always being true and honest towards others has easily earned the trust of everyone around him, thus giving himself an advantage on his schemes.
The Effects Of Racism In Othello
1640 Words | 7 PagesThis extent of hostility and aggression coming from several other sources in the play was enough to ruin Othello. Thus, Othello’s downfall was more of a result of his race being that the main underlying motive behind the characters’ efforts to destroy him was racism. It is inadequate to bypass the sociology behind racism, the concept of race, prior to defining what racism actually is. The common understanding of race suggests the division of groups based upon the color of one’s skin, hair, eyes, etc. “Although biologically meaningless when applied to humans – physical differences such as skin color have no natural association with group differences in ability or behavior – race nevertheless has tremendous significance in structuring social reality” (Clair).
Overt Racism In Othello
1097 Words | 5 PagesWhen people of one race believe themselves to be superior to those of another, only catastrophe can result. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, racism was extremely prevalent, and white supremacy was much more pronounced. In William Shakespeare’s play Othello, both covert and overt racism, assimilation, and jealous dispositions all foreshadow the untimely death of Desdemona and Othello. Most characters in Othello display both covert racism and overt racism towards Othello.
Comparing Othello And In The Time Of The Butterflies By Julia Alvarez
846 Words | 4 PagesOthello’s confidence for a loyal man to maintain honesty and morals are contradicted through Iago’s actions: “in a man that’s just / They are close dilations, working from the heart, / That passion cannot rule” (3.3.123). Iago, due to the understatement to his name, is not perceivable as hateful. Othello’s willingness to sense Iago’s distress, and to believe his accusations, is because of the lack of awareness Othello has for his vengeance. Iago is of such little power and relevance within societal ranking that if he were to have intentions to sabotage anyone, which he does, are not considered, thus making him easily trustworthy to those of greater dominance. Society’s view of an individual determines how others consider and surmise their persona, though these conclusions may be false.
Theme Of Racism In Othello
1225 Words | 5 PagesThe exploitation of Othello’s race leads to the manipulation Roderigo, Cassio, Brabantio, the Venetians, and the audience to see Othello as inferior although, the only difference between him and the Venetians is his lineage. In the first act of the play, Iago and Roderigo go to Brabantio’s house to rile him out of his sleep. This is seen as the first step of defaming Othello’s character. The two
Masculinity In Othello
1010 Words | 5 PagesFor Shakespeare’s plays to contain enduring ideas, it must illustrate concepts that still remain relevant today, in modern society. Shakespeare utilises his tragic play Othello, to make an important social commentary on the common gender stereotypes. During early modern England, Shakespeare had to comply to the strict social expectations where women were viewed as tools, platonic and mellow, and where men were displayed as masculine, powerful, tempered, violent and manipulative. As distinct as this context is to the 21st century, the play exposes how women were victimised by the men who hold primary power in the community in which they compelled women to conform to the ideal world of a perfect wife or confront an appalling destiny for challenging the system. Moreover, Shakespeare utilises the main antagonist, Iago, to portray how men are desperate to achieve what they want and to indirectly fulfil the stereotype of masculinity and power through manipulation.
Theme Of Dishonesty In Othello
750 Words | 3 PagesIn the opening act of the play, Iago and Roderigo wake Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, from his sleep, informing him of his daughter’s marriage to the Moor, Othello. Knowing of Brabantio’s prejudice towards Othello because of his race, Iago says, “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe.” (1.1.94-95). Iago feeds anger into Brabantio’s mind using
Theme Of Racism In Othello
1501 Words | 7 PagesThroughout the play, Iago, Roderigo, and Brabantio display covert or overt racism towards Othello. At the beginning of the play, Iago, Othello’s ensign, and Roderigo, a wealthy man in love with Desdemona, discuss Othello’s marriage and their hatred for Othello. During their dialogue, the first references made of Othello are “his Moorship” and “the Moor,” which is how most of the characters refer to Othello (Shakespeare 687). Rather than referring to Othello nominally, they refer to him by his ethnicity, showing their inherent racism.
Othello Act 3 Scene 3 Analysis
982 Words | 4 PagesAct 3, Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s Othello embodies a pivotal point in the play, as it is a transition act that grounds the foundation of Iago’s development as an antagonist and the play’s development as a tragedy. In fact, Othello is written by William Shakespeare in the early 17th century. In Act 3 Scene 3, Iago begins his insinuations of an affair between Cassio and Desdemona, which petition Othello to consider the likelihood of Desdemona’s infidelity and Cassio’s disloyalty. In this particular scene, Shakespeare makes meticulous use of linguistic and dramatic techniques to characterise Iago as an scheming, deceptive and hypocritical antagonist.
Examples Of Prejudice In Othello
626 Words | 3 PagesPrejudice can get the worst out of people. In the play Othello there is a power dynamic. Characters struggle with problems because of gender, social class and race. The play Othello talks about two lovers that are very different who can't be together; they struggle with the prejudice of people and especially someone who should be supporting.
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