Rather than referring to Othello nominally, they refer to him by his ethnicity, showing their inherent racism. According to Kader Mutlu in “Racism in Othello,” Othello “has a harmony of racism. This harmony is provided by the tireless verbalization of ‘otherness’ in the words of ‘Moor’ and ‘Black’” (Mutlu 136). In addition to
Zhu Yongpeng (Roger) Mrs. Todoric ENG 4U 20 March 2018 How Marginalization and Racism Destroy Othello It is very hard for someone’s identity to not falter when they face bias and discrimination. Staying true to one’s roots requires a large amount of willpower which Othello has unfortunately lacked. In Othello by William Shakespeare, Othello’s Moor background and the subsequent racism and marginalization he receives, results in his eventual downfall. Initially, Othello’s background affects his identity, making him easily manipulated by Iago. Furthermore, Iago manipulates Othello into several situations where Othello is discriminated.
Hays’ first claim is that if Shakespeare had intended for Othello to be about race, then he would have made Othello act like what Africans were stereotypically portrayed as; moreover, he would have made the characters discuss ethnicity more frequently. He brings up two stories which influenced Othello, Gli Hecatommithi by Giraldi
This racism towards Othello is indicative of Shakespeare is having Iago lash out so early in the novel when he is the person who starts the killing and destruction. Shakespeare brilliantly uses the race of othello to gain power for Iago the the beginning of the novel. Ruth Nevo writes “The entire presentation of othello in the first act is geared to this perception of him, and it is in this light that both Iago’s contemptuous references to black rams and the barbary horses and othello’s exotic evocation of antres vast and deserts idle, his free unhoused condition and his descent from men or royal singe, become fully operative in the dramatic scheme.” (1) This statement perfectly describes the mood of the first act as this is when othello really becomes affected by his race and the racist comments that he receives even though he seems to not let them get to him the comments affect him a great deal. It may also be perceived as Othello believed everyone who told him wrong things, did he do this while he was coming to power in the military? And if he did how did he get to power by doing that.
This essay is going to offer a postcolonial and racial outlook toward Shakespeare’s play Othello as regards its main character, Othello.A postcolonial reading of the play contains expressions of racism and discriminatory attitudes through the use of imagery and negative color connotations, which compel the character’s actions. First and foremost it will present a biography and summary of the play, clarify the definition of postcolonialism, and tries to develop this concept step by step throughout the play. 2. Biography Othello (1603) the play written by Shakespeare (1564-1616) was probably first performed soon after King James VI of Scotland acceded to the English throne in 1603. It takes place in Venice and Cyprus between 1489 and 1571.
Shakespeare uses death to bring out a realization that a character is being blind from. This blindness also affects the people around Othello, but it also intensifies this idea that James R Aubrey as he says. “Other critics have suggested that the English in the early 1600s still thought of blacks much as though they were monsters” (pg. 77) As a reader we think of Iago as the monster in the play but later we see othello turn himself into a monster. This turn of events is shocking to watch as Othello is manipulated so easily by Iago Iago ignites this main persona to the theme of racism Romeo and Juliet and now one family thinks of the other family as
Jealousy in Othello leads to his insecurity after his mind being onslaught by Iago. Nordlund reasons, “The typical interpretation of Othello’s jealousy…, is that it arises from low self-esteem” (Theorising Modern Jealousy 154). His internal complication was actually created by external force—Iago. Othello shows proud and confidence to his achievements, he is aware that he is being loved and admired; furthermore, he is sure that he deserves Desdemona. Iago intelligently recognizes the moment of Othello’s anxiousness starts and exploits it.
Othello emerges as extremely stupid in Leavis’s reading. So far as Iago is concerned, Leavis sees that he displays ‘a not uncommon kind of grudging malice’ and has enough of a grievance to explain his motivation. The
Othello is decidedly not a racist work and Othello is a decidedly racist work, though — as contradicting as it seems — not simultaneously. It contains racist material, reactions and perhaps stereotypes of its characters’ creed but the work itself is not racist. The audience’s application of the material is the final step to complete the work and reactions have varied through the years. A modern audience may recognize the racist tones while a 16th century audience may not bat an eye at any of the situations and actions; not out of agreement but ignorance and undeveloped prejudice. Considering both Shakespeare’s play and its source material, the titular character’s own actions and relationships, and the changing view of racism opposed to prejudice, Othello cannot be simply defined as black or white.
Racism is the belief that a particular race is higher or lower than the other people. Racism means to isolate and separate the different races from each other and away from other races. Racism has been found throughout history, and can be determined by the hatred of a person by another or the act on the basis that someone is less than the rest of the people because of hisher color of skin, language, nationality, religion or any other factors though these factors are genetically determined, which means that they are not optional and no one can control them. Racism idea itself has a long history; it has emerged from several many centuries ago. Over the past centuries, Western racism had a clear impact more than any other forms of racism in the