This 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.
In Othello, Othello and Desdemona are both characters that are struggling with their identities. In the beginning of the play we find Othello as a respectful man that is successful, but then we get Iago that manipulates him to make him seem as the bad guy. We also find Desdemona that turns against her father and the Elizabethan society to marry Othello, but we also find that she is respectful and obedient to Othello. We find both racial attitudes towards Othello even though he is a man that works hard to get what he wants. The racial attitude is only because of the era that they live in, the Elizabethan era in
Most characters in Othello display both covert racism and overt racism towards Othello. In the beginning of the play, during the initial dialogue between Brabantio and Roderigo, the first references made of Othello are “his Moorship” and “the Moor,” which is echoed by most of the characters. Rather than referring to Othello by his name, they refer to
white have created conflict between the members of the play. Since the 16th century dictates that black people, or Moors, are inferior to white people, Othello is stuck in the darkness as an outsider; thus suggesting that interlopers are alone, not part of a community. Within these contrasting worlds, outsiders, like Othello, try to integrate into society, but can’t. For instance, this ingrained mindset portraying the inferiority of black people is further shown when Othello exclaims, “Her name, that was as fresh as Dian’s visage, is now begrimed and black / As mine own face.” Since Othello utters that since he is with Desdemona, her reputation “is now begrimed and black,” it presents how a black man can tarnish the “fresh” identity of a white women. Since Othello is accepted and praised as a war hero, but not accepted as lover, love becomes a barrier that leads to a tragedy. Societal expectations push people to the point where they try to surpass society’s norms. Though, when they reach this tipping point, tragedy will
In Othello, Shakespeare illustrates the dangers of jealousy through the belligerent actions of the characters. Jealousy can be incited by circumstantial proof, that can ruin lives. Shakespeare uses dramatic techniques to aid him in conveying his message.
Consider the representation of racial and/or national identities in the work of at least two writers studied in this module.
He questioned “Why did I marry?” and then replies “Haply, for I am black”. This self-question and reply infront of Iago, his most trusted man, peels of his exterior self and gives the audience the insight of Othello’s honest inner thought. This self-doubt, significantly points out to the audience and confirms that Othello has accepted the fact that he is different, and conforms to the stereotype placed on him and admits that his difference causes it. Shakespeare used this scene, to voice out the doubts and his surrender to the battle of being accepted for who he is in the Venetician Society. Othello’s This rage at Desdemona’s infidelity signals destmetion of his identity as a successful and loving man. It shows that he now completely loses control of himself, he no longer is that gentle man. He has become so poisoned by the manipulation of Iago, he no longer hears out for his “fair
Iago’s conception of a black man being an army general was not accepted the Vinezians hence it was very difficult for Iago and Rodrigo to see thyself of working under the authority of Othello as a general. In fact they were not use to that phenomenon since it was not something accepted precisely by the people of Venice. I t was very difficult for them to adjust because all they knew is white man suppose to be in control but this was rather the opposite. From the play Iago felt one of them in the army apart from Othello was supposed to be in charge and command the army instead of a black man who is Othello. There was this mentality that black people according to the play cannot be the leader of supervisor hence out of racism they felt they had to get rid of Othello and that could break down his marriage and his
Race, in Elizabethan Era, which was from 1485 to 1603 and was known as the Golden Age of England, was usually ignored. People with dark skin were thought of as exotic and bizarre, though they had no rights as they were forced into England despite many protests. Due to the way North/West Africans clothed themselves, many people in Elizabethan England would call them ‘devils’ and other obscene things. Though, they soon grew a few rights and weren't ridiculed as much, but were still thought of as a lower race. WordCount:107
Outline: How could the text be read and interpreted differently by two different readers from different race and gender.
From the very beginning, Othello is an outsider in the public arena. He is a Moor, an outsider and a black man from North Africa and is consequently victimized in an all-white society. However, his
Othello 's own brainstorm when he describes murderous green eyed monster as innate in the married man married woman relationship which suggests the wife as the exclusive possession of the husband and is thus at betting odds with the man status wherein one California n never know another individual's inmost persuasion and desires: "O curse word of marriage observance! That we can call these delicate beasts ours and not their appetite!" Several Recent critics have sought to explain Othello's behavior as arising from his insecurity as a blackness in a racialist White person society. However, I would contend that the child's play forcefully combats racism which suggests blacks and egg white s as essentially different precisely by its presentation of Othello as not at all different from any white husband. The maturation of his jealousy, the words of prop possession
In William Shakespeare’s Othello, racism is a principal theme that drives the plot of the entire play. An outlier in Venice, Othello the moor or African, is targeted by his ensign Iago because Cassio who seems to be unqualified, was promoted to a lieutenant before he was. Iago is driven by envy and jealousy and creates a confusing and elaborate plan to deprive Cassio of his position. Iago also shares these envious motives with Roderigo, a man lusting over Othello’s wife. These two villains slander Othello to the point of eradicating any pity the audience could have developed towards Othello. The Venetians also have a hidden fascination for Othello and his foreign qualities but, they mask feelings with negative slurs. The audience also affected by the portrayal of Othello, and are persuaded to feel pity for him because of his circumstances; being betrayed by his ensign and being looked down upon because of his Moorish descent. Shakespeare also uses racism as a creative apparatus to generate a metaphor between Desdemona and Othello. The 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.
It 's obvious to us from the beginning how they despite the characteristics that Othello has, he is for them not a man and does not deserve to call him by any name; they think that he is just a monster. Iago gave him a description of "thick lips" which makes the reader imagine him in an ugly way, and he described him as "Barbary horse" is clear in one of the obvious quotations to describe Iago to Othello, where he says to Desdemona`s father {In act1 scene1 of the play}: " you 'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse, / you 'll have your nephews neigh to you ". He tried in various ways and phrases to stir anger and concern