Examples Of Racism In Othello
The concept of racism is a prevalent issue that has existed in the past and continues even today in our present society, but racism is not acceptable at all in society, and people should be treated equally regardless of race or ethnicity. However, instances of racism can be found in the play Othello written by William Shakespeare many years ago, in the present criminal justice system and even in our current school systems. In Othello, Othello, a Moorish soldier, is treated unfairly and accused of stealing the love of Desdemona by using sorcery or magic spells to win her hand in marriage. Iago, a supposedly loyal friend of Othello’s, announces to Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, that “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” (Shakespeare …show more content…
This comment is extremely racist in that Othello is being compared to a black ram which portrays the fact that his dark skin color is offensive compared to the white ewe of Desdemona who is indeed light-skinned. Even though some people may believe that racism is a past idea that does not exist today, a closer look at the current criminal justice system shows that it is further from the truth. “Cuz” is a book that was written by Danielle Allen that describes how “today’s criminal justice system destroyed a talented but troubled African American youth” (Hiatt). Michael, an African American was arrested at age 15 for a failed carjacking, sentenced to 25 years to life in prison and forced to spend his adolescent years in isolation and segregation depriving him of a chance to start a new life. Due to the fact that Michael was black, he would have had to “stay indoors, alone every day” (Hiatt) in his neighborhood in order to avoid any legal troubles which is definitely not a normal or acceptable way for any children to live, regardless of race. Believe it or not, racism still occurs in our schools today, and some African-American parents have decided to homeschool their children, because of the persistent problem of educators not treating their children equally
Race In Othello
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312 Words | 2 Pageswhite 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.”
Examples Of Prejudice In Othello
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Examples Of Stereotypes In Othello
1230 Words | 5 PagesIn Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, the title character is a 16th century Moorish general of the Venetian army who, because of the cultural and historical background of the play’s setting, the playwright, and the original intended audience, is portrayed as both well-respected for his military prowess and disparaged for his race. Similarly, because of today’s American society both celebrates the richness of Latin food,music, and language which creates a sort of ignorance due to the fact that many Non-Hispanics rely on them in many ways and yet consistently robs them of their own unique cultures when they are all assumed to be a criminal, uneducated poor or being an illegal immigrant. In Shakespeare “Othello” we see that in that period of time
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Racism In Othello
1684 Words | 7 PagesThe correlation between relationships and experiences are co-existing functions that assist in operating societies. Since ancient times, social classes have existed within all communities and cultures; a sense of belonging is often determined by one’s position in the social hierarchy. Shakespeare’s Othello highlights determinants including race and gender that affect one’s standing in the hierarchy. An excerpt of Act 1, Scene 1 (Lines 110-112) explores this concept when Iago exclaims “Because we come to do you service and you think we are ruffians, you’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse, you’ll have your nephews neigh to you.” Shakespeare cleverly incorporates animalistic imagery to showcase the role that race has in a society
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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).
Examples Of Race In Othello
287 Words | 2 PagesRace is a mold that demands the ossification of our individualism into conformity. The monolithic views of society create social expectations in which the marginalized body is expected to perform under. Those who exceed beyond the demands of normative society, are examples of the prevarication and failure of social constructs, and thus are targets of far more insidious and indiscreet forms of racism. 16th century Venice describes a society in which the black body is ontologically dead. Cities were built on the backs of slaves, the products of colonialism were the primary revenue of the State, and those of color existed on the outskirts of society.
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.
Theme Of Racism In Othello
1960 Words | 8 PagesDefining Racism To properly lay out the issue of racism in the play it is desirable to know how the term itself is defined. The Oxford English Dictionary explains Racism as follows: A belief that one’s own racial or ethnic group is superior, or that other such groups represent a threat to one 's cultural identity, racial integrity, or economic well-being; (also) a belief that the members of different racial or ethnic groups possess specific characteristics, abilities, or qualities, which can be compared and evaluated. Hence: prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against people of other racial or ethnic groups.
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
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