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Aspects of racism in othello
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Othello is a man of romantic nature. He fell in love with the beautiful Desdemona. He was accused of stealing her away from her father. Othello was of a different race and did not fit in with her family. Othello makes a plea for Desdemona and tells his story which wooed her to begin with. Othello tells of the love that her father showed him since his boyish days. This was like a match made in heaven that overcame many obstacles which got in their way. Othello could not understand why he was good enough to work and fight alongside of her father, but was not good enough for his daughter. Othello proved that he was once in Desdemona’s father’s favor. There is no better way to prove this than when Othello said in lines 127-131 in 1.3: Her father loved me, oft invited me, Still questioned me the story of my life From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes That I have passed. I ran it through even from my boyish days Othello was showing that the connections were there for years. He and Desdemona have known each other since childhood. Othello tried to explain that there was no poison, only a story of events in his life and that she had pity for him. Desdemona showed bravery and mannish demeanor, which Othello fell in love with. Even with all the invites, battles, sieges, and fortunes they shared he still would not consent to his daughter marriage to Othello. Racism was very much alive even as far back as Shakespeare. However, in lines 133 – 135 in 1.3 Othello says, To th’ very moment that he bade me tell it, Wherein I spoke of most disastrous chances, Of moving accidents by flood and field, Of hair-breadth scapes I’th’ imminent deadly breach, This is where Othello is describing all the apparels in whi... ... middle of paper ... ...mona has fallen in love with is the dangers in which he has gone through. Like many women, Desdemona fell in love with dangers and thrill of the chase. It seems like most of us women love the adventures of seeking what we know is wrong. This passage is a soliloquy or speech from Othello to Desdemona’s father. He is telling how she has become his wife. Othello plea’s with Desdemona’s father for his blessing and to be a family. Othello states that her father has treated him well for many years and should honor his daughter for loving such a man. Othello and Desdemona is a love made in heaven. They are willing to fight alongside each other in battles and love one another in happy times. Work Cited Cohen, Walter, J.E. Howard, K. Eisaman Maus. The Norton Shakespeare. Vol. 2 Stephen Greenblatt, General Editor. New York, London. 2008. ISBN 978-0-393-92991-1
From the outset, Othello has been uncomfortable in aristocratic Venetian society. He has deep insecurities about his ability to fulfill his role as Desdemona’s husband, both sexually and socially. Othello is elated when he realizes that beautiful young Desdemona is attracted to him since he perceives himself to be unworthy of her love, primarily due to his old age, physical unattractiveness, and most importantly because he is a black Moor. Thus, his realization of his racial identity figures prominently in his mindset. Sexually, he fears being unable to satisfy his wife’s desires; for it would be only natural for her to, having sealed the vows of marriage, seek a companion more like her. For he is “rude […] in speech, / And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace” (1.3:81-2), most unfit to wed the daughter of the noble senator Brabanzio[1]. Thus, he makes it clear that he prefers the military atmosphere to the aristocratic civilian one.
In Shakespeare's play Othello, Desdemona is characterized as the dutiful wife to Othello. She innocent and pure and the epitome for all that is good within society. She sees the good in everyone and everything taking joy in life's pleasures. Desdemona is so good and faithful to Othello that even as she is dieing by his hand, is true to him stating that “Nobody; I myself” (Shakespeare 5.2.124) when asked who has done this to her. That being said, by marrying Othello against her father’s wishes and also by accompanying Othello to Cyprus it is hinted upon that Desdemona has to have a stronger and adventurous side which is never fully developed throughout the play. It is this underdeveloped side of Desdemona which MacDonald takes advantage of when writing her play.
Even before we, as an audience, have had a chance to meet Othello and Desdemona we learn that the match is considered as disgusting as it is outrageous. From the very beginning everyone and everything seem to work against them, but in the hope that love will conquer all we do not allow ourselves to despair as yet. And indeed, the first act proves us right. After having explained why they love each other the world seems to accept this alliance.
Desdemona’s apparent love for Othello is born out of pity, drawing question to whether or not she truly loves Othello. Desdemona fell in love with Othello through his stories, which she would listen to with a “greedy ear”. “Greedy” does not have a good connotation, evoking a feeling of distraught and untrust of the person being described with this word. Othello recognizes that Desdemona pities his stories saying, “My story being done, / She gave me for my pains a world of sighs. / She swore, in faith, ‘twas strange, ‘twas passing strange, / ‘Twas pitiful, ‘twas wondrous pitiful” (I iii 182-186). Desdemona finds the stories of his life pitiful and that is the reason she enjoyed listening to his stories and the reason she fell in love with him. Othello accepts that Desdemona loves him because she pities him, but the reason he loves her is because she pities him, “She loved me for the dangers I had pass’d, / And I loved her that she did pity them” (I iii 188-189). Their relationship is one based on Desdemona’s pity for Othello, they do not have a true love, which goes against the virginal idea of her. Iago sees the true
Firstly, when the men of Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, confront Othello’s men, Othello calmly says, “Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.” (10). Othello is confronted on the matter of his elopement with Desdemona with force and with words. Not only is he very cool about his dealings with violence, but also when he is asked to tell the story of how he had Desdemona fall in love with him he states the truth, and he doesn’t leave out any details of how he accomplished it. He openly admits that had any other man told his story, that man also would have won her heart.
The view of women during this time period has degenerated to them being seen as mere objects, tools, to be used (e.g. Marriage, Sex, Childbirth, work viewed as menial such as house keeping). While Othello and Desdemona seem to have a true passionate love for each other problems still arise and ultimately end in disaster. Showing that, because things did not take the natural path, where her father found someone for her to marry with his approval, it all came to death. The father knows best and to go outside of or against this can lead only to death.
In Shakespeare’s Othello, Othello and Desdemona’s marriage was doomed from the start. They did not start well; their marriage was controversial because of their race and Othello’s failure to follow proper etiquette while he was courting her. However these issues could have been overcome with time. The biggest problem is Othello’s attitude to Desdemona. Othello’s model of Desdemona prevents him from considering her a person. He thinks of her instead as superior to himself in every way, to the point that she is a god. Her race, beauty, and status make her godly in his mind. She becomes untouchable in Othello’s mind, and he begins to distance himself from her. Because Othello thinks of Desdemona as “Alabaster”(5.2.5) he will never consider her capable of responding to his love.
According to Brabantio Desdemona lives dangerously, I support his opinion because she runs off and get married without her father’s knowledge.” That I did love the Moor to live with him, My downright violence and storm of fortune May trumpet to the world. My heart’s subdued even to the very quality of my lord. I saw Othello’s visage in his mind, and to his honors and his valiant parts Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.” This quote is said by Desdemona this quote is saying that she fell in love with Othello; he didn’t make her she fell in love with him. She lives dangerously by falling in love with the moor. In Othello Desdemona also went to Cyprus with Othello which is dangerous since war was there at the time. “Let me go with him.” Desdemona stated because she wanted to join her husband while he went to Cyprus. Lastly Desdemona put herself into situations that she shouldn’t have. Desdemona stated,” I give thee warrant of thy place. Assure thee, if I do vow a friendship, I’ll perform it To the last article. My lord shall never rest, I’ll watch him tame and talk him out of pati...
What was once undoubted and unbreakable love has changed to the complete opposite. By listening to Iago’s lie rather than his own innocent wife, Othello destroyed everything important in his life. And so, like all tragedies, the story sadly closes with the death of Desdemona, punished for being unfaithful, when all she ever did was love her
Desdemona was the daughter of the Venetian Senator Brabantio. Against her father's wishes, she marries a moor, Othello. "The marriage seems to be monstrous- in the sense that it represents a deviation from that which is natural. How else, Brabantio asks, would Desdemona, so carefully, have brought such scandal upon herself and her father by shunning, the wealthy curled darlings of our nation"(Act 1 Scene 2 Line 68). Desdemona arrives and gently resolves the dispute by acknowledging split loyalties to her father and to her new husband, but making it clear that she now belongs to Othello. For the play being set in the late sixteenth century, Desdemona's defense of her actions is remarkably forthright, spirited, and courageous. She was aware of the great risk involved when she married a moor. She says "She remains bound to her noble father for her life and education; he remains her lord of duty, and she will always honor him as such. Now however, she has a husband, and she must recognize her duties to him just as her mother did to Brabantio"(Act 1 Scene 3 Line 181). Desdemona is a well-born and well educated daughter of a Venetian senator. She has been trained to adapt herself easily to any social situation. You could see how she is headstrong in her choice of a husband and in her defense of him. Desdemona's generous nature tries to help Cassio receive his spot as Liutenant back. This is when her kindness falls for weakness. Using Desdemona and her natural goodness, Iago will "turn her virtue into pitch, and make the net that shall enmesh them all"(Act2 Scene 3 Line 366). It is Desdemona's innocent attempt to reconcile Othello with Cassio that gives Iago the opportunity to wreak vengeance upon Othello, causing the murder and suicide, which bring this tragedy to its violent conclusion.
The most prominent relationship that is featured in ‘Othello’ is between the eponymous hero, Othello, and his wife Desdemona. In Act I, their relationship is displayed to the audience primarily thorough the opinions of others, such as Iago and Brabantio, before Othello and Desdemona discuss their relationship in their own words. This means that the audience makes assumptions about them before they are introduced, highlighting the importance of pre-conceived
Desdemona is a young lover and must be patient with Othello in order to maintain their relationship.
Desdemona is saying she loves and respects her father the same as her mother did, but she also respects her husband, and will stand by Othello.
Philip Weller on Shakespeare’s Navigator stated, “Desdemona affirms her duty to her father, who gave her life and education, but asserts that she has a higher duty to Othello, because he's her husband” (Weller, 2011). In addition to Desdemona speaking up to her father, she shows how valiant she is when she mentioned to the Duke of her accompanying Othello to Cyprus. “Let me go with him” (Shakespeare 1.3.277). As the play continues, Desdemona’s assertiveness begins to change.
Othello has his doubts about Desdemona before Iago begins his scheming. Even though his wife shows nothing but love for him, Othello cannot believe in her love wholeheartedly. “Tis not to make me jealous to say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company. Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw the smallest fear or doubt of her revolt, for she had eyes and chose me” (Act III, Scene III, 198) Othello is going to conclude that Desdemona's compassion and virtue alone enable her to love him.