Stereotypes In Othello

In 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, Hispanics in today’s American society are portrayed as both sexy and thugs.

In Othello, people hated him just because of his skin color, but liked him for his military prowess. That is similar to Hispanics they are liked for one reason, but hated for another reason. People stereotype Hispanics by saying that we’re sexy and that’s why we get cast as “sexy” people. “Hispanic men are incredibly suave, sexy and skilled in the sheets.” This shows that they use Hispanics for their “sexy”ness, making people stereotype that, that’s all we are. “Hispanic women are sexy but also loud, crazy and spicy.” This shows that they view female Hispanics the same way as they view the males, showing that they view all Hispanics the same way.

Othello is similar to how people view Hispanics because just because we have a history people view us as thugs and that’s one of the negative stereotype people have put on us. “Latinos is particularly harmful, as it gives the public the idea that Hispanics aren’t law-abiding citizens but cholos.” This shows that people think that Hispanics aren’t civilized, but we are they just have this idea that we aren’t because we aren’t from here. “..They should be feared, shunned and certainly not treated as equals.” Othello was also feared and people are afraid of Hispanics when they don’t need to be, as they don’t need to be afraid of Othello because he’s a