Written task 2 - Critical response
Prescribed question: How could the text be read and interpreted differently by two different readers?
Comparison of how a member of Shakespeare's audience and a member of a contemporary audience may comprehend Othello by William Shakespeare. In Shakespeare’s play, Othello, racial profiling, humour and sexual injustice are at the heart of the play, acting as the primary contributors to the downfall of both, Othello and Desdemona. Considering the evolution of essential principles, a 21st century critique may have a distinctive perception and understanding of specific scenarios and reasons. Meanwhile, Shakespeare’s initial and designated audience may have an extended acceptance for many condemning actions
…show more content…
Throughout this play, Desdemona is constantly verbally abused by Othello, an act which may have been ordinary at the time considering her act of adultery but instead seems like a story of domestic abuse for the contemporary reader. When Othello is unjustifiably notified that Desdemona is cheating with Cassio, Othello constantly verbally abuses Desdemona saying “O thou public commoner!” (IV,ii,75) and asks her “Are you not a strumpet?” (IV,ii,85) and “What not a whore?”(IV,ii,90). Despite the subsidization in meaning of sexual slurs do to their overuse in present day society, both readers may have felt the use of vulgar language to degrade Desdemona suitable seen as though Othello did not know the truth. Though a furious Othello takes it a step further, making intensifying violent threats to injure and kill his wife, stating “I am abused, and my relief/Must be to loather her” …show more content…
Humour is a static concept but with regards to changes in the english language and cultural concepts, statements which may be found differ from one audience to the next. Within Othello, the audience is introduced to a clown and a musician who use many different puns like when it is said “He, in good time, must his lieutenant be, And I — God bless the mark! — his Moorship's ancient” (I,i,33-34) in the attempts to bring light to the play. For Shakespeare’s audience this effort to convey low comedy was genius but for the modern audience, these scenes may be seen as pathetic since the use of clowns seems unoriginal and somewhat for younger ages. Later in the play the "Why masters, have your instruments been in Naples, that they speak i' th' nose thus?" (III.i.3). Obviously with regards to the contemporary audience, jokes like these make no evident sense as a date culture is being mentioned and criticized in attempts to convey comedy. Many jokes staged by Othello contain comparisons to different concepts and cultures which do not still exist hence only Shakespeare's initial audience would be of
In the play Othello, Shakespeare uses many literary devices to help the reader understand the theme of the story. One of those many literary devices used in the play, is the wide range of irony. Throughout the pages of the book the reader will see the use of dramatic, situational, and verbal irony. Shakespeare does not use irony in an understated way, it is very direct, and can be found on almost every page of the book. The use of irony creates suspense, and adds interest as to what will happen.
Further dramatic tension is created in Lodovico’s polite address towards Desdemona being contrasted with Othello’s domineering commands (pg153). lines 1-10). Dramatic tension is also conveyed through characterisation in Othello’s embodiment of the attitude of a. typically patriarchal man, and Desdemona’s obedient tolerance. Evidently, Othello takes pleasure in publicly victimising Desdemona. who has in turn come to fear Othello.
Picture this- William Harold Shakespeare, the most coveted playwriter in the history of the world, sitting at his desk, perspicaciously pondering over what shall become his most prominant and delicated tragedy of yet. Of course, given what little is known about Shakespeere displays, such deepseated imagery cannot simply be accomplished without first the propriety of haste and vinction.And yet, his very own rhetorical vibe displays allows such a vague pictoration to be concieved. Throughout the whole of Othello, the great Shakespeare remarks through an astounding displays show of pronouns, allitteration, and cacophonous diction his own resentment of both the King of Italy and the poor conditions of the said novelist.
Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello is an unfortunate example of gender bias, of sexism which takes advantage of women. The three women characters in the drama are all, in their own ways, victims of men’s skewed attitudes regarding women. Let us delve into this topic in this essay.
Othello has been described as one of William Shakespeare’s most popular plays because the play focuses on its themes of good and evil, military, politics, love and marriage, religion, racial prejudice, gender conflict, and sexuality; but the controversy and debate surrounding Othello is “Why is Othello a qualification for a tragedy?”
11 Dec. 2011. The "Othello". Shakespeare for Students: Critical Interpretations of Shakespeare's Plays and Poetry. Ed. Anne Marie Hacht.
Texts and their appropriations reflect the context and values of their times. Within Shakespeare’s Othello and Geoffrey Sax’s appropriation of Othello, the evolution of the attitudes held by Elizabethan audiences and those held by contemporary audiences can be seen through the context of the female coupled with the context of racism. The role of the female has developed from being submissive and “obedient” in the Elizabethan era to being independent and liberated within the contemporary setting. The racism of the first text is overtly xenophobic and natural, whilst the “moor” is unnatural whereas the updated context portrays Othello’s race as natural and racism as unnatural. Therefore these examples show how Shakespeare’s Othello, and it’s appropriation, Geoffrey sax’s Othello, reflect the context and values of their times.
Snyder, Susan. "Beyond the Comedy: Othello" Modern Critical Interpretations, Othello Ed. Harold Bloom, Pub. Chelsea House New Haven CT 1987. (page 23-37)
Shakespeare, William. "Othello." Literature: The Human Experience. Abcarian, Robert and Marvin Klotz, eds. Bedford/St. Martins: New York, 2002. 1134-1235.
Orkin, Martin. “Othello and the “plain face” Of Racism.” 2nd ed. Vol. 38. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 166-88. Shakespeare Quarterly. Folger Shakespeare Library in Association with George Washington University, Summer 1987. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. .
In the Sixteenth century, as we see clearly from Othello and other works of both Shakespeare and Cinthio's original version of Othello, race was a topic of great debate and discussion. Today, in the twenty-first century the debate retains its controversy and passion. However, attitudes towards race have taken a dramatic turn during the last century. In the developed world people are now living in an increasingly cosmopolitan society would undoubtedly be more tolerant and would reject or even be offended by racial discrimination to any person or sections of the community. Openly 'racist' people today are seen as outcasts. Taking this into account, the way a modern audience would react to race and racism in Othello is dependent upon the way in which that modern audience would interpret 'Othello'. This prompts the questions of what sort of message Shakespeare wanted to send to his audience and was Othello the moor portrayed as a tragic hero or did his character eventually come to resemble the prejudices of which he was a victim. Shakespeare also discusses the issue of race with other characters such as the hateful Iago and the prejudices hidden deep in Barbantio.
From this point on, Othello insecurity manifests into a seemingly irrational fear of being cuckolded, and his self-perceived worth diminishes exponentially. Othello comments on the likelihood of Desdemona cheating, by explaining how it may be “for [he is] black / And have not those soft parts of conversation / That chamberers have…” (3.3.280-282) Othello’s frustration with the threat of being cuckolded puts strain on his relationship with Desdemona, and she quickly becomes a victim of domestic abuse. For example, Othello acts as an interrogator, demanding to see the handkerchief which he gave her that symbolizes faithfulness and commitment towards Othello. (Quotation) When she is unable to produce their symbol of trust, Othello’s anger manifests inside him. The audience is shown a stark contrast to Othello’s typically cool, collected and composted nature. This abrupt and irrational change in behaviour is emphasized when Othello strikes Desdemona in front of Lordovico, (4.1.245) Othello’s
"Othello." Shakespeare for Students: Critical Interpretations of Shakespeare's Plays and Poetry. Ed. Anne Marie Hacht. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2007. 649-87. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. .
Snyder, Susan. "Beyond the Comedy: Othello" Modern Critical Interpretations, Othello Ed. Harold Bloom, Pub. Chelsea House New Haven CT 1987.
Second is the senators’ compromise on his “illegal” marriage to Desdemona. It deepens his sense of inferiority. Then came Desdemona’s good temper and patience to Othello. The constant compromise with Othello promoted his rage and abuse.