Othello: A Study of Prejudice and Power Imbalance

928 Words2 Pages

William Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Othello” shows how a manipulative villain can create chaos within a society. The play was written around the year 1603 and takes place in Venice Italy before it is repositioned to Cyprus. This Shakespearean tragedy shows the effects of jealousy, love, desire, betrayal and passion in a society with an imbalance of power in a race, gender, and social position. Shakespeare does not give specific details of Othello’s background, however, it is apparent Othello is a dark-skinned outsider. The characters in the play call him the Moor. A moor is a member of a northwestern African Muslim people of mixed Berber and Arab descent. He is referred to as black by several characters including himself. Roderigo even calls him thick-lips which is a racial slur towards African Americans. Racial prejudice against Othello is introduced early in the play and is present throughout. Iago and Roderigo approach Brabantio with news about his daughter Desdemona. They inform Brabantio his …show more content…

During this time period, the men would work to support their family. Additionally, the woman would stay at home and care for her husband and children. This society thought of women as weaker than men. They were often treated as possessions of their husbands, “This concurs with Othello 's own insight when he describes murderous jealousy as innate in the husband-wife relationship which posits the wife as the exclusive possession of the husband and is thus at odds with the human condition wherein one can never know another person 's inmost thoughts and desires” (Vanita 342).The language Shakespeare uses in the play supports that men seemed freer than women. When Brabantio speaks of his daughter he describes her as obedient. Likewise, Desdemona obeyed Othello’s orders and stated she is indeed obedient to him. When Othello was convinced Desdemona was cheating on him he proceeded to murder

Show More
Related

  • Examine and Account for Attitudes Towards Race in Act I

    1855 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout Shakespeare's "Othello", one of the most poignant themes is that of race and racial prejudice. Various critics are of the view that "Othello" was written as a social commentary, depicting the discrimination present in formal Venetian society. These ideas of racial prejudice are portrayed through Othello, the protagonist, who is referred to as "the Moor", an African or a black man.

    Read More

  • Comparing Desdemona And Othello

    1695 Words  | 4 Pages

    Othello is different visually from the other characters of his own play, in that he is a Moor (African) among Italians. In a time frame where Africans were not seen as equals to those of Caucasian descent and when black could be seen as evil, Othello had to work harder than most to gain a positive reputation. As he recounts how he wooed Desdemona, he recalls, “These arms of mine had seven years’ pith…They have used

    Read More

  • Race In Othello Essay

    1727 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the Shakespeare’s play Othello, Othello is recognized as a moor and according to the Oxford dictionary the term moor, is defined as, “a native or inhabitant of ancient Mauretania, a region of North Africa corresponding to parts of present-day Morocco and Algeria. Later usually: a member of a Mu...

    Read More

  • Racism and Cultural Differences Exposed in Othello

    1328 Words  | 3 Pages

    To begin, race is the first and clearest of differences between Othello and other major characters. However race is also the least seen issue in the play. Racism is, as stated by Martin Okin “confined to Iago, Roderigo, and Brabantio” (Orkin, “Othello: and the”). Emilia herself has her moments of racism, going from using Moor as a describer of Othello to using it as an insult. Brabantio shows this racism when he discovers that Othello has wed his daughter stating:

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Jacobean Society In Shakespeare's Othello

    1074 Words  | 3 Pages

    The play endorses the society of the time 's attitude that women were objects that could be possessed. This is demonstrated through dialogue; "Thieves, thieves! Look to your house, your daughters, and your bags!" Desdemona is made a possession along with a house and bags. Iago tells Brabantio that Desdemona has been 'stolen '. Desdemona is further objectified when the senator wishes Othello to "use Desdemona well". Emilia points out that they are being treated as objects when she says "They are all but stomachs, and we are all but food, They eat us hungerly, and when they are full, they belch us." This metaphor compares women to food and upholds society 's attitude towards women as objects of desire. Emilia speaks out about the inequality and challenges society 's expectations of women. Emilia 's monologue in Act 4 Scene 3 expresses how men and women aren 't that different, "But I do think it is their husbands ' faults ... The ills we do, their ills instruct us so." This idea would be challenged to a Jacobean audience because of their patriarchal society, they believed men were superior to women. Emilia 's characterisation through her dialogue as an outspoken and bold woman ultimately lead to her death. Her attempt to speak out was shut down by Patriarchy as Iago killed her. To conclude the death of these two women uphold the idea of

    Read More

  • Racism in William Shakespeare's Othello

    1065 Words  | 3 Pages

    The play, Othello, is certainly, in part, the tragedy of racism. Examples of racism are common throughout the dialog. This racism is directed toward Othello, a brave soldier from Africa and currently supreme commander of the Venetian army. Nearly every character uses a racial slur to insult Othello at one point in the play. Even Emilia sinks to the level of insulting Othello based on the color of his skin. The character that most commonly makes racist remarks in Othello is Iago. It is very apparent that Iago uses racism as a scapegoat to hate and blame Othello. Societal racism takes its toll on its victims. The effect of racism on Othello is quite evident and is one of the main causes for his insecurity about his marriage. However, Othello is not wholly the tragedy of racism. The theme of jealousy is also extremely important in Othello. Racism may play a large part in the tragedy, Othello, but it certainly does not adequately explain the entire play.

    Read More

  • Racism in Othello by William Shakespeare

    1248 Words  | 3 Pages

    Have you ever thought about how much Othello’s race and the racism around him affected his life? Othello struggled a lot during the play because of his dark skin color. He was called several racist names like “the Moor,” “old black ram,” “Barbary horse,” and “thick lips” (Shakespeare 1.1.40; 1.1.88; 1.1.111; 1.1.66).The term “racism” has been around for several years; it started in the twentieth century (Bartels 433). By the way the Elizabethan era viewed black people was similar to how racism is today with all of the racial comments, and stereotypes. Being a black person in a mostly white ethnicity area at that time had to be challenging based on Othello’s experience. Othello was the black sheep crowded around a herd of white sheep, he was an outcast. Racist comments were made by many of the characters like Iago, Brabantio, Roderigo, and Emilia. If there was an award for most used racial comment towards Othello, Iago would win. Racism in Othello had a tremendous impact on Othello. He was judged by the color of his skin and not his personality. Othello’s race and the racism around him affected his life by ruining his marriage with Desdemona, alienating him from everybody in Venice, and by making him an easy target to be manipulated by Iago.

    Read More

  • Brabantio the Protective Father in Shakespeare's Othello

    548 Words  | 2 Pages

    Brabantio is also racially prejudiced. He is upset when he discovers that Othello, the Moor, is the man that Desdemona has chosen. He feels that Othello is not worthy of his daughter's love because he possesses darker skin and is of Arabian descent.

    Read More

  • What Way Would A Modern Audience React To The Way Race And Racism Is Portrayed In 'Othello'?

    1719 Words  | 4 Pages

    ... moor but Shakespeare is instead discussing the, "amalgam of the noble and the jealous, the soldier and the fool and the Christian and the barbarian who is reduced to stammering brutality." A modern audience would not see Othello as the guilty and barbaric moor but as a victim of Iago and his deception. The audience instead would take would take with them a message that colour does not play a part in character. Instead those who discriminate people racially are the truly devious characters and Shakespeare shows this clearly through Iago and Barbantio. Iago himself is clear evidence that Shakespeare is not in any way condoning racism but instead he is attacking racism. The attack on Barbantio's hidden racist views also prove that this is the case. The main message of Othello would be very positive foe a modern audience; that racism in all forms is totally unacceptable.

    Read More

  • Racism in Othello

    1062 Words  | 3 Pages

    Othello was the black sheep crowded around a herd of white sheep. Racist comments were made by many of the characters like Iago, Brabantio, Roderigo, and Emilia. Iago got the trophy for the most used racial comments. Racism in Othello had a tremendous impact on Othello. Being the only black person in a mostly white ethnicity area influenced him in a bad way. He was judged by the color of his skin and not his personality. Othello’s race and the racism around him affected his life by ruining his marriage with Desdemona, alienating him from everybody in Venice, and by making him an easy target to be manipulated by Iago.

    Read More

  • Racism and Interracial Marriage in Othello

    3668 Words  | 8 Pages

    Othello: The Moor of Venice is probably Shakespeare's most controversial play. Throughout this work, there is a clear theme of racism, a racism that has become commonplace in Venetian society which rejects the marriage of Othello and Desdemona as anathema. The text expresses racism throughout the play within the language transaction of the dialogue to question the societal ethos established by Othello, thereby making him nothing less than a cultural "other." Furthermore, the character of Desdemona is displayed as mad, or out of her wits, for marrying such an "other," and the audience sees her slip from an angelic state of purity to that of a tainted character. Also, the menacing Iago, a mastermind of deviant rhetoric, is able to play Othello and Desdemona against one another until their marriage fails, while at the same time destroying his adversary and friend, Cassio. Thus Iago has a specific agenda, not only to get back at Othello for choosing Cassio instead of him, but also to make Cassio the victim of his plan to destroy the forbidden marriage referred to by Brabantio as a "treason of the blood" (1.2.166-167). Essentially, Iago is a representative of the white race, a pre-Nazi figure who tries to inform the public of the impurity of Othello and Desdemona's marriage. He demonstrates how this miscegenation is threatening to the existing social order. Thus, through analysis of racism, the play represents the hatred possessed by mankind -- a hate so strong that society sees the mixing with an "other" to be a curse to humanity and a terrible threat to Aryan culture.

    Read More

  • Impact of Race in Othello

    1277 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the major issues in Shakespeare's Othello is the impact of the race of the main character, Othello. His skin color is non-white, usually portrayed as African although some productions portray him as an Arabian. Othello is referred to by his name only seventeen times in the play. He is referred to as "The Moor" fifty-eight times. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) states that a Moor is "Any individual of the swarthy races of Africa or Asia which have adopted the Mohammedan religion. In Spanish history the terms Moo, Saracens, and Arabs are synonymous." This indicates that Othello is constantly being degraded and set up as an evil person throughout the play. What this really means is that Othello is being judged by his skin color rather than the person under the skin. The view that whites and non-whites are equal is a relatively new concept in our society. In institutionalized racism, such as American slavery, those of a different color were often viewed as inferior. As Shakespeare wrote Othello, this idea was becoming quite prominent as England entered the African slave trade. One can look at the racial issues from the perspective of color, slavery, and society.

    Read More

  • The Negative Impact of Gender Roles in Othello

    1061 Words  | 3 Pages

    While there have been a great number of changes in the world since Shakespeare wrote Othello, there are a few truths about humanity and society that remain true. Othello is notorious for it’s examination of race, but is not given enough credit for its observations of gender. Iago embodies masculine gender roles in a severe and exaggerated way, allowing his desire for proving his masculinity to corrupt him morally. Iago then turns and uses his own fears of inadequacy against Othello as the root of his revenge and to improve his own self-image. Desdemona is hurt most by the need for gender roles, which ultimately ends up in her death. The characters in Othello are severely harmed by the gender roles they feel the need to adhere to.

    Read More

  • Racism in Othello by William Shakespeare

    813 Words  | 2 Pages

    “The Moor” is a reference to his black skin color, features, and represents the people from North Africa (Bartels 434). Most of the characters, including Desdemona called Othello a Moor. Othello’s blackness, his marriage with Desdemona, and the murder of her are all three important structural elements of Othello and are a... ... middle of paper ... ...ate a plan to bring Othello down. Iago literally regulated Othello throughout the play like a puppet.

    Read More

  • The Role Of Women In William Shakespeare's Othello

    1023 Words  | 3 Pages

    Forced by predominant men in Elizabethan society, women conform to a facade based on an socioeconomic status rather than character. As expected, women in William Shakespeare’s Othello demonstrate obedience in their behavior in accordance with a man’s expectations. Throughout this tragic play the once formidable Othello, becomes crazed with jealousy based on his ensign 's puppet master. Determined to murder his wife, Desdemona, because of her alleged infidelity, Othello fights against being a cuckold. Critical in Venetian society, Desdemona’s reputation no where compares to her husband’s reputation, which demonstrates a woman’s status as subordinate to men including servants and paramours. William Shakespeare reveals the influential males in a woman 's life govern the way the world

    Read More

More about Othello: A Study of Prejudice and Power Imbalance

Open Document