The theme of racism has played a paramount role in works of literature throughout the ages. Othello by William Shakespeare is no exception to this. Race takes up many different roles in order to have a major effect on the play. Viewing the play through a racial lens one can see; the prejudices of Shakespeare’s time, Shakespeare’s own prejudices, the true meaning of Othello’s “blackness”, and the effects of each characters own prejudices. Racism leads to Othello’s downfall and other tragic endings
Racism has always been a prevalent social force in European society; it is a lens through which every person living within has an altered view of the world around them. In literature, this topic has been widely explored, but few works provide as bold and as insightful commentary on the role of race as relative to the time period in which they were written as Shakespeare’s play “Othello.” In this tragic drama, the powerful racism hanging over the Venetian State in the 16th century contributes to the
of which included “The Tragedy of Othello”. “The Tragedy of Othello” follows the story of Othello, a warrior in the Venetian army and follows what goes on with his love life and his struggles through the story. Shakespeare depicts different images of discrimination toward different ethnic minorities throughout the play. Also during the actual Elizabethan Age, there was racism and sexism toward the different ethnic minorities and genders. In “The Tragedy of Othello”, we see parts of this with Iago
Othello deals with the tragic events following the elopement and wedding of the “Moor” Othello and the Venetian Desdemona. Over 400 years since the infamous Elizabethan play was first written, questions were already raised regarding the nature of race, its social implications and furthermore, the correlation of a person’s outer appearance and inner self.1 The issue of racism and stereotyping is obvious in the play and is pivotal for the interpretation of the play. In this essay, I plan to analyse
wrote thirty-seven plays and 154 sonnets. He was writing sonnets, comedies, dramas, and tragedies. He wrote Othello on November 1, 1604, the story is about the wars between Venice and
The Racism in Othello Throughout the duration of Shakespeare’s tragedy, Othello, there is a steady stream of racism. It is originating from not one, but rather several characters in the play. In the opening scene, while Iago is expressing his dislike, rather hatred, for the general Othello for his having chosen Michael Cassio for the lieutenancy, he contrives a plan to partially avenge himself (“I follow him to serve my turn upon him”), with Roderigo’s assistance, by alerting Desdemona’s
Othello: Racism Just how serious is the problem of racial prejudice in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello? Is it pervasive or incidental? This essay intends to answer questions on this subject. Blanche Coles in Shakespeare’s Four Giants maintains that the racial discrimination in the play may be overstated by critics: In the first scene, Roderigo has referred to Othello as “thick lips.” No other character in the play attributes any such negroid features to Othello, and it should be
Analyzing Racism in Othello Many are familiar with the story of Othello, the tale of a once great General who was lead to sorrow, temporary madness and even suicide. Betrayed by Iago the man Othello trusted most, Iago had launched a plan to ruin Othello’s life by convincing him his wife Desdemona was having an affair with Michael Cassio, Othello’s lieutenant. Iago’s plan ultimately ends up a semi-success as he does indeed ruin Othello’s life when Othello succumbs to a blind rage at the thought of
Racism and Jealousy in Othello The theme of racism is strongly depicted in William Shakespeare's Othello. It depicts the attitude of European society towards those that were different in colour, race and language. In Europe, people of white complexion were the majority and all other races were considered to be less important and inferior. There are several characters in this play that portray this mentality. These characters include Brabantio, Roderigo and Emilia. But by far, the face of
the same. Othello is no exception, as Shakespeare’s timeless theme of jealousy and anger is as relevant now as it was early 17th century during the Elizabethan Era. Over the course of the transmission of this historic play, come modern-adaptations of Shakespeare’s universal themes, and “O”, directed by Tim Nelson, puts a unique spin on