Race Shakespeare’s Othello Essays

  • The Use Of Race In Shakespeare's Othello

    1666 Words  | 4 Pages

    people have been keen in associating Shakespearean plays with racial prejudices, perhaps to determine whether Shakespeare was a racist or not. Shakespeare’s use of characters of color, for instance, has raised controversies and even curiosity on what role does race contributes in his plays. It should be noted that racism or the belief that one’s race is superior to another is already observed in 16th century Europe. It was during this time when Europeans become increasingly engaged with people

  • Matters Of Race In Shakespeare's Othello

    905 Words  | 2 Pages

    Matters of Race in Shakespeare’s Othello Othello is one of William Shakespeare’s most noteworthy dramas. Othello, who is one of the main characters and can also identify with a few different character roles during the course of the reading, is predominantly described as a loyal, honorable, brave and successful war general. However, one of the most salient features of this play is the numerous references to Othello’s race, not only by Iago, but by other characters as well. At the beginning of the

  • The Importance Of Race In Shakespeare's Othello

    1682 Words  | 4 Pages

    others are sadly regarded based on race. These ethnic groups cause people to think of others as superior or inferior to them, sometimes becoming so extreme that people start to doubt themselves. These ideas are incorporated in Shakespeare’s play, Othello, a tragedy about a black war general named Othello, who is often referred to by many racial names, such as “the Moor.” He has recently married a young woman named Desdemona, a character completely opposite in race and status. Their relationship causes

  • Race And Ambiguity In Shakespeare's Othello

    888 Words  | 2 Pages

    Othello’s race and ethnicity are never explicitly revealed in Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello, so they have become the topic of great speculation. Othello’s race and ethnicity are still heavily debated amongst Shakespeareans today; although it may appear obvious to some controversy arises when it comes to defining the term Moor which is used to describe Othello’s ethnicity. Some believe that Othello’s race is simply black, or African, as described in the play, others believe he may have been

  • Race And Class In Shakespeare's Othello

    2019 Words  | 5 Pages

    Does love need to discriminate against different race or class? Does it matter what race you need or have to be, in order to be with someone? A social issue was brought to attention during the play “Othello” and that was race and class. Race and class have always been a social issue not only in plays and book but also it has been a social issue around the world. Desdemona and Othello were from a different race and different class. Even though they came from different backgrounds they got married

  • Attitudes To Race In Shakespeare's Othello

    942 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the play ‘Othello’, the characters attitudes to race generally result in the play being seen as a ‘race’ play. As the play was originally published in 1622 it would be expected the play would have some racial slurs/epithets as well as some bad attitudes to women. Therefore it would not be a surprise if the play is to be regarded as a ‘race’ play. The book does include some attitudes to racism however the book also reveals a lot about women. The book has many examples of both attitudes to women

  • Race in Five Film Versions of Shakespeare's Othello

    4160 Words  | 9 Pages

    William Shakespeare's Othello is only moderately interested in questions of race and racism. For Shakespeare, Othello's blackness was mainly a plot device. Though the bard did demonstrate concerns about racial and religious prejudice, in Othello and The Merchant of Venice, his interest in the tragedy of the Moor was principally psychological. For Shakespeare and his contemporary audience, Othello was about jealousy, hatred, and vindictiveness. The play has aged well, as have all Shakespeare's plays

  • The Complex Character of Iago of Shakespeare's Othello

    1346 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Complex Character of Iago of Othello Iago can be clearly characterized as the villain in Shakespeare’s Othello.  The notion of the "honest" Iago does at times appear not to be a misnomer.  In this essay I shall attempt to explore the complexities contained within the character of Iago. One of the most interesting questions that crops up is the one concerning Iago’s motives. What are his reasons to kill every major Venetian in Cyprus? Shakespeare seemingly sets the stage for Iago’s

  • Analyses of Race and Gender Issues in Shakespeare's Othello

    3147 Words  | 7 Pages

    Analyses of Race and Gender Issues in Othello The discussion of race in Shakespeare's Othello has received a great deal of critical attention. Virginia Mason Vaughn, in her book Othello: A Contextual History, surveys this critical history, beginning with Marvin Rosenberg's 1961 book The Masks of Othello (a book documenting the nineteenth-century tendency toward representing Othello as light-skinned), and continuing through to Jack D'Amico's 1991 book The Moor in English Renaissance Drama. According

  • Marriage and Power in Othello

    930 Words  | 2 Pages

    Marriage and Power in Othello There is more to Shakespeare’s Othello than just the characters in the play. There is a message of power, and who has it, as well as the ones that want it. Two of the central characters in the play are both married. Their "love" for each other is questionable. The message that Shakespeare is sending is not really about "love", but about the power that one holds in the marriage. Two of the main characters in the play are Othello and Iago. Othello who is married to Desdemona

  • Othello's Fainting as a Point of No Return

    1022 Words  | 3 Pages

    Point of No Return In Act IV, Scene 1 of Shakespeare’s Othello, Othello faints when confronted with the possibility that his wife has been unfaithful. Through the past few scenes, Iago, exploiting Othello’s concerns about his race, has performed a delicate act, slowly but surely leading him towards the inevitable conclusion that his wife and Cassio have ‘cuckolded’ him. When Iago finally refers explicitly to Desdemona’s sexual betrayal, Othello can bear it no longer and faints to escape the

  • Animality and Beauty in Shakespeare's Othello

    569 Words  | 2 Pages

    Othello - Animality and Beauty At the most superficial level, the view of Shakespeare’s Othello as ‘animality and darkness’ in opposition to ‘beauty and light’ seems justified if the audience considers the 'motiveless malignity' of Iago against the pure, seemingly perfect union of Othello and Desdemona. This assumes that the 'animality and darkness' is to be found in the villain and the beauty and light in the love of the tragic hero and heroine as well as in the latter's physical beauty. There

  • Shakespeare’s Othello is a Tragedy

    1445 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shakespeare’s Othello is a Tragedy A tragedy has many definitions, but the Merriam-Webster version defines it as: “a serious drama typically describing a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force (as destiny) and having a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion that excites pity or terror.” The latter part, about disastrous conclusion is true for Shakespeare’s tragedies, and Othello is no exception. Roderigo blindly follows Iago’s lead and while his contribution to the disaster is

  • Iago, the Outsider of Shakespeare’s Othello

    1757 Words  | 4 Pages

    In any story with a recurring dark theme there always must be an outsider from humanity who somehow stands out from the seemingly equal community. In the case of Shakespeare’s Othello the outsider from humanity would be Iago for he truly stands out from the rest of society. Although Othello may be physically put out of the community, it seems that on an emotional and egotistical level Iago puts himself out of society further then Othello’s blackness does. He is not merely manipulative, as other villains

  • Emilia’s Perspective on Betrayal in Relationships in Shakespeare’s Othello

    578 Words  | 2 Pages

    Emilia’s Perspective on Betrayal in Relationships in Shakespeare’s Othello In Othello, Act IV, scene ii and iii, Emilia, Iago’s wife, reveals her opinion about relationships to the reader as she attempts to comfort Desdemona. She indefinitely believes that many men, as well as women, are frequently guilty of deception and betrayal of their partner. By this part of the play, Othello’s suspicions of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness have greatly increased, and he begins to accuse her of cheating on him

  • Othello’s Copious Imagery

    1923 Words  | 4 Pages

    Othello’s Copious Imagery Let’s look into Shakespeare’s drama Othello and admire the proliferation of imagery with which the playwright has decorated the play. In the Introduction to Shakespeare’s Othello: The Harbrace Theatre Edition, John Russell Brown describes some “splendid images” in the play: The elaborate soliloquy spoken by Othello as he approaches his sleeping wife (V.ii.1-22) contains some splendid images, such as “chaste stars,” “monumental alabaster,” “flaming minister

  • The Devil as Iago in Shakespeare’s Othello

    2119 Words  | 5 Pages

    as Iago in Shakespeare’s Othello One question that has often been debated amongst literary scholars is what could have motivated Iago to set off such a chain of events which accumulated in the horrific amount of death and tragic consequences that occur in William Shakespeare’s play Othello. On the surface, one could artificially assume that Iago was spurred by two reasons to carry out such a malicious and inhumane plan. His anger of being passed over for lieutenantship by Othello in favor of

  • Othello as Victim of Hamartia

    2052 Words  | 5 Pages

    Othello as Victim of Hamartia By definition, a tragedy is a story that details the downfall of a protagonist. Most often, the protagonist (tragic hero) is a member of high society who is faced with an oppositional force, be it internal or external. In his Poetics, Aristotle states that "tragedy is the imitation of an action; and an action implies personal agents, who necessarily possess certain distinctive qualities both of character and thought; for it is by these that we qualify actions themselves

  • Role of Women in Shakespeare’s Othello

    1050 Words  | 3 Pages

    Role of Women in Shakespeare’s Othello In Shakespeare’s Othello, the role of women is greatly emphasized. The important characters of the play, Othello, Iago, and Cassio, each have a women that stands behind him. These women each have an obligation to remain loyal and respect their husband's wishes, especially Desdemona and Emilia. We see Desdemona as a young beautiful white female, madly in love with a powerful black man. She is strong inside but doesn't tend to show that side of her as

  • Iago’s Use of Language and Villainous Behavior in Shakespeare’s Othello

    534 Words  | 2 Pages

    Iago’s Use of Language and Villainous Behavior in Shakespeare’s Othello In Othello, Shakespeare forms the villainous character, Iago through his complex language. Iago shows his evil nature towards Roderigo through his use of demeaning animal imagery. Iago also uses an extended metaphor to try and trick the ignorant Roderigo and (unknowingly to Roderigo), insults him. Lastly, Iago uses repetition to beguile Roderigo to keep paying him. Iago’s slyness is clearly seen through his deceiving language