Venice because it provides a focus for the contrast between Venetian Christian society and the alien invader, represented by Shylock. Mercy occupies a "central" position in the trial scene (IV.i.), where the power struggle between aristocratic Venetian society and the threatening force Shylock comes to a climax. My thesis is that the contrast between (and equation of) mercy and revenge in the trial scene reveals the true nature of Venetian society as insecure , hypocritical and vengeful. Mercy is clearly
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 reality he cannot bear. From the outset, Othello has been uncomfortable in aristocratic Venetian society. He has deep insecurities about his ability to fulfill his role as Desdemona’s husband, both sexually and socially. Othello is elated when he realizes that beautiful young Desdemona is attracted to him since he perceives himself to be unworthy
the first scene and all references are distinctly derogatory. Iago and Roderigo both refer to Othello as ‘he’, ‘him’ and is often described as the ‘moor’ this prejudicial reference clearly locates Othello’s social and cultural background in Venetian society and then is insultingly referred to as “thick lips” a racial slur said by Roderigo. They conjure up a picture of Othello as a ‘proud’ general who fills his speeches with epithets of war, “His own pride and purposes evades them with a bombast
identity in the Venetian society is his role as "the Moor". Few people use his real name when talking about him. When speaking the given quote, Othello is telling the Venetians how he won Desdemona's heart by telling her the story of his life, and he now retells it to the Venetians. This tale-telling is a way of employing the linguistic system to reshape for himself a new identity with more positive connotations than "the Moor" can offer. "The Moor" is an expression the Venetians connect to other
Love in Othello However strong the emotional attitude of prejudices may be in Othello, Love is the most powerful emotion and ironically the emotion that leads to the most vulnerability. Loves of all kinds are tested in the tragedy and ultimately all fail to rectify the horrible situation. Marital love for Othello and Desdemona serve as both a heaven and a hell on earth. As Othello portrays by saying, If I were now to die 'Twere now to be most happy; for I fear My soul hath her content so
adopt in Venetian society. Desdemona has also perceived who she thinks Othello is through his discourse - I saw Othello's visage in his mind (I.iii.253)--which has perhaps caused her to only half perceive his colour and otherness, and the potential male opposition to thier marriage. What she has heard is his version of events, and she appears to have fallen in love with his exotic past through this discourse. We can wonder how well she knows Othello the man in the context of Venetian society. The
downfall. He is not merely a vehicle for the machinations of Iago; he had free agency. Othello's deficiencies are: an insecure grasp of Venetian social values; lack of critical intelligence, self-knowledge, and faith in his wife; and finally, insecurity-- these are the qualities that lead to his own downfall. Othello is the Cultural Other in Venetian society, and while he is very learned, it is probable that he is not fully aware of the social and cultural mores that govern Venice. As a Moor
race, history has made it one." The Venetian society that Othello is set in is representative of the writers context. The attitudes and values that Shakespeare reveals through the text are those same attitudes and values of Elizabethan society in England in the sixteenth-century. Although Othello is set in Venice and Cyprus, the attitudes and values shared in the text are probably reflective of the attitudes and values of Shakespeare's own society. It is difficult to assess the attitudes and
of Othello from an Italian love story by Giraldi Cinthio. However, Shakespeare focuses more on the differences in color and age between Othello and Desdemona than Cinthio. Shakespeare does this to escalate Othello’s isolation from the rest of Venetian society and to display Othello’s vulnerability due to his color. In the tragedy not only is Othello susceptible to weaknesses but so is every major character . The tragedy reminds humans that even one’s good nature can be taken advantage of for the worse
beliefs? The Venetian society in which the Shakespearean play, Othello is set in is a clear representation of the writer’s context. The values, attitudes and beliefs that Shakespeare reveals in the opening and closing scenes of Othello, are the exact to the ones accepted by the Elizabethans of the sixteenth century. With the limited number of Black people being around, in Othello we can see the racist remarks that are being made upon one, as well as the resilience to accept one within a society. Even though
Misinterpretation of Reality in Othello Othello, by William Shakespeare, is a mix of love, sexual passion and the deadly power of jealousy. Shakespeare has created an erotic thriller based on a human emotion that people are all familiar with. There is an extraordinary fusion of characters' with different passions in Othello. Every character is motivated by a different desire. Shakespeare mesmerizes the reader by manipulating his characters abilities to perceive and discern
Racism and Interracial Marriage in Othello 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
extensive education in literary and research. The article subject matter is very clear and precise utilizing examples from the play and the effects of the different communities and the hegemony on the characters. The Venetian Community setting of the play Othello and its multilayered society standards and customs greatly attribute to the actions of the characters. The author of the article goes into to the difference of the military hegemony, in which Othello originates, and the patriarchal hegemony that
The Conflict Within Venetian Society in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice The Merchant of Venice written by Shakespeare during the late sixteenth century. The play is based on different conflicts: Christians and Jews, father and Daughter and patriarchal system. The main plot of the play is the flesh bond between Shylock and Antonio. The sub plots are the three caskets, the ring plot and Jessica and Lorenzo. Antonio is a merchant of Venice, who takes money from Shylock the
betrayal. The final source of the tragic action in Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice has been attributed to various psychological, mythical, racial, social sources: Othello’s status as racial outsider in Venetian society, his pagan roots in Christian society, hubris and/or hamartia in Othello or in Desdemona. While any of these interpretations no doubt helps to inform fuller discussion of the play, I would like to focus the question of the cause of this tragedy in another area:
The Effect of the Venetian School and its Composers on the Music of the Baroque Era Introduction The Venetian school of the sixteenth century firmly influenced many composers from all musical genres after the renaissance. In term “venetian-school” refers to composers who were active in the city between 1550 and 1610 and whose creative musical accomplishments are the reason why Venice became a significant cultural centre in the sixteenth century (Димитриу, 2012). The Venetian music school whose style
In the essay “Naturalism and the Venetian ‘Poesia’: Grafting, Metaphor, and Embodiment in Giorgione, Titian, and the Campagnolas,” Campbell explains the role of poetic painting, poesia, in Venetian artwork during the 1500s. Titian personally used the term poesia when he “[referred] to paintings he was making for [King Philip II] with subject matter derived from the ancient poets.” Poesia now refers to a type of sixteenth century Venetian painting, which Giorgione and Titian initiated and used
Shakespeare's Presentation of Othello as Responsible for his Own Downfall Shakespeare’s Othello consists of the themes betrayal, love and dishonesty. At the centre of this play is the tragic downfall of Othello at the hands of his so called friend Iago. In this essay I will be discussing the reasons for and against Othello being responsible for his downfall through looking at critical interpretations of his character and actions. In some ways you could say that Othello was highly responsible
The Effects of Body Image in Different Cultures In every society, people use their appearance as a way to express their social relationships. Applying makeup, adding or removing clothing, building muscles, or piercing various parts of the body are examples of how people try to change their appearance in order to fit in, or in some cases, to stick out. In suburban America, girls struggle to reach the goal of a Barbie-doll figure, whereas in Jamaica, it is more desirable, and socially accepted
Where Does Humanity Go From Here the author discusses how masculinity or the "macho" controls our society. "….we will continue to seek to dominate nature rather than cooperate with it, we will in time destroy ourselves in the process." (Melissinos, 375) Once we take care of the obvious then we can make progress in having a better human society. Why are simple things people live for in our society not as sufficient in other countries. In more poverty stricken cultures hot showers are major luxuries