Racism in Shakespeare’s Othello. April 24, by Essay Writer. Racism in Othello Racism seems to be a big concern in Shakespeare’s tragic play, Othello. Because the hero of the play is an outsider, a Moor, we have an idea how blacks were regarded in England, in Elizabethan times. There are many references that bring about the issue of racism from the very beginning to the blogger.comted Reading Time: 10 mins Racism in Othello Throughout history, men have the tendency to seek power. They may initially intend on pursuing the greater good, but eventually, pride rules out. And according to Cornelius Tacitus, senator of the Roman Empire, “the lust for power, for dominating others, inflames the heart more than any other passion” (Tacitus) Racism in Othello is remarkable, because of its absence, yet we find it challenging to hear shakespeare's words without projecting our experience of racism onto them. Shakespeare's Othello is remarkably tolerant of racial differences that would soon come to shame the western world. Othello, “the moor” is held in high esteem
Racism in William Shakespeare's Othello Essay - Words | Bartleby
Because the hero of the play is an outsider, racism in othello essay, a Moor, we have an idea how blacks were regarded in England, in Elizabethan times. There are many references that bring about the issue of racism from the very beginning to the end. In the tragedy, where Othello is coming from is not mentioned, yet through the descriptions the reader is informed that he belongs to one of the Eastern nationalities such as African, Ottoman Turk or Arab.
In this paper I am going to analyze some episodes involving a prejudicial, racist attitude and try to discuss whether Shakespeare was a racist or not. He becomes the victim of a seemingly honest white character, Iago in the play. In the play Othello is always under attack due to his ethnic origins. Iago portrays the sexual relationship between Othello and Desdemona by likening Othello to and old ram and Desdemona to a white ewe as if a wild, big animal is attacking to a pure white ewe.
The lines below are a good example of the prejudices based on color. Even now, racism in othello essay, very now, an old black ram Is topping your white ewe. Arise, arise; Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you: Arise, I say. But forced to consider him in a more intimate relationship, racism in othello essay, he is trapped in the cultural stereotype of the black man as ugly, cruel, lustful and dangerous, near cousin racism in othello essay the devil himself.
Othello who just runs away with his beloved is accused of robbery. According to Iago an outsider, a Moor does not deserve to hold a position on the top of the military while there are civilized whites like him.
And according to Brabantio a white Venetian who is high born deserves his noble daughter. He can not match really them. His otherness caused Venetians to assault him. The reason lies behind this can also be the fear Europeans have for Islam which was the religion of the most powerful empire of that time, the Ottomans, racism in othello essay the territories it controls.
Since many African countries were controlled by the Muslims, Othello is probably coming from an Islamic background. Likening Othello to wild animals, Iago tries racism in othello essay agitate Brabantio. Iago once again turns his invective on Othello, with tough racial epithets: Zounds, sir, you are one of those that will not serve God, if the devil bid you. Even though that night is a night when two lovers rejoin, they define it something so disgusting, animal like.
Brabantio humiliates Othello with his appearance when he runs away with Desdemona. We do not see any other offense than his race and prejudices based on his race. Sooty is synonymous with black, of course.
Since he is black, he can bewitch. It was not because he really did magic through the handkerchief but because the handkerchief has a cultural meaning to him.
I ran it through, even from my boyish days, the very moment that he bade me tell it. Their love story was out of sexuality and it was not Othello who forced Desdemona to run away with him. He shows he does have real magic, in the words he uses and the stories he tells. He draws a real imperturbable character that readers appreciate. We see how the color issue was widespread among people at those times since even a black person uses his color in order to imply its bad connotations.
Desdemona has always been loyal to his husband, Othello, till the very end, racism in othello essay. In the play Desdemona is young Venetian woman of high birth and good breeding that is favored by many white young men yet chooses to marry Othello, to a Moor.
She does not show less respect to her husband than any other white husband in that time. Heaven me such usage send. iii Since she never did wrong to her husband, she had nothing to fear of. Garber It is significant that in Othello the dishonest traitor is white, racist Iago not the black Moor, racism in othello essay. The dishonest white man destroyed the relationship between the faithful, innocent white Venetian girl and the other honest, innocent black Moor.
He kills the savage, green-eyed, murderer, and the outsider. Probably, he has been a Muslim before, and he has belonged to the Ottoman Empire which was the most powerful empire at that time.
Therefore he might have been also representing racism in othello essay Turk. We see that Iago managed what he tried throughout the play. The seeds of jealousy that Iago plant over starts to bloom and Othello plans on taking the life of his beloved Desdemona for he believes in her so-called infidelity. We see that Othello starts to lose his humanity, and takes on the mentality of a savage.
Man of African heritage is typically portrayed in Elizabethan literature in a negative light, yet is allowed to shine in Othello. He is portrays as good general and honest man. He is flawed; his nobility and honesty permits Iago to abuse him in his deceitful ways. Works Cited Berry, Edward. Everett, Barbara, racism in othello essay.
Shakespeare and Race. Stanley Wells and Catherine M. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, racism in othello essay, Garber, Marjorie. Shakespeare Afterall. NY: Pantheon Books, Hunter, G, racism in othello essay. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, McLeish, Kenneth and Stephen Unwin. London: Faber and Faber Limited, Neill, Michael. Orkin, Martin. Shakespeare Quarterly. Said, Edward. New York: Random House, Salgado, Fenella and Gamini, Shakespeare:Othello.
London: Penguin, Racism in Shakespeare's Othello. com, Sep 18, Accessed July 31, racism in othello essay, comSep Did you like this example? Stuck on ideas? Struggling with a concept? Studydriver writers will make clear, mistake-free work for you! Get help with your assigment. Leave your email and we will send a sample to you.
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Othello by William Shakespeare - Themes
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Racism in Othello Throughout history, men have the tendency to seek power. They may initially intend on pursuing the greater good, but eventually, pride rules out. And according to Cornelius Tacitus, senator of the Roman Empire, “the lust for power, for dominating others, inflames the heart more than any other passion” (Tacitus) Racism in Play “Othello” by William Shakespeare Essay. September 29, by Essay Writer. This essay discusses the play Othello by William Shakespeare. Characters such as Desdemona, Brabantio, and Othello are analyzed in terms of racism and ignorance. Besides, the paper expounds on racism, discrimination, and attitude towards black skin in Europe during the era of this blogger.comted Reading Time: 6 mins Racism in Shakespeare’s Othello. April 24, by Essay Writer. Racism in Othello Racism seems to be a big concern in Shakespeare’s tragic play, Othello. Because the hero of the play is an outsider, a Moor, we have an idea how blacks were regarded in England, in Elizabethan times. There are many references that bring about the issue of racism from the very beginning to the blogger.comted Reading Time: 10 mins
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