Many characters in the play also exhibit misogyny, or hatred of women, primarily focused on womens honesty or dishonesty about their sexuality. Critical approaches to othello the british library. Us only david harewood discusses how othello s black character brought racial prejudices to the stage. Othello shakespeare and saxs film adaptation essay. He is the embodiment of virtue and love, gallantry and affection. This suggests that its important to discuss the difference between prejudice and racism, since some do not recognize that the two are distinct and that racism still very much exists. Many critics argue against racism in othello although they believe it has got a racist theme. Racism in othello essay example topics, sample papers. As a result, shakespeares othello has been appropriated worldwide as a vehicle for the exploration of racial and ethnic tensions. The racism of iago about othello iago uses racism as a spark to inflame desdemonas father, senator brabanzio against othello.
Racism and racial prejudice in othello essay example. The problem of making othello the moor sympathetic. In an attempt to enlist brabanzio in his antiothello cause, iago refers to the general as the moor, the devil, and a barbary horse. But what do the bards plays tell us about the issue of race. If he had never met desdemona, those members of his army, namely iago, would have probably found another way to bring about his destruction. How to write racism thesis statement with examples. Othello was written some time between 1600 and 1605. In othello, shakespeare creates a hero who is not a racist stereotype. Pdf race, citizenship and social order in william shakespeares.
Othello in shakespeares play is a black moor from north africa surrounded by the white society of venice. As in racial prejudice, the fact that othello is a moor and black has led many accusations by the venetian about his true nature. David harewood discusses how othello s black character brought racial prejudices to the stage. He also shares his experience on being the first black actor to play othello on the stage. Yes and no personally, i do not think he was being racist because the whole story line was a black man. Othello themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Shakespeare creates a hero who does not fall under a racist stereotype, othello is a nobleman, a decorated soldier, very well respected by his men with the exception of iago.
Othello andthe racial question othello is both a fantasy bfinterraciallove and social tolerance, and a nightmare ofracial hatred and male violence. The issue of race in shakesp eares othello racial issue may not be as important as the themes of jealousy or love are, but the different race of the hero has much role to play as the cause of tragedy in othello. Othello is both isolated and marginalised from society as, despite appearing to be a noble and respected character from his first. Racism in othello theme of racism in william shakespeare. It attempts to show that race is a very important issue raised by. Othello and the plain face of racism semantic scholar. Despite this, shakespeare ultimately allows othello to succumb to the subtle racism that surrounds him. I wish i remembered the way in which my teacher approached this work, especially the possibly racist language surrounding othello.
She parses the historical and textual evidence for racism in shakespeares and concludes that it exists and should not be overlooked. The role of racial prejudice in othello by emma cain on prezi. Hogan in the middle of this century, in the context of the anticolonial struggles being waged throughout africa and the caribbean, writers such as frantz fanon explored the effects of racism on the minds and hearts of those black men and women who came to internalize the inhu. He also shares his experience on being the first black actor to play othello. Race, citizenship and social order in william shakespeares othello. Othellos theme prejudice from shakespeare to marlowe. But othello s vulnerability as a black outsider, who unconsciously shares the white perception of his blackness, is inseparable from his thraldom to a patriarchal concept of masculinity and a misogynistic concept of marriage that are just as endemic as racism in venetian culture, and that play an equally crucial role in sealing both desdemonas fate and his. In fact, the images of black and white, light and darkness are persistently repeated in the drama. The slew of racial slurs that spill out at the end of the play, that you mention, are evidence of this.
In nearly every case, the prejudiced characters use terms that describe othello as an animal or beast. Zab1 d1 a thesis submhted to the graduate faculty 1n partial. Characters such as brabanzio, after being startled by the news of his daughters affair with the moor is convinced that this foreigner is using trickery and dark magic to. Othello s context the word moor now refers to the islamic arabic inhabitants of north africa who conquered spain in the eighth century, but the term was used rather broadly in the period and was sometimes applied to africans from other regions. Meanwhile, the gender prejudice can be seen in way of how the women in venice being objectified by the men. Racial prejudice in othello shakespeare uncovered pbs. William shakespeare applies the issue of race in many of his plays. The societal pressures that led to the fall of othello. Personally, do you think shakespeare is racist in his writing of othello. The theme of prejudice in othello from litcharts the. Othello was not living in a world free of racism, and the racism experience was not confined to those who envied or resented him. Before the duke shocked by iagos news, brabantio gathers a group of men with swords and torches, and goes to find. Othello could also have suffered discrimination from the nobles in venice, for he is an outsider in his race and country of origin. Racism is usually defined as prejudice or discrimination directed against someone of a different race based on such a belief.
Though it is not blatantly expressed, the racism is clearly trailing behind othello through all eyes who watch him. He is a black man who is also a great and successful war soldier. First performed 400 years ago, othello is one of shakespeares greatest tragedies. These terms reduce othello to a crude stereotype, turning him into a villain and an animal. We also want to point out how the tragedy of othello is that, by plays end, othello ends up fulfilling a racist stereotype that black men are savage murderers when he kills his white wife in her bed. Racism, misogyny and motiveless malignity in othello. In this very quarto and in the folio one year later the notion of race was put on. Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is topping your white ewe. But othello s vulnerability as a black outsider, who unconsciously shares the white perception of his blackness, is inseparable from his thraldom to a patriarchal concept of masculinity and a misogynistic concept of marriage that are just as endemic as racism in venetian culture, and that play an equally crucial role in sealing both desdemonas fate and his own. Pdf this paper examines the issue of race in shakespeares othello. In the opening scene iago refers to othello as the thicklips 1. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Shakespeares othello has caught peoples attention for more than four. Right from the beginning of the work, othello is named the. Shakespeares othello is a controversial piece of western literature that deals with themes of race and prejudice, thus making it one of the earliest relevant works to this day. Closely associated with the racism in the play at the beginning is a more generalized fear of the unknownin this case race is the otherness that separates othello. Perhaps the most important thing to remember, he said, is that race means something quite different today, compared to what it did in shakespeares time.
Shakespeares othello has caught peoples attention for more than four hundred years now. In the book, othello, by william shakespeare, we see a big impact of racism and racial prejudice. The most prominent form of prejudice on display in othello is racial prejudice. To be sure, othello does not begin the play echoing or even seriously responding to such sentiments, instead disregarding color and presenting the relationship between.
In william shakespeares othello, racism is certainly featured throughout the play. Racism in othello essay1414 words 6 pages shakespeares othello depicts the downfall of a highly respected war general and explores themes such as jealousy, gender, and deception. Othello is one of shakespeares works that i had read in high school. Reitzwilson looks at nine different film versions and analyzes their approaches to othello s race and character. Race and othello on film purdue epubs purdue university.
The prejudice in the play can be further divided into racial prejudice and gender prejudice. He had to write to please, and a bit of racism here and there would have satisfied his audience. How to write racism thesis statement with examples 2020. Racism in othello, by william shakespeare racism in. In othello, the wellrespected hero is black, and he marries a white woman. Othello the character, and shakespeare the writer, can. Therefore, the play could not have been a racist play. It is someone who is prejudice and discriminates someone because of their race, ethnicity. Preface william shakespeare wrote othello around 16021604 right after hamlet. Among iagos many repulsive qualities, his eagerness to hurl racial epithets is perhaps the most shocking. Shakespeare uncovered racial prejudice in othello pbs. The collective unconscious and othello this lecture is based on a lecture given at the university in 1 962 as part of the open lecture series by philip mason c. Othellos blackness affects his behaviour toward his wife as well.
Race and discrimination in othello by william shakespeare. Race in othello student worksheets page 3 of 4 3 task 3 is the marriage legitimate. Race in othello student worksheets british council. Colour, race and prejudice, as they manifest in the. At root, racism is an ideology of racial domination wilson, 1999. One topic that is popular for essays and research papers is racism there are a lot of resources on the topic, so students tend to assume a racism essay is easy. Its a question of particular interest to associate professor of english aaron kitch. There has recently been general agreement amongst critics that. Pdf this paper argues that both patriarchy and racism shape the dynamics of othello. Even now, now, very now an old black ram is tupping your white ewe.
However, when it comes to marriage, the prejudice of his race puts up a wall in front of the eyes of others. As a student, you will handle a wide range of subjects and assignments. Othello cannot prevent his own demise because the factors of racial prejudice and religious aptitudes are constantly working against him in ways that he cannot see. The exploration of these themes evinces the racial, cultural, and social climate of venice. In the very first scene, roderigo and iago disparage othello in explicitly racial terms, calling him, among other things, barbary horse and thick lips. Shakespeares othello, as it explores the universal themes of racism, jealousy and the role of women, which are also applicable to modern times, as is displayed in geoffrey saxs 2001 film adaptation, othello. Universal themes of racism, jealousy and the role of women. However, just 8% of black americans believe that this is the case. This is may be true for many other shakespearean plays as well, but othello was exceptionally popular at its time of origin and is not less so today. Othello views his own racial identity as undesirable, and it is this lack of confidence in himself that allows iago to persuade him that desdemona is cheating on him. In an time were ethnic minorities were so unimportant that they were almost ignored, a black man rises and has a position of a general in venice, and is a well respected and trusted by his white leaders. Othello or the moor of venice by william shakespeare is a tragedy of race. Racism in othello journal of history culture and art research. Othello can be read as both a representation and an exploration of this shift in ideology.
The plot line of love and jealousy is deeply compelling, but there are a surprising number of sleep references embedded in the play that may not be immediately apparent to the casual reader. Reasons for this are probably manifold, but the notions of gender, sexuality, status and race which are still very. Get an answer for what are examples of racial prejudice in othello. I think there are quite lots of proofs in the play which show that theme of racism is dominant and the problem of race should not be ignored. In other words, othello ends up becoming not unlike the murdering exotics he talks about in his adventure stories. Although racism is a major theme in the play, i do not believe that shakespeare was a racist himself. Racism, misogyny and motiveless malignity in othello the british. Indeed, i would go further and say that the play would lose much of its point if it were not for racial prejudice. Othello shows a lot of this and how it gets in the way by restraining love in society. Yet racial prejudice is not the only prejudice on display in othello. In other words, othello was written at a time when modern racial ideology and racial prejudice as we know them were coming into being but were not yet fully formed. The role of racial prejudice in thanks for listening. In this play, a white woman flouts the established social hierarchiesofclime, complexion and degree to marry a black man, an act that betrays, in the eyes of.