David harewood discusses how othello s black character brought racial prejudices to the stage. Preface william shakespeare wrote othello around 16021604 right after hamlet. Othello the character, and shakespeare the writer, can. I wish i remembered the way in which my teacher approached this work, especially the possibly racist language surrounding othello. 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. In the opening scene iago refers to othello as the thicklips 1. Othello in shakespeares play is a black moor from north africa surrounded by the white society of venice. 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. 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. The most prominent form of prejudice on display in othello is racial prejudice. Racial prejudice in othello shakespeare uncovered pbs. Despite this, shakespeare ultimately allows othello to succumb to the subtle racism that surrounds him. Othellos theme prejudice from shakespeare to marlowe.
Pdf this paper examines the issue of race in shakespeares othello. Therefore, the play could not have been a racist play. Othellos blackness affects his behaviour toward his wife as well. In fact, the images of black and white, light and darkness are persistently repeated in the drama. Personally, do you think shakespeare is racist in his writing of othello. He is a black man who is also a great and successful war soldier. The racism of iago about othello iago uses racism as a spark to inflame desdemonas father, senator brabanzio against othello. Othello or the moor of venice by william shakespeare is a tragedy of race. Othello shakespeare and saxs film adaptation essay. However, when it comes to marriage, the prejudice of his race puts up a wall in front of the eyes of others. But what do the bards plays tell us about the issue of race.
Othello is both isolated and marginalised from society as, despite appearing to be a noble and respected character from his first. 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. Racism in othello theme of racism in william shakespeare. In othello, shakespeare creates a hero who is not a racist stereotype. 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. Zab1 d1 a thesis submhted to the graduate faculty 1n partial. Though it is not blatantly expressed, the racism is clearly trailing behind othello through all eyes who watch him. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. He also shares his experience on being the first black actor to play othello. Othello is one of shakespeares works that i had read in high school. He also shares his experience on being the first black actor to play othello on the stage. William shakespeare applies the issue of race in many of his plays. 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.
In william shakespeares othello, racism is certainly featured throughout the play. 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. Othello could also have suffered discrimination from the nobles in venice, for he is an outsider in his race and country of origin. The societal pressures that led to the fall of othello. 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. The role of racial prejudice in othello by emma cain on prezi. Racism and racial prejudice in othello essay example. Racism, misogyny and motiveless malignity in othello the british. 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 2020.
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. Racism, misogyny and motiveless malignity in othello. Yes and no personally, i do not think he was being racist because the whole story line was a black man. Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is topping your white ewe. Othello was written some time between 1600 and 1605. As in racial prejudice, the fact that othello is a moor and black has led many accusations by the venetian about his true nature. She parses the historical and textual evidence for racism in shakespeares and concludes that it exists and should not be overlooked. 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. These terms reduce othello to a crude stereotype, turning him into a villain and an animal. Even now, now, very now an old black ram is tupping your white ewe. 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.
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 and the plain face of racism semantic scholar. Race, citizenship and social order in william shakespeares othello. The prejudice in the play can be further divided into racial prejudice and gender prejudice. Many critics argue against racism in othello although they believe it has got a racist theme.
Race and discrimination in othello by william shakespeare. How to write racism thesis statement with examples. 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. Racism in othello essay example topics, sample papers. In this very quarto and in the folio one year later the notion of race was put on. Othello was not living in a world free of racism, and the racism experience was not confined to those who envied or resented him. Shakespeares othello has caught peoples attention for more than four. In other words, othello ends up becoming not unlike the murdering exotics he talks about in his adventure stories.
As a student, you will handle a wide range of subjects and assignments. The thought of discrimination and racial prejudice cannot. Race in othello student worksheets british council. At root, racism is an ideology of racial domination wilson, 1999. Race and othello on film purdue epubs purdue university. Before the duke shocked by iagos news, brabantio gathers a group of men with swords and torches, and goes to find. Critical approaches to othello the british library. 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.
Race in othello student worksheets page 3 of 4 3 task 3 is the marriage legitimate. 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. Among iagos many repulsive qualities, his eagerness to hurl racial epithets is perhaps the most shocking. In the very first scene, roderigo and iago disparage othello in explicitly racial terms, calling him, among other things, barbary horse and thick lips. In othello, the wellrespected hero is black, and he marries a white woman. 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.
Othello themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. The exploration of these themes evinces the racial, cultural, and social climate of venice. Colour, race and prejudice, as they manifest in the. However, just 8% of black americans believe that this is the case. The problem of making othello the moor sympathetic. In the book, othello, by william shakespeare, we see a big impact of racism and racial prejudice. It is someone who is prejudice and discriminates someone because of their race, ethnicity. 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. Reasons for this are probably manifold, but the notions of gender, sexuality, status and race which are still very. The role of racial prejudice in thanks for listening. Many characters in the play also exhibit misogyny, or hatred of women, primarily focused on womens honesty or dishonesty about their sexuality. Racism in othello journal of history culture and art research.
The slew of racial slurs that spill out at the end of the play, that you mention, are evidence of this. Reitzwilson looks at nine different film versions and analyzes their approaches to othello s race and character. Racism in othello, by william shakespeare racism in. There has recently been general agreement amongst critics that. 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. 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 andthe racial question othello is both a fantasy bfinterraciallove and social tolerance, and a nightmare ofracial hatred and male violence. He is the embodiment of virtue and love, gallantry and affection.
Pdf this paper argues that both patriarchy and racism shape the dynamics of 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. 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. Indeed, i would go further and say that the play would lose much of its point if it were not for racial prejudice.
Universal themes of racism, jealousy and the role of women. Meanwhile, the gender prejudice can be seen in way of how the women in venice being objectified by the men. It attempts to show that race is a very important issue raised by. In nearly every case, the prejudiced characters use terms that describe othello as an animal or beast. Right from the beginning of the work, othello is named the. Yet racial prejudice is not the only prejudice on display in othello. Shakespeares othello has caught peoples attention for more than four hundred years now. Pdf race, citizenship and social order in william shakespeares. Racism is usually defined as prejudice or discrimination directed against someone of a different race based on such a belief. Get an answer for what are examples of racial prejudice in othello.
Othello shows a lot of this and how it gets in the way by restraining love in society. 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. As a result, shakespeares othello has been appropriated worldwide as a vehicle for the exploration of racial and ethnic tensions. Us only david harewood discusses how othello s black character brought racial prejudices to the stage. 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. 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 theme of prejudice in othello from litcharts the. Its a question of particular interest to associate professor of english aaron kitch.
Shakespeare uncovered racial prejudice in othello pbs. Othello can be read as both a representation and an exploration of this shift in ideology. Although racism is a major theme in the play, i do not believe that shakespeare was a racist himself. In an attempt to enlist brabanzio in his antiothello cause, iago refers to the general as the moor, the devil, and a barbary horse. 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. First performed 400 years ago, othello is one of shakespeares greatest tragedies.