Othello, Race, and the Effect on Character Essay - 2104 Words

With the influx of trade during the Elizabethan Era, English society encountered an increase of descriptions and encounters with people from remote countries, including Africa. With these happenstances, brought misunderstandings of people and cultures, therefore race and discriminations began to form. Shakespeare’s protagonist in Othello, a Moor, was affected by societal standards in his ability to develop as an individual because of physical characteristics and internal insecurities because of the conflict, which tears him between two cultures. In the mid-sixteenth century, England began encountering Native West Africans. Their appearance in London began as early as 1554 and by 1601, which led Elizabeth I to convey her displeasure†¦show more content†¦Pory’s translation depicts Leo as a noble Moor, seasoned traveler, Christian convert, and former slave. Othello’s ethnicity becomes fundamental because of how he is personified, by both others and hims elf (Berry 315-318). The opening scene of Othello begins not with the title character, but with Iago and Rodrigo’s derogatory remarks about Othello. Iago compares the Moor to â€Å"an old black ram† (1.1.89), a Barbary horse† (1.1.112), and refers to the consummation of his marriage to Desdemona as â€Å"making the beast with two backs† (1.1.117-118). Rodrigo refers to the relationship between Othello and Desdemona as a â€Å"gross revolt† (1.1.135) and about her being in â€Å"the gross clasp of the lascivious Moor† (1.1.127). Before Othello even appears, he is denoted as dreadful, deceitful, lustful, and inhuman, qualities, which he will reflect on himself and his counterparts, Iago and Desdemona. Brabantio shares in the racial sentiment of Iago and Rodrigo when he learns of his daughter’s marriage to the Moor. Othello’s misunderstood culture brings Brabantio to the conclusion that a â€Å"foul thief† (1.2.62) must have stolen his daugh ter by the use of witchcraft. BrabantioShow MoreRelatedSocial Context of Othello667 Words   |  3 Pagesproduction of William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Othello.† The famous playwright was in the midst of his tragedy period, penning such classics as â€Å"Hamlet,† â€Å"King Lear,† and â€Å"Macbeth.† The story of â€Å"Othello† has its roots in the historical events and cultural atmosphere of the late 16th and early 17th centuries. It was a common practice of playwrights at the time to borrow or lift plot ideas from other preexisting stories, and Shakespeare was no exception to the rule. The plot of â€Å"Othello† most closely resembles a 1565Read MoreThe Tragedy Of Othello, The Moor1720 Words   |  7 PagesThe Tragedy of Othello, the Moor the Venice: The Fall of A Man for His Race by Josà © Pineda. Professor Arzola English 2322 5 July 2015 Outline. 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Another malicious character is Iago, the villain in one of William Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies, Othello. In this playRead MoreHarlem Duet-Modern Play Essay1304 Words   |  6 PagesHarlem Duet-Modern Play Essay Despite of being declared free and living in a free society, many times characters remain restricted due to their own conflicting matters. This can be seen evidently in the play Harlem Duet through the main character, Billie. Despite all blacks being declared officially free from slavery by the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, Billie still feels ‘enslaved’ many times due to pressures of external factors, such as racism that still exists in society, and internal factorsRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello Is A Play About Human Nature And Relationships1400 Words   |  6 PagesShakespeare s Othello is a play about human nature and relationships. By studying these human relationships, differences in race, gender and class suggest that as in all other societies, Venetian society consists both of empowered groups, and constrained groups. These relationships, discussed with reference to Othello, Desdemona, Iago, Emilia, Cassio, Bianca, Lodovico and a number of other chara cters, are revealed through words and actions. The relationship between Iago and Emilia is a superb example