Preview

Examples Of Discrimination In Othello

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
544 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Examples Of Discrimination In Othello
People discriminate for several different reasons: fear, envy, the desire for power, or a need to disassociate themselves from one another. The common form of discrimination to express one's hatred, is using someones skin color which is a natural trait that cannot be altered. Othello, in Shakespeare's play Othello is a Christian, African American that has been sold into slavery, escaped, and ended up as the military commander of the Venetian military. Othello experiences harsh racism and hatred after marrying the Venetian Senator’s daughter, simply because of his skin color. Throughout the play Othello, Shakespeare did not fairly represent race during that time period and Othello was not doomed to fail due to his race and background. In the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays
    • 325 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Race is very important in the play. Othello was a moor. In simplest terms he was a man of color. His race is what set him apart from the other characters. Also Othello is the only character of color which automatically set him inside. Being that he is a military general (a position not offered to black men) a lot of the characters don’t like him, and a lot of characters described him negatively because to them he was just a moor. But others respect and admire him because of his accomplishments. Iago was not his biggest fan so of coarse he said things that were not meant to be nice. “Iago: Even now, now very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise; Awake the snorting citizens with the bell. Or else the devil will make a grandsire if you arise I say!” (Act 1, Scene 1) Here Iago is upset that a moor is with a white woman. So he tells Desdemona’s father about the relationship. But all throughout what he is saying he is making racial slurs. In response to this Desdemona’s father says “BRABANTIO: She, in spite of nature, Of years, of country, credit, every thing, To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on! It is a judgment maim'd and most imperfect That will confess perfection so could err Against all rules of nature.” (Act 1, Scene 3) which means he feels that Desdemona’s feelings for Othello is wrong. It is unnatural since he is black and she is white. Even Othello himself describes his color as being something bad at one point. “Othello: All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven. 'Tis gone. Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell! (Act 3, Scene 3) Throughout the play there are many comments as to Othello’s race. I personally think the whole play is based around two things his race in comparison to everyone else’s, and his race with Desdemona’s race because he is a “moor” and every one else is not. Well race and jealousy anyway but race is what stands out more.…

    • 711 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    You may be asking, how is a play set in a world of exploration and conquest still significant to a world of flaccid morals and technological advancements? The works of Shakespeare prove ongoing relevance over time through the utilisation of key ideas, characters and language. Through characterisation and the exploration of the notions of jealousy and racism in “Othello”, the guests at the national Shakespeare convention can gain insight on how the works of Shakespeare are as significant now as they ever have been.…

    • 787 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ideas of discrimination and racism have also been reflected within the play through the characterisation of Othello. Described as having “thick lips” and a darker skin tone, the protagonist experiences a sense of isolation from society due to his evident difference in physical appearance.. By demonstrating ideas of separation in the play, the reader is poised to read it as a text that incorporates strong ideas of discrimination, both evident during Shakespeare’s time and our current society. This discriminating prejudice leads to the deterioration of Othello’s confidence, where he states ‘for I am black’and ‘unworthy of love’. Ideas of discrimination and racism becomes particularly apparent when Iago constantly addresses Othello as ‘The Moor’…

    • 137 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    William Shakespeare (26th April 1564 – 23rd April 1616) was an English poet, playwright and an actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England’s national poet and the Bard of Avon. His extant works, including some collaboration, consist of 37 plays, 154 sonnets and two long narrative poems and few other verses. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.…

    • 1055 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays
    • 1325 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Othello in Shakespeare's play is a black moor from North Africa surrounded by the white society of Venice. Many critics argue against racism in Othello although they believe it has got a racist theme. 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. First, I will have a brief look at the meaning of black in the English society and the existence of racism in the 16th century and also where the character of Othello emerges from. Then I will refer to the attitudes of other characters towards Othello to conclude racism has been emphasized in the play.…

    • 1166 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    fries

    • 3436 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Race is an extremely important theme; it has a great amount of influence on how people regard Othello‹for those who distrust black people merely on looks never like Othello, like Iago. Race also determines how Othello perceives himself as a rough outsider, though he is nothing of the sort. Othello's race sets him apart, and makes him very self-conscious; it makes him work hard and look carefully after his reputation, so he is regarded as equal to the white people that surround him.…

    • 3436 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Insecurities are amplified when small factors begin to accumulate. In Shakespeare’s “Othello,” race is an insecurity that leads to Othello’s downfall. As a Moor living in a white community, Othello never feels like he truly belongs. Despite Othello’s accomplishments, there still remains an underlying prejudice towards him. During the beginning of the movie, Othello is deemed a “pagan” when he wins the hand of Desdemona.…

    • 240 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Minorities In Othello

    • 492 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Ethnic minorities in high positions of leadership are becoming the highest growing and highest earning individuals in business. Their growth is attributed to their success in running and operating their businesses with solid leadership. These ethnic minorities often rank higher in many leadership measures over non-minorities. In the play Othello, Othello succeeds as a general thanks to his contacts and performance in his position. He makes himself a great example when he leads his crew through a rough storm and persevering against the Turkish fleet. However, racism is prominent in the workplace and in the play. In the workplace, blatant discrimination and racial remarks are well known by those minorities especially in a majority-driven business. In Othello, Iago’s psychopathy and stigma against Othello are more reactive than spoken attempting to get his reputation ruined and his job lost. Although Shakespeare misrepresents minorities in high positions in that those minorities are successful and well-liked by subordinates, he accurately depicts minorities in high positions today in the play Othello because racism continues to exist in the workplace and Othello is found to be an overall effective leader.…

    • 492 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Stereotypes In Othello

    • 355 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In Shakespeare’s Othello, the protagonist adopts an identity that conforms to Venetian society and defies racial expectations brought forth by his Venetian peers. His simplistic perception of himself as a Venetian man, unconcerned with racial stereotypes, conveys his noble virtues to be greater than that of his white Venetian counterparts’. However, Othello’s internalization of the racial prejudice, as instigated by Iago, is his ultimate demise. In the beginning of the play, Othello demonstrates an effective resistance against the racial stereotypes expressed by Brabantio. His use of poetic language and honorable military status greatly contrasts the black stereotypes that Brabantio thrusts at him. For instance, when Brabantio accuses Othello of stealing…

    • 355 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Othello Story Racist?

    • 1774 Words
    • 8 Pages

    When reading the play Othello, a modern day reader cannot help but wonder if the play is racist. After all, there are several places found throughout the story that reference derogatory terms towards people of African descent. Comments such as, “Blacker devil”(5.2. 131), “an old black ram” (1.1.9), and, “Moor are now making the beast with two backs” (1.1.7), may leads the reader to believe that story is racist towards black people. However, this may not be true for a number of reasons, one being that these terms are only used out of spite or anger towards Othello. These types of comments aren’t seen too often during the story and are never used because the character generally has a racist view of Othello. Only when these characters are angered is when these racial slurs come about. In addition, Othello was written with the main protagonist to be a black man, and the antagonist to be white people. Therefore, this story can be interpreted in multiple ways with regards to racism.…

    • 1774 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays