Shakespeare creates an image of a barbaric “moor” in Iago’s description of Othello in act one scene one.
“You’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse.”
The “Barbary horse” is representative of Othello’s background; Othello, like the horse, hails from North Africa. Iago’s slant lies in the comparison of Othello with specifically with the horse. He dehumanises Othello, strips away civility from Othello demeanour and likens him to an animal that is a slave to man. Iago’s image is effective in belittling Othello. The anthropomorphism of Othello is extended, in act scene one, when Iago compares him with a “black ram.” The rams hooves and horns are symbolic of the devil. The blackness of the ram represents evilness. When Iago associates the black ram with Othello, Othello acquires the symbols and the meanings that the black ram represents. Othello, the moor, is now symbolic of evilness and animosity. Outsiders in Elizabethan cities and countryside’s, especially, were also believed to malevolence. In the following scene, act one scene two, Shakespeare breaks the misconceptions of the audience by casting Othello in a civil and humane role.
Shakespeare challenges the ideologies of Elizabethan people when he creates satirical themes from Barbantio’s character.
“My spirit and my place have in them power.”
In this quote Barbantio ties his conscience with his power. His power is governed by him alone according to his own moods and desire. Shakespeare shrouds Barbantio in power to make him a symbol of power in the opening scene. When Barbantio enters the play he is seen above Roderigo and Iago. Shakespeare gives the audience a visual show of Barbantio’s authority and high class in Venetian society. Thusly Shakespeare moulds Barbantio into a singular symbol of power in, scene one of act one, alone. Similarly Queen Elizabeth I is a symbol of power in Elizabethan England. Queen Elizabeth I, like Barbantio, governs with her own doctrine. She only called for parliamentary sessions ten times in her forty five years on the throne. Her rule was unchecked by the government. In contrast, Barbantio’s power is challenged in the following scenes by: Othello, and the senate. Shakespeare dismantles Barbantio’s image of power and he simultaneously dismantles Elizabeth I’s image of total control over the country. An undercurrent of violence is created by the power struggles shown between Barbantio and Othello in the following scene. Comparably, this undertow of violence created by the struggle for power in Elizabethan parliament may have existed underneath the surface of Elizabeth I’s dictatorship.
Women are identified as possessions in “Othello” act one scene one.
“An old black ram is Tupping your white ewe.”
The animalism of Desdemona, the “white ewe,” portrays the base functions of woman of Elizabethan women to give birth. The ewe is a slave to man and a possession of shepherds. In the same way Desdemona is her father’s possession. She is reduced to the basic functions of an animal to procreate and serve her masters. The whiteness of the ewe represents purity and goodness that women like Desdemona supposedly possess. She is continually described as “fair” to reinforce her angelic image in the play. In coherence with her angelic image Desdemona is expected to be obedient to her father and to conduct herself mannerly. In the Elizabethan era women would be expected to passive; to simply follow orders and to never act on one’s own initiative. Although in act scene three she speaks for herself before the senate. She defies her stereotype by marrying Othello, by her own choice and without the consent of her father. Desdemona is a female figure of power in Othello much like Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of scots were in England. Shakespeare breaks the conceptions of the audience who only view women as passive instruments.
In the Opening scene of “Othello” Shakespeare deliberately presents dark themes such as: power struggles, lust and possessive attitudes. Shakespeare purpose is to inform the audience that this play is not about love. The audience should not be misled by Othello’s and Desdemona’s almost idyllic relationship. This play is otherwise about Iago’s wickedness and the tendency for man to fall into sin. If “Othello” is coherent, in any way, with medieval morality plays then mankind would fall into sin on many occasions. Othello explores the dark nature of man. This play also functions to question ideologies of the Elizabethan Era. “Othello” questions the effectiveness of Parliament and mistreatment of women in Elizabethan society.
by
theoonumah (student)
