What extent does racism contribute to Othello's downfall?

At the time of Shakespeare, there were only few blacks lived in Britain and they treated in a different way by their society, as they were different by colour. The point of view towards them was very mixed, strangeness and mystery. Also fear, distrust and hostility towards blacks seem to be at this time. They believed that the blacks descendants of Ham in the Genes story, punished for sexual excess by their blackness. Moreover black people tempt to be courage, pride and easily aroused passions. In medieval England, black people introduced into plays and folk dancing. They often attend to appear as villains in the play. The importance given to these characters because of the unusual affects which their contrasting colour provided, since their colour was black it invented the evilness meant for their characters. Therefore they tend to grow as black villain heroes.

The Shakespearean tragedy, Othello, was written and set during the mid 16th century. The play has set in Cyprus and Venice. Shakespeare intends to break the stereotype of black characters through this play. He represent the black hero of outstanding qualities, and it was hard on Shakespeare’s audience to appreciate the out standing figure of black, as they were familiar with the character of the black man as a villain. Moreover, Shakespeare expressed his desire for social by doing this play. Through out the play, considering the point of how a black mans kindness and honestly has been destroyed by the racism and sling of whites, it has proved that the Shakespeare sympathises for blacks.

This essay will explore “What extent does racism contribute Othello’s downfall?”

A tragic event is a disastrous or fateful. A tragic story has a serious theme, which results in death or defeat and a tragic hero is a man who displays courage or noble qualities, but has a downfall. As for Othello, jealousy plays the key role of his downfall and this showed by Iago. Seeing that the main two characters who are Othello and Desdemona has died at the end of the play since the fatal flaw of Othello, this play has known as a tragedy.

Shakespearean tragedy often ...

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This essay will explore “What extent does racism contribute Othello’s downfall?”

Shakespearean tragedy often has certain main features. He makes the hero appear to be as many good qualities with a high position in society. One flaw will rule this character and this flaw will end the character up in a downfall and death. Throughout this course many innocent people seems to suffer. At the end he makes the audience feel pity and a sense of wastage.

Othello is a general and a hero, many people consider Othello to be a hero but others such as Iago and Roderigo who are jealous of the power and respect shown to him despite his colour. Othello has been refereed to “as his moor” or “thick lips” on many occasions by Iago and Roderigo, this shows that they don’t have respect for him as a person or either a general. When Iago says, “I hate the moor” it proves his hatred towards Othello. Iago dislikes Othello partly because Othello has promoted Cassio instead of him due to his breeding. Another reason is that Iago thinks that Othello has an affair with Emilia who is the wife of Iago.

The quote “I may profess due to the Moor my lord” by Desdemona. In this scene Othello shows his heroic nature when he stand up to Brabantio about his marriage to Desdemona. Here he proves that to be a noble character. People are more shocked by Othello’s appearance on the stage. When Brabantio says, “Where hast thou stowed my daughter”, Othello remains calm. This shows that he respects Desdemona’s dad and he thinks that her dad will stand by his decisions. “Her farther loves me; often invited me; from year to year – the battle, siege, fortunes that I have passed.

There was a lot of difference between the ways he has described at the start to now. Although he has been accused by Brabantio and almost by the whole Venetian society he still pay attention to the tradition. As well as he is confident in what he says. Compare to Othello, Brabantio was out of control this is known by his broken language, when he speaks. Even though he treats Othello with the lack of respect, once Othello got married to his daughter, he also turned to be a racism man. This has been proved when he looses his control.

Shakespeare shows audience that Othello is contrast with the stereotypical view of blacks in Elizabethan times. As Othello perform to be a very noble, charm and dignify character whereas the black people at that time expected to be villains with characters such as untrustworthy and anger.

Othello’s good character only corrupted when Iago puts his plan of revenge into actions. Iago has mainly ruled with racism. The way Iago´s ability in manipulating is very talented.

In Act iii scene iii Iago begins his plan to make it seem like Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair. He makes Othello start to think uneasy thoughts by saying, “ha I like not that” about Desdemona and Cassio’s exit; Othello immedietly believes Iago, his jealousy playing off Iago´s calculated suggestion.

Iago begins to talk more about this to Othello, which makes Othello even uneasier. Othello begins to ask questions as he was curious to believe Iago and he lets himself become increasingly jealousy.

Iago’s speech is very ironic, since it points out Othello’s fatal flaw, and this seems to be the main goal of Othello’s tragedy. Othello easily lets him self to ruled by Iago’s manipulation. Othello then says that he believes his wife is virtuous, which means that Iago finally reached his target.

Iago no longer use his tactics, he comes with the point straight away. He openly says that Desdemona and Cassio are having affair. (Line 190).

However, Othello also blamed for the cause of this tragedy. He allows himself to trust Iago, this is due to the insecurity which he had suspicion from the very beginning, but he never tend to talk this openly to Desdemona instead of testing her. Jealousy plays a big part of this course, Othello believed widely that Desdemona has become tired of him and therefore she has being seeing Cassio. Also Othello thinks that Cassio is aiming to kill him.

Pauline Alagarajah

11 mur

Othello (English)