In Othello Shakespeare explores the nature of social prejudice How far does your reading of the play support this view? You should use as a starting point for your answer a close examination of Act 1 Scene 2 to Act 1 Scene 3.

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‘In ‘Othello’ Shakespeare explores the nature of social prejudice’ How far does your reading of the play support this view? You should use as a starting point for your answer a close examination of Act 1 Scene 2 to Act 1 Scene 3.

Throughout ‘Othello’, William Shakespeare unquestionably places a great deal of emphasis on the exploration of the nature of social prejudice; one should not be surprised by this thematic focus as most, if not all, of Shakespeare’s plays are used as vehicles to convey his socio-political views. However, in early 17th Century England the concept of having a ‘Moor’ as the hero of a play was almost unthinkable, due to the inherent prejudice of the society at that time. In fact, it is a commonly held belief that Othello was the first black (or North African) character to have a lead role in Western literature, though there is a Moorish character in Shakespeare’s ‘Titus Andronicus’ – the villain, Aaron. Shakespeare’s examination of social prejudice in ‘Othello’ is broad in scope as it analyses the issue from an objective point of view, highlighting both the inescapable stigma of a different colour skin whilst postulating that everyone is capable of achieving greatness, regardless of ethnicity. In the case of Othello, though it is true that he is able to ascend to the rank of general in the Venetian army, it could be argued that he is ultimately doomed not by his honour or his jealousy, but by the provenance of his blood. Whilst the eponymous hero of ‘Othello’ is undoubtedly a major character, both in terms of plot and in the delivery of socio-political commentary, Iago is arguably more important; he is the orchestrator of the conflict that forms the basis of the play’s narrative and he facilitates the circumstances which expose the innate prejudice and weakness of his victims. Shakespeare utilises Iago’s Machiavellian character to reveal how the inherent flaws of humanity, particularly the social prejudice which pervaded Shakespearian society, can be manipulated to devastating effect.

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By Act 1 Scene 2, the theme of prejudice has already been established by the vocabulary Iago, Roderigo and Brabantio use to describe Othello; his name is never spoken, with insulting racist terms such as ‘thick-lips’, ‘black ram’ and simply ‘the Moor’, used in its place. Furthermore, Iago utilises strong imagery to manipulate Brabantio’s hidden prejudice towards Othello, his claim that “an old black ram is tupping [Brabantio’s] white ewe” the genesis of an extended metaphor of animalistic mating which highlights the possibility of Brabantio’s bloodline being sullied by Moorish blood – an issue of both discrimination and social ...

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