It is impossible to decide weather issues of race and gender should be central to a reading of Othello. Do you agree?

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English 1a

Major Essay

Bec Ryles

It is impossible to decide weather issues of race and gender should be central to a reading of Othello. Do you agree?

The question of gender is even more pronounced in Othello than in most other tragedies because male sexuality is, by virtue of the hero’s skin colour, as much as an issue as female sexuality (Callaghan, 36).  Hence issues of race and gender can be seen throughout the Shakespearean play Othello.  It can be said that binary oppositions are apparent in the reading of Othello, for example black versus white and woman versus man.  It is common ideology that white is valued over black and man over woman.  Black man is stereotypically associated with the animal and the dangerous while woman with sexual promiscuity and vengefulness. We see in Othello, the idealization and degradation of sexuality, the disintegration of male authority and the loss of female power, the isolation of men and women and the degeneration of Othello to prevailing generalisations about Black men.

Throughout history blackness has been stereotypically associated with negative principles.  The stereotypes that are most prevalent include the generalisation that black people especially men are angry, lustful, dangerous (especially towards women), threatening and primitive (Cowhig).  However, in Shakespeare’s Othello, the main character of the same name is seen as a hero of outstanding qualities.  This is central to the reading of Othello.  Othello is often given the title “valiant moor”(Shakespeare I.iii.48), although to his face “Valiant Othello” (Shakespeare I.iii.49).  Montano also calls Othello “brave Othello”(II.i.38).  He is seen as a noble man but yet later in the play degenerates to animalism, rage and revengefulness seemingly reverting to superstitious beliefs. “The black man is, of course, always accused of animal sexuality in racist discourse” (Callaghan, 129).  Iago often associates Othello with animal imagery: “an old black ram” (Shakespeare I.i.87) showing that this is what he wants Othello to become.  Women are usually identified as associated with the physical act of sex, but by doing so Iago is associating Othello to this act.  “To love a woman is to become a beast” (Callaghan, 129).  

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Othello and Iago can be seen as total opposites on the surface.  They are of different racial groups, different rank and social positions. But yet Othello is described by the Duke to Desdemona’s father as: “Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.” (Shakespeare I,iii,286). Othello seems to be at the beginning of the play “fair skinned” as he is free from moral stain and virtuous.  Because stereotypes about black men are mostly negative and Othello does not fit the norm he is described as being like a noble fair skinned man. To describe him as a noble black ...

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