What is striking and somewhat frightening about Shakespeare’s diverse plethora of works is how aptly they relate not only to the time in which they were written, but to the modern day. Take Othello, for example, a play which encapsulated the fears and faults of early modern England especially concerning misogyny and race. Othello is an outsider, distinguished from the other members of the plot as a foreigner, a moor, and simply different in every way. He is “dark” and described as wild, deceiving, prone to negative emotion, untrustworthy, overtly sexual and even “gross” seeking to steal the innocence and reputation of the fair Desdemona. This level of racism is reflected heavily in the discourse surrounding moors in the seventeenth century …show more content…
The treatment of women in the early modern period is no secret, however the depth to which women were controlled and yet still abused is manifest in the many complex female characters of Othello. Desdemona defies the hierarchy of man through her actions of marrying in secret and disobeying her father, while still maintaining the cultural norm of obeying her husband. This revolt is subtle and overlooked, especially when the very man she ran away with begins to abuse …show more content…
In both cases a woman was abused and murdered, by a man who claimed to love her. So while this may be a depressing discovery, it is interesting to consider the narrative of misogyny that perpetuates these attitudes toward women. Why does the same story unfold in the seventeenth century and the 1990’s? It is also interesting to consider the way the audience, the way these narratives play out to the public eye, and the reactions of the masses shape how the story is told. Othello played to an early modern audience might have elicited a wide range of reactions, however as the character of Iago is meant to demonstrate, many would have identified with the belief that an adulterous woman deserved punishment and should have expected a lusty untrustworthy moor to react as he did. While the same dialogue did not surround the OJ Simpson trial, he was acquitted, with tremendous evidence to suggest he was indeed the murderer. What does that say about how our culture has changed, or perhaps not changed at
Racism seems to be a big concern in Shakespeare’s tragic play, Othello. Because the hero of the play is an outsider, a Moor, we have an idea how blacks were regarded in England, in Elizabethan times. There are many references that bring about the issue of racism from the very beginning to the end. In the tragedy, where Othello is coming from is not mentioned, yet through the descriptions the reader is informed that he belongs to one of the Eastern nationalities such as African, Ottoman Turk or Arab. In this paper I am going to analyze some episodes involving a prejudicial, racist attitude and try to discuss whether Shakespeare was a racist or not. Even though the play is full of offensive definitions of black
In many of his works, William Shakespeare explores ideas of gender differences and racial tensions. Othello, a play whose characters are judged again and again based on appearances and outward characteristics, is one such work. The protagonist's different ethnic background provides a platform for probing ideas of racial conflict. Similarly, the presence of well-developed yet opposing female characters adds a dimension of gender conflict and feminist views. These seemingly separate themes of Othello-sexual difference and racial conflict-are closely connected because of similar ties of prejudgment and stereotype. The play's treatment of sexual difference and gender roles strengthens Othello's racist tones
Feminist critical lens examines certain texts with a primary focus on both gender’s relationship with each other and how such relationships demonstrate effects towards beliefs, behaviors, and values. This critical lens also examines a patriarchal-centered society and how such society define and interact with women with an emphasis on stereotypes of both genders that are present and evident in the text being analyzed. William Shakespeare’s Othello can be scrutinized through the feminist critical lens. A deep analysis focused on feminism of the play Othello paves way for the judgement of different societal status of women in the period when the play took place, the Elizabethan society. Othello is a best fit that demonstrates how men were
CM spoke to Maureen O’ Dea (IIC) regarding a follow-up on therapeutic services for Destiny (youth). IIC informed CM that youth has good coping skills and does not need IIC services. IIC and CM discussed transitioning youth out of Hudson CMO. CM will conduct 1st transition meeting for Tuesday, 4/25/17. IIC and CM talked about some challenges that youth endures due to her environment. CM noted she met with youth on 3/28/17 and provided her with school and employment resources. IIC and youth continues to meet weekly for 1 hour.
Shakespeare mocks society’s extreme measures by suggesting death as the sole option for Othello when he fails to understand that Desdemona may not fit female stereotypes. Without the ability to label her, Othello fails to “assert Desdemona’s chastity and corruptibility simultaneously” and “murders Desdemona to redeem her from degradation” (Neely). The characters, like many people, struggle to alter views that have been so firmly pressed into their minds. In this way, Shakespeare negatively comments on humans’ inabilities to see beyond what society tells them and to comprehend truths unique to a specific person rather than his gender roles. Shakespeare uses the characters Desdemona and Othello to display how people become accustomed to the gender identities that society defines for them. Therefore, both characters, as depicted by their deaths, fail to understand each other personally as individuals instead of as the stereotypical man or woman that is being presented.
Throughout the length of Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello there is a steady undercurrent of sexism. It is originating from not one, but rather various male characters in the play, who manifest prejudicial, discriminatory attitudes toward women.
As a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) there may come a time when we are treating patients who are approaching end of life. As a medical professional, it is important to understand the issues and personal bias surrounding death and dying in order to provide quality care for patients and their families. As medical technology evolves we are given the ability to expand the lifespan and cure diseases that otherwise would have been death sentences. However, it is important to realize that an extended lifespan does not always correlate with improved quality of life (QOL). Each patient and their family will weigh QOL and potential outcomes differently. What may be arduous to one patient or family may not be to another. Therefore, it is important to consider each patient on a case by case basis being sensitive to individual beliefs, preferences, and priorities.
Othello is set during the Elizabethan era, where men were considered to be the leaders and women their inferiors. Women were often regarded as the ‘weaker sex’. This patriarchal society and theme of male superiority is portrayed throughout the play. These themes are depicted through the relationships between the characters. Brabantio and Desdemona’s relationship shows how he believed the traditional Elizabethan view, that men were to control and dominate their wife’s or daughters. He is furious at Othello for stealing his daughter from him. Also, Othello’s masculinity is destroyed through the poisoning of his mind against Desdemona, his wife. Iago also treats his wife
Othello, by William Shakespeare is well known for its richness in literary content and elements pertinent to societal ideas. Moreover, women are portrayed in Othello in ways that confirm, but also contradict their treatment in Shakespeare’s time. Both female action and language represent these ideas such as expectations for a wife and expectations for how a woman is to act. That said, there are many other lines spoken by these characters that defy the expectations placed on women at time. Overall, the feminist critical lens allows a reader to understand Othello and the manner in which it is slightly sexist and controversial. This lens allows the reader to observe both discrepancies of how women are treated, and common characteristics found
Othello is a play that asks the reader to take a look at how women are viewed within society. Part of the fear of cuckoldry derives strongly from the play’s cultural influence. In the times of the play it was important for a woman to stay chaste which explains why one of the central issues in the play; adultery gives rise to anxiety on the part of Othello and also the female characters of the play. The Venetian and Cyprus societies has established through social conditioning of the sexual dominance of men. As it is often so in modern day society, men are positioned to be the initiator for an intimate relationship. Women who try to do so are often looked down upon and are reprimanded if they do not meet the ideal that befits a female of those times. An illustration of this particular type of act can be seen in the second setting of the play; the island of Cyprus. The reader will find in the first scene in Cyprus, Iago who most likely has the most hateful attitude towards women says to Desdemona and Emilia ‘You rise to play, and go to bed to work.’(Act 2.2.114). In this scene the reader sees that even royal daughters and wives are looked down upon as material objects and whores. The illustration of victimization of women is strongly depicted through the lack of representation of women. The play carries only three main female characters; Desdemona, Emilia, and Blanca when comparing to the number of male characters.The removal of minor female characters in the play show
Shakespeare’s tragic drama Othello features sexism as regular fare – initially from Brabantio and Iago, and finally from Othello. Let us in this essay explore the occurrences and severity of sexism in the drama.
Desdemona frequently exhibits her own free will and independence. She holds power over his husband Othello and tries to use it to pardon Cassio
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Imagine being in a relationship where you deeply love your significant other but they fail to acknowledge your role in the relationship and are constantly silencing you and abusing you both mentally and emotionally. The silencing of women happens more often than you think. This was the life of Desdemona. Othello, an army general, elopes with the daughter of a Venetian senator and flees to Cyprus with the rest of his army not only to fight the Turkish fleet, but also to consummate their marriage. Through Shakespeare’s portrayal of the men in Othello, and their negative, stereotypical views on women, gender inequality is evident and the silencing of women has been apparent for hundreds of years and ultimately led to the women’s downfall.
In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello there are numerous instances of obvious sexism aimed at the three women in the drama -- Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca – and aimed at womankind generally. Let us delve into this subject in this paper.