Symbolism Of Light In Othello Essay

On November first, 1604, The Moor of Venice was performed for the first time in the Banqueting House at Whitehall by William Shakespeare and his group of performers, The King’s Men. Centuries later, Othello by William Shakespeare remains one of Bard’s most prominent literary masterpieces. The use of literary devices such as motifs in the play has led Othello to become one of the most popular pieces of literature to this day. While some may think of these motifs simply as recurring ideas Shakespeare placed throughout the plot to help develop the themes of the play, the motifs in Othello help the reader gain a deeper understanding of the characters in the play.

Shakespeare uses metaphors and figures throughout his plays to give the reader and audience a further understanding of the story he is telling. In Metaphors We Live By, it is stated that “…Metaphorical expressions in everyday language can give us insight into the metaphorical nature of concepts that structure our everyday activities…” (Lakoff & Johnson 7). Through these conceits Shakespeare expands a normal idea and transforms it into

In life a person will read many stories that will either be forgotten or ones that will leave a life long impact on them, years after reading. The reason those stories will not be forgotten is because the themes or lessons it is trying to get across to the reader. Sometimes the those lessons are ones that are new and specific to the era written, or its an age old lesson that has to be retaught each decade. The lessons that commonly need to be retaught are lessons on race and gender. Discrimination based on race and gender have been presented for centurie,women are expected to act a certain way and certain people believe there needs to be a separation of races. In Othello by William Shakespeare the cultural lens reveals to the modern world the

The literary element of symbolism is utilized by the author of a work to augment the meaning of the text. The works “Othello” and “Trifles” deal with themes of jealousy and justice. Due to the gap between the eras of both authors the language employed in the text is significantly distinct. While Glaspell deals with the injustice women faced in the 1800’s and a crime with an unknown motive, Shakespeare focuses on racial issues facing a tragic hero and betrayal. Susan Glaspell and Shakespeare present considerable symbols in their writing through inanimate objects and characters, which enhance the theme and further the plot in both plays.

Othello is a Moor, born in northern Africa. From the beginning of the play Iago voices a hatred for Othello rooted in his race. In Act I Scene I Iago refers to Othello as, “an old black ram,” (90), “…a Barbary horse…” (113), and speaks to the unnaturalness of the union between Desdemona and Othello saying, “…your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs” (116-17). These quotes are all derogatory terms, demeaning Othello and comparing him to an animal. Sixteenth century audiences would have seen this comparison to animals very offensive because at that time the chain of being was very important. The chain of being is a hierarchical order of creation. At the top are humans (reason), followed by animals (motion, sense), plants (growth), and stones (mere existence). Calling Othello a ram and a horse made him less than human in Elizabethan times, expressing Iago’s deep rooted hatred of Othello based on race. When referring to the two backed beast Iago reveals his belief that the marriage of Othello, a Moor, and Desdemona, a Venetian, is unnatural. Later in the play he also says, “Not to affect many proposed matches/ Of her own clime, complexion, and degree, / Whereto we see in all things nature tends-/ Foh! One may smell in such a will most rank, / Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural” (Act III Scene III, 245-49)

Othello is presented initially as a dangerous beast by Iago, before he reveals himself to be of noble, human, status, only to degenerate later to the condition of a bloodthirsty and irrational animal. He is the hero of the play and this is achieved by his last speech(V. ii. 340-356) where he rights himself at the end of the play. "I kissed thee ere I killed thee: no way but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss" (V. ii. 359). By showing us these contrasting images of the moor, Shakespeare is revealing the two different attitudes to race. The one of acceptance, as shown through characters such as

Using the most compelling lens to analyze the play by William Shakespeare, we’ll learn that even in 2018 it’s eye opening even if Othello is 400 years old. To get the best experience you would have to view it through a cultural lens where you’ll learn that when you compare the culture 400 years ago and the culture today not much has changed when it comes to racism.

The theme of guilt expressed by Shakespeare is also thoroughly important in conveying the sense of evil. Blood symbolism is an important factor in the demonstration of guilt

   The Shakespearean tragedy Othello contains a number of themes; their relative importance and priority is debated by literary critics. In this essay let us examine the various themes and determine which are dominant and which subordinate.

Othello is very prejudice. In the first scene, Iago and Rodrigo belittle Othello by calling him different racial terms, calling him, “Barbary horse” and “thick lips” In every case, the prejudiced characters use terms that describe Othello as an animal or beast. They use racial slang to describe Othello and also as an outsider to the white community. Comparing him to an animal and dehumanizing him they show a lack of respect. The same theme of disrespect is shown throughout the entire play with the betrayal of his closest friends. Another example of Othello being compared to an animal is when Iago says “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram

Therefore, even before Othello is physically presented to the audience, the Elizabethan audience would already have an image of Othello being wild and “moorish” since they would have the similar notion as Iago and Rodrigo towards black men. Therefore, Shakespeare establishes the racist concepts from the very beginning of the play to set the base for the tragic downfall of Othello. Racist language is not only limited to the beginning of the play; it is constant throughut the play. Iago uses racist words when he wakes up Brabantio to inform him about Desdemona’s marriage. Iago says an “old black ram” is “tupping” Brabnatio’s “white ewe” which is highly racist and reveals the Elizabethan society’s prejudice against black men. The Elizabethan era believed that black men have animal-like and sexual nature and Iago uses this notion to make Brabantio fear about the mixed marriage and persuade him to stand against Othello. Also, Iago makes use of the racist Elizabethan notion that the colour black meant evilness by calling Othello as “the devil”. This is ironical because in the play, Iago is the one who is playing the role of “the devil” whereas Othello just the biggest victim who is manipulated by Iago. The irony adds on as Iago, white man, is the most evil one in the play where normally according to Elizabethan racist notion, black men are the one who should be the

• Using grotesque animal imagery, Iago voices an explicitly stereotypical view of Othello, as a “Barbary horse,” depicting him as an animalistic outsider. Through the image of conflict in black and white, Iago emphasises on the racial demarcation between Othello and Desdemona, that “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe,” associating Othello with uncontrolled animalistic sexuality. Iago’s overt and vicious racism becomes representative of the reigning stereotype of the African on the

together, and even consummated the marriage through sex, but their views of love differ. Let me explain the opposition of how the audience may view the handkerchief as Symbols and also how the symbols have different meaning between the characters in the play. What did the handkerchief mean to both Othello and Desdemona. Was the handkerchief a symbol of Christianity or paganism of magic. How did the handkerchief effect the moral nature of others as it passes between characters.

In the first act, Roderigo using ‘thick black lips’ to describe a characterisation that would describe a person outside to the venetian quality, Iago using ‘Old black ram tupping the white ewe’ not only is describing a sexual act between Othello and Desdemona but it clearly represents that Iago is extremely judgmental towards Othello, using his skin colour as a negative towards Iago’s power. Today in society we can clearly see these racial issues still exist and continue to power through society. Iago in the play named Othello a devil, clearly stating the people from an African descent were associated with witchcraft. Throughout the play the use of Othello’s skin colour dehumanises him reinforcing how Venetian society have ostracised him. Throughout this the reader can understand Othello’s pain and struggle and can further emphasise and have a better understanding of of those character and his

The play, Othello, is certainly, in part, the tragedy of racism. Examples of racism are common throughout the dialog. This racism is directed toward Othello, a brave soldier from Africa and currently supreme commander of the Venetian army. Nearly every character uses a racial slur to insult Othello at one point in the play. Even Emilia sinks to the level of insulting Othello based on the color of his skin. The character that most commonly makes racist remarks in Othello is Iago. It is very apparent that Iago uses racism as a scapegoat to hate and blame Othello. Societal racism takes its toll on its victims. The effect of racism on Othello is quite evident and is one of the main causes for