Shakespeares Play Othello - Book Report/Review Example

Shakespeare Othello William Shakespeare is a renowned play in English literature who has written many plays as well as sonnets, which communicate various messages to his audience. Othello is one of his popular plays written in the late sixteenth century at a time when Venice and Turkey were at war with one another (Shakespeare & Gayle 25). Many people rate Othello as the finest tragedy written by Shakespeare during his lifetime. It is considered as the most successful play since its villain; Iago is among the greatest villains in any given play. Iago is a fascinating person since he lacks motive or intention for harming Othello. Shakespeare’s play Othello is set in Venice and Cyprus and involves a general named Othello, a person of black decent living among the whites. Despite having an African heritage, Othello is a general in the Venetian army and is happily married to Desdemona, a white woman (Othello 870). However, Roderigo; a rich young man was jealous of the marriage between Desdemona and Othello since he had been pursuing her love in vain. Therefore, he unites with Iago who hates Othello for favoring the inexperienced soldier, Michael Cassio. Othello promoted Cassio to the lieutenant position instead of Iago who had a lot of experience. They ganged up against Othello and started planning on how to ruin both his marriage and life. Discrimination occurs due to various reasons such as envy, desire for power and fear. Racism is frequently viewed in terms of morphological features like hair type, skin color, as well as facial looks (Rizzo 65). Just like in Shakespeare’s plays, Moors and other foreigners are identified by use of skin color. This play actually presents racist message when Othello, a character of African origin is insulted due to his race. For instance, in the play, he is referred as “The lustful Moor” (Shakespeare 2.1.290) Consequently, Othello is regarded as “An old black ram… tupping your white ewe” (Shakespeare, 1.1.110-6). Consequently, he is seen as “a Barbary horse” to …, make the beast …backs” (Shakespeare 1.1.110-6). These are racist insults of animal imagery directed at Othello because of is of African origin. He is seen as animal of lower status compared to the whites within Venice. However, I do not agree with the assessment of the play and the playwright that Shakespeare is a racist. This is because Shakespeare never considered race a central theme in his works. Instead, his comprehensive soul established an impressive racial vision. He comprehended many things related to racism thereby making him develop an impartial attitude towards different races within his surroundings (Moore 121). Consequently, five of Shakespearean plays focused on racial problems within his white centered Christendom society. This clearly proves that Shakespeare identifies the existence of racial differences though he is not a racist. Despite presence of sexual jokes as well as animal imagery directed to Othello, it is wrong for critics to consider Shakespeare a racist. Shakespeare is an impartial and humanitarian dramatist championing for interracial equality liberty, as well as fraternity. In fact, he encourages everyone to shy away or come out of racial bond, which cuts human hearts. Thus, we should discard racism since it cuts human hearts resulting in tragedies rather than curing the same (Bloom 78). Further, some critics argue that the sexual jokes as well as animal imagery within the play are forms of racial discrimination directed by Shakespeare towards Othello. For instance, he is referred as an old black ram spoiling Brabantio’s white ewe. The other instance is when Othello is considered a Barbary horse covering Desdemona would later produce a beast with two backs (Shakespeare 1.1.110-6). Consequently, Othello is portrayed as a person who gets angry faster. This is proved when he believes in the lies of Iago concerning the purported affair between her and Cassio. The lie angers him so much and makes him jealous of Cassio. Later, it leads him to kill his wife, and thereafter committing suicide thus ruining his life and that of his family. From these scenarios, critics believe that Shakespeare belittled Othello due to his African background. Further, the critics argue that Shakespeare was a racist since he portrays Othello in an animal form. This is revealed when he quickly makes decisions that ruin his life and that of his wife. The critics wonder why Shakespeare accorded Othello such roles yet there were other characters who could play the same roles. Consequently, critics condemn Shakespeare for portraying Othello in a gullible manner. This is when he easily believes the lies spread by Iago concerning the purported affair between Desdemona and Cassio. According to critics, Shakespeare wanted to portray people of African origin as lesser beings. However, these arguments do not hold any credible evidence. This is since in the play, Shakespeare also portrayed Iago, a white man to an animal who wants to harm another person with no apparent reason. Moreover, Shakespeare is not a racist since in the play, he makes Othello and Desdemona play the role of husband and wife yet they belong to two different races; Desdemona is a white woman while Othello is a Moor (Shakespeare & Michael 110). If he could have been a racist, he could have ensured that Othello and Desdemona do not marry each other as they are of two different races and class. Consequently, Shakespeare cannot be accused of being a racist since he accords Othello the second highest rank after the duke in the play. Despite Othello being a Moor, he has power over the white characters. He commands Cassio, Iago and other army members in the play yet his origin and roots is perceived to be of lower status in Venice and Cyprus (Daileader 134). If truly Shakespeare were a racist, he could not have given Othello a higher rank and role in the play yet there were other characters such as Iago and Cassio belonging to the European origin. Therefore, Shakespeare is not a racist since he acknowledges that Othello, despite having an African background be accorded a higher status and rank in the play. Even though jealousy forms the major theme of the play Othello, the issue of racism still emerges out. Shakespeare does not prove to be racist but tries to enlighten the society of the existence of such problem. Consequently, Shakespeare does not indulge too much into Othello’s race but leaves it upon himself to decide whether he is proud of his race or not. For instance, Othello tells Iago, “I fetch my life and being from men of royal siege”, and “My parts, my title and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly” (Shakespeare 1.2.21 – 22 & 31 -32). Thus, Othello is confident and proud of his race, origin, good ability, perfect soul, and current position. Therefore, in case Shakespeare was a racist, he could have demeaned Othello’s race and even openly portrayed his dislike of his origin. Shakespeare is therefore not a racist but enlightens people about the problem of racism in Venice and Cyprus. Most of the white characters in the play are accorded roles that portray them as extreme racists. Some characters such as Iago, Brabantio and Emilia consider Moors as lesser beings who should not be given equal treatment with the whites. Shakespeare reveals this through various characters in the play. First, Brabantio accuses Othello of practicing witchcraft to win the heart of his daughter Desdemona. He asserts, “With … charms, Ay, to me…..could not”. (Shakespeare 1.2.73, 1.3.59-64). From Brabantio’s words, it is clear Othello is a lesser being who cannot win the love of the white women more so Desdemona. He considers that Othello cannot win over Desdemona’s heart unless he uses charms. This is since Othello is a Moor and no white woman can accept to love him unless he uses charms to make her love him. However, Shakespeare removes the notion by ensuring that Othello and Desdemona are married despite strong opposition from other characters. In case Shakespeare was a racist, he could not have allowed the marriage between Othello and Desdemona since they belonged to two different races. Consequently, Othello is regarded as “An old black ram… tupping your white ewe” (Shakespeare 1.1.110-6). Moreover, despite receiving various insults such as an “erring barbarian’ (Shakespeare 1.3.356), “O,...and a blacker devil” (Shakespeare 5.2131-2), Othello is not moved. This is since he believes he is a noble Moor confident and proud of his race, origin, good ability, perfect soul, and current position (Modugno 156). Instead of being racist, Shakespeare reveals the tribulations faced by Othello living in a society occupied predominantly by the whites. In the play, Cassio wounds Roderigo, Iago harms Cassio and later kills Roderigo during a commotion. Despite Iago harming Cassio and killing Roderigo, Emilia only considers Othello as a devil yet Iago also killed Roderigo (Bloom 187). She refers to him as a blacker devil, and this clearly reveals her hatred towards Othello due to his race. Therefore, Shakespeare wants the society to understand the importance of treating people equally irrespective of one’s background or race. Consequently, Shakespeare is not a racist since he gives Othello a higher rank within the play. However, Othello’s rank intensifies Iago’s hatred in the play. Consequently, Iago hates Othello since he promoted Cassio to a lieutenant position instead of promoting him despite having more experience than Cassio. He asserts that people cannot be all masters and that masters cannot be justly followed. Therefore, in following Othello, Iago follows himself (Shakespeare 1.1.42-58). Further, the hatred intensifies because he is placed under the authority of a Moor and an alien. According to Iago, a Moor lacks the qualification of a general of the white army. Consequently, Iago feels that Othello fails to qualify as a husband to a beautiful Venetian woman. Consequently, when Iago intends to clarifies his affliction, he yells to Desdemona asserting “Turn…fair?” (Shakespeare 4.2.64 & 69). By yelling to Desdemona, Iago tries to discourage Desdemona in her marriage to Othello since he feels that she is of a higher status than Othello. Through these scenes, Shakespeare reveals the hatred of Iago towards Othello that occurs due to race. One wonders why Iago should conduct his villainous evil plans against Othello, an innocent and loving person. Therefore, Shakespeare condemns such hatred and uses the play to warn people of the consequences of racial discrimination. For instance, Iago’s hatred resulted in death of many characters. Moreover, it inflicted pain on other characters thereby harming the society. In conclusion, the entire play entails a story of how various characters manipulate racial consciousness for a wicked reason. Thus, people frequently use racism for a special reason, which later end in a tragic manner. Shakespeare portrays Othello as a positive character who thrived in a white dominated society. However, his life was ruined by jealousy and racism from his juniors. Therefore, Shakespeare is not a racist but warns that racism is bad since it is used for a special reason and that it has far-reaching consequences. Works cited Bloom, Harold. William Shakespeare's Othello. New York: Bloom's Literary Criticism, 2010. Print. Daileader, Celia R. Racism, Misogyny, and the Othello Myth: Inter-Racial Couples from Shakespeare to Spike Lee. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2005. Modugno, Michael A. William Shakespeare's Othello. Piscataway, N.J: Research & Education Association, 1996. Print. Moore, Opal. "Othello, Othello, Where Art Thou?" The Lion and the Unicorn 25.3 (2001): 375-90. Print. "Othello." Shakespeare Quarterly 53 (2002): 870-81. Print. Rizzo, Frank. "OTHELLO." Variety Apr 2005: 60.Print. Shakespeare, William, and Gayle Holste. Othello. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series, 2002. Print. Shakespeare. Othello, the Moore of Venice. Retrieved December 1, 2013 from http://shakespeare.mit.edu/othello/full.html Shakespeare, William, and Michael Neill. Othello, the Moor of Venice. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2006. Print. Read More