Gender and Race in Othello - Essay Example

of the Literature of the Concerned 7 May Gender and Race in Othello There is no denying the fact that in the play Othello, Shakespeare does unravel the issues of race and gender in a discernible and obvious manner. In that context, Othello happens to be a play with a difference. This is because in this Shakespearian play, the characters are repeatedly evaluated in consonance with their appearance and gender. The one amazing thing about Othello is that the different ethnic profile of Othello allows the exploration of this character with regards to the implicit ethnic and racial implications and ramifications. The other thing is that the continual and sporadic clash between the varied well evolved female characters in Othello does allow the analysis of this play with regards to the gender based assertions and beliefs. It is a reality that Othello is a play that is replete with race and gender associated conflicts, which have much to do with the prejudices and biases against the varied male and female characters in the play. The tension ensuing out of gender and race associated differences does support the racist ideas implicit in the play. Thereby the oppressive treatment met to the female characters in the play and the discrimination heaped on the central character that is Othello, owing to his disparate ethnic background does imbue this play with varied important insights and conclusions. These discriminations and biases do allow the modern reader to evaluate and understand the play in a new light. The one thing that clearly stands out in Othello is that in this play the gender relations are depicted as being highly patriarchal and conflicting (Hall 137). In the play the women are shown as being the property of their male guardians. Besides, there appear two marriages in the play, each of which is marked by extreme jealousy and conflict and both of them end in death. There is no doubt that a range of male characters in the play depict the female characters as being of questionable character and given to promiscuity. In the light of this fact the female sexuality depicted in the play emerges to be a serious and grave threat to the prominent male members in the play. For instance, the main character Othello gets easily convinced regarding the fact that his wife has let him down by cheating on him and feels anguished and enraged because of this. Thereby women do happen to be an essential and important aspect of the play Othello. In the background in which the plot unfolds, the chastity of the female characters does get treated as being a priced possession. It is the assumed violation of this chastity by Desdemona that drives the overall action of the play and ends up I the death of many characters, including her, her husband’s and a number of other important characters. Besides, Iago’s misogynist attitude towards the important female characters in the play is something that further strengthens the plot. The one big thing is that the society depicted in Othello is well dominated by the male achievers who happen to be politicians and generals. Thereby, the men in Othello are presented as entities endowed with a strong character on whom the society can rely on. In contrast the women characters in the play come out as being weak underlings who are to lead a life as per the expectations of their male family members. Hence, the fall of the male characters in the play marks the frailty typical to the male members in the play, who try their best to come out as being emotionally and mentally strong. Desdemona, the heroine in the play is presented as a woman of character, having implacable virtue, chastity and honor. Cassio defines her as;”she is indeed perfection (Act I, Scene iii, 25)”. Thereby, Desdemona is presented in the play as being a woman having scarce will to assert herself on her husband and comes out as a woman totally loyal to her husband as she proceeds to claim that she will never betray her husband even “for the whole world (Act IV, Scene iii, 82)”. On many occasions in the play Desdemona is shown to take pride in her fidelity and loyalty to her husband. Thereby the kind of gender assertions that Shakespeare depicts by portraying the character of Desdemona is one of extreme chastity, purity and submissiveness (Bloom 79). The other important female character in the play that is Emilia though superficially presented by Shakespeare as being strong ends up being submissive to her husband as she agrees to steal the infamous handkerchief because he “hath a hundred times wooed to steal it (Act III, Scene iii, 308).” Even Emilia confesses that she had no other purpose in life “but to please his (Iago’s) fantasy (Act III, Scene iii, 315).” Hence the status accorded to the women belonging to all types of socio-economic strata in Othello is that of being inferior to the males in their life. The males in the play either idealize women as being the models of purity and virtue, or try to debase them as being corrupt, incorrigible and wayward. Thereby the female gender in Othello comes out as being an instrument of the male fantasy, which the men in the play can worship or debase as per their will and desires. No doubt, the women in Othello are imparted a subaltern and suppressed status. If on the one side the gender associated tensions in the play do happen to be of prime importance, the race associated tensions in the play also deserve much consideration and attention (Nostbakken 157)). Many characters in the play including Iago hold strong racist views regarding Othello, irrespective of the fact that he happens to be a man of importance and prominence. Iago does refer to Othello as “an earring barbarian (Act I, Scene iii, 358).” Iago also presents Othello as a male character who is badly wanting in, “a fresh appetite, loveliness in favor, sympathy in years, manners, and beauties (Act II, Scene I, 230-231).” The irony is that many other male characters in the play are depicted as being prejudicial towards Othello, primarily owing to his race and ethnicity. Rodrigo many a times is shown as voicing racial words and aspersions against Othello. Desdemona’a father is shown as simply unable to realize that his beautiful daughter has been vowed by Othello and asserts that Othello was able to win the heart of his daughter by resorting to charms. Though many characters in the play are shown as being respectful towards Othello, yet many of them are unable to get over the fact that he belongs to a different race and ethnicity. Othello is presented in the play as a man of quick temper. Yet, it is also a fact that Othello ends up being a victim to the designs of the male characters in the play including Iago. The irony is that Othello himself recognizes his different ethnicity and the popular biases associated with it as he considers himself, “black, and not those soft parts of conversation (Act III, Scene iii, 279-280).” Thereby, the entire character and virtue associated with Othello is shadowed by his race and ethnicity. In the first few scenes in the play, Othello is depicted as being an outsider, not because of a lack of accomplishment, but owing to his race. Many characters in the play like Iago and Rodrigo do happen to set Othello apart as someone who is different and time and again refer to Othello as “the Moor”. The modern day readers can clearly detect the prejudicial attitude towards Othello, professed and accepted by many characters owing to his being a member of a different race. The characters time and again fail to see and appreciate the human within Othello, as they continually tend to refer to Othello as being somebody inferior. Though Othello is shown as somebody who is well placed in the Venetian society, yet time and again he is referred to in the play as being an “other”. The irony is that Othello fights for a Christian state and does manage to marry a Christian wife, yet he fails to avoid being referred as somebody having the lust and temper of a beast. In that context Othello’s race does play an important role in driving ahead and unraveling the play. Thereby, the gender related and racial tensions happen to be of prime importance in the play Othello. If on the one side the women in the play are depicted as inferiors, required being subservient to their male guardians, on the other side the characters in the play consider Othello to be an outsider and an inferior, owing to his race. In that context, Othello is a play that is of immense relevance to the contemporary readers because of them being more aware of the consequences of sexism and racism on the psychological makeup of the characters. Thereby, Othello does make ample sense in terms of the attendant racial and gender tensions in the play. Works Cited Bloom, Harold. William Shakespeare’s Othello. New York: Chelsea House, 1997. Print. Hall, Joan Lord. Othello. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999. Print. Nostbakken, Faith. Understanding Othello. New York: Greenwood Press, 2005. Print. Shakespeare, William. Othello. New York: Washington Square Press, 1997. Print. Read More