This term paper seeks to dislocate traces of racism within the characters of Iago, Othello, and Desdemona in Shakespeare's "Othello". By scrutinizing both overt and covert forms of xenophobia, it tries to explain how and why the play came to its tragic ending.
In 1994, Nelson Mandela wrote in his autobiography that "no one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion" and that, consequently, "people must learn to hate". By itself, this is a simple statement but it is also egregious in the way it makes us understand. There is nothing it could not explain, no dispute it could not illuminate. And even though Mr. Mandela had originally formulated his statement with regard to Apartheid, it fits extraordinarily well to racism in Shakespeare’s "Othello".
Judging from Michael Neill’s investigations into the subject of notions of human difference in early modern societies, 16th century Venice had a considerably open attitude towards foreigners of any kind, with a great deal of cultural exchange taking place between people of every colour and every religion. By the beginning of the 17th century, however, this started to change: as the number of encounters with foreign cultures increased, "color emerg[ed] as the most important criterion for defining otherness" (Neill).
As Mandela would have put it, Venetians started to learn hating others in behalf of their skin colour. And precisely this kind of development is illustrated in Othello: the Moor, who is actually a prime example for successful integration, has to endure an increasing degree of enmities and discriminations as racist sentiments begin to emerge in Venetian society — sentiments even Othello himself cannot resist.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Iago: a most sinister villain?
3. Othello: “the beast with two backs”
4. Desdemona: not quite “the sweetest innocent that e’er did lift up eye”?
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines how the interplay of overt and covert racism drives the tragic conclusion of Shakespeare's Othello by analyzing the internal shifts and psychological developments of the three central characters: Iago, Othello, and Desdemona.
- The role of racial prejudice in Iago's manipulative strategy.
- Othello's internal struggle with self-perception and cultural identity.
- The subtle influence of xenophobia on Desdemona's perspective.
- The tragic intersection of race, social standing, and personal betrayal.
- Shakespeare’s critique of societal prejudice and binary thinking.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Othello: “the beast with two backs”
If Iago is not a pristine personification of racism and the evil, then Othello is not an innocent, helpless victim either. When we encounter him for the first time, he seems to be feeling well in his skin, so much so, in fact, that he is not even conscious about the vast array of potential negative consequences his furtive wedding to Desdemona might have: when Iago suggests that he should hide from Brabantio and his pack of agitated Venetians, Othello asseverates that he has nothing to fear because his qualities, legal rights, and pure soul “shall manifest [him] rightly” (I.ii.33). This confidence and trustfulness is characteristic of the Othello of the early stages. He “sees himself . . . as an exotic Venetian, a convert in the fullest sense, capable of complete assimilation” (Berry 323) and puts his lifestyle on show in a permanent self-representation as being integrated and exceptional at the same time.
These two notions of self do not last. Maybe they were never real. Maybe Othello did only wear them as masks under which he could hide “the anxiety of the convert, who struggles to see himself as a member of a community from which he has been alienated” (Berry 326). What is certain, however, is that he slowly loses these established identities when exposed to Iago’s repeated denunciations.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction establishes the framework of the paper, using Nelson Mandela’s insights to link the themes of racism and hatred to the societal structures present in Shakespeare’s Othello.
2. Iago: a most sinister villain?: This chapter analyzes Iago’s motivations, arguing that his racism is both a calculated tool for manipulation and a reaction to his own professional frustrations and perceived lack of status.
3. Othello: “the beast with two backs”: This section explores Othello's gradual descent from a self-assured, integrated member of Venetian society to a man consumed by self-loathing and a distorted identity imposed by racist narratives.
4. Desdemona: not quite “the sweetest innocent that e’er did lift up eye”?: This chapter investigates Desdemona’s character, suggesting that even she is not immune to the pervasive xenophobia of her time, which ultimately impacts her perception of Othello.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, reflecting on how all three characters are affected by racism and how their interconnected struggles lead to the play's tragic end.
Keywords
Othello, Shakespeare, Racism, Iago, Desdemona, Xenophobia, Identity, Venetian Society, Tragedy, Alienation, Cultural Integration, Stereotypes, Ethnic Cleansing, Self-Loathing, Literary Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
This paper focuses on identifying and analyzing the manifestations of overt and covert racism within the characters of Iago, Othello, and Desdemona in Shakespeare’s Othello, and how these factors contribute to the play's tragedy.
What are the main thematic areas covered?
The paper covers the themes of racial identity, social assimilation, the psychological impact of prejudice, and the nature of love and betrayal within the context of early modern Venetian society.
What is the central research question?
The research seeks to explain how and why the play concludes in tragedy by examining the traces of racism that influence the thoughts and actions of the three main characters.
Which methodology does the author employ?
The author uses literary analysis and critical evaluation, drawing on secondary sources to investigate how the characters' perceptions of race and cultural difference shift throughout the plot.
What is the focus of the main body chapters?
The body chapters dissect the characters individually, examining Iago’s strategic use of racism, Othello’s loss of identity, and Desdemona’s susceptibility to the prevailing xenophobic atmosphere.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Othello, racism, identity, xenophobia, alienation, and Venetian society, reflecting the scholarly focus on sociopolitical critique in drama.
How does Iago incorporate racism into his revenge plan?
The paper argues that Iago does not initially plan to use racial prejudice, but he quickly recognizes its efficiency in discrediting Othello and makes it a core component of his manipulation.
What is the author's argument regarding Othello's suicide?
The author argues that Othello's suicide is not merely an act of penance for killing Desdemona, but a result of profound self-hatred and a desire to purge himself of the "contamination" of his blackness.
- Quote paper
- Ann-Kathrin Latter (Author), 2015, "The Beast with Two Backs". Race and Racism in Shakespeare's "Othello", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/354525
