Racial Stereotypes In Shakespeare's Othello

Characters –

Othello –

Character –

o Tragic hero – Flaw - - Insecurity (Jealous) - Trust? o Controversial - Becomes racial stereotype - Is Othello responsible for tragedy or Iago? o Othello blames Iago ‘perplexed in the extreme’ o Conflict between dualities; • Black and white • Inferior and superior • Arrogant and self-doubt • General and husband • Public and private • Hero (Venetian) and villain (Turk) • Trusting and suspicious Becomes Elizabethan racial Stereotype: • Violent, sex-obsessed, primitive • Loses control (epileptic fit) – physically and emotionally
• Animalistic o Redeem himself last speech – sacrifices self

Language –

← Reflects personality ← Noble - ‘most [potent grave on reverend signors’ ← Primitive – ‘O! O! O!’ ← He thinks he is inarticulate – ‘rude am I in my speech’ ← Won Desdemona through speech – exotic = ‘cannibals’, ‘Anthropophagi’ ← Mythical references – ‘Prometheus’ – Compares and sees himself as mythical figure. ← 3rd person – grand majestic figure – distant - ‘Othello’s occupation gone’ ← Language deteriorates as his morality and personality des – e.g. ‘repetition of ‘handkerchief’ and ‘strumpet’ ← Language reflects Iago’s language – • Repetition • Dual meanings • Asides • Sexual innuendos – ‘hot, hot and moist’ • Animals – ‘goats and monkeys’ ← Sees himself as force of nature – ‘Pontic Sea’ - III.3

Iago –

Character –

o Expert manipulation – Brabantio, Roderigo, Cassio, Emilia, Desdemona, Othello and Bianca – Audience. o Manipulates audience – racial stereotype I.1 – feel like accomplice o Dramatic irony caused by Iago o Janus – 2 faced God o Motives? – Believable? o Power – through language – reputation -, ‘honest Iago’ o Opportunist o Stage director o Uses people’s strengths (Desdemona’s kindness) and weaknesses (Cassio drunk) against them o Astute judge in human nature o Possible queer – queer reading o Misogynist – frequently portrays women as prostitutes o Ends in silence – no motive? – Lacks power or retains power – Denies Othello closure o Ironic fat – kills wife because she betrays him – stabs her in the back

Language –

← Changes language according to who he speaks to – e.g. crude with Roderigo I.2 line 53 ← Sexual innuendos ← Animal imagery – ‘old black ram tupping your white ewe’ ← Repetition ← Pauses ← Hints ← Questions ← Asides – duality – public/private ← Play on words – ‘honest’ – ‘lie’ - on Desdemona/ to Othello ← Soliloquy – addresses audience ← Uses others language – Brabantio I.1 ‘My house is not a grange (farm)’- Inspires Iago’s animal imagery. ← Metaphor – garden – reap what you saw I.3 ← Poinsoner - ‘Poison his delight’ ← ‘I am not what I am’ – irony and layers of reading

Desdemona –

Character –

o Start – strong, sexy, independent woman – defies father – asks Duke to accompany Othello o End – weak, passive, victim – forgives Othello o Influenced by plot – believable – inconsistency o Naïve – Misunderstands Othello o Colour blind o Becomes very innocent – do women really cheat in their husbands o Lodovico comment – ambiguous, innocent?
– Sexual desire? (undressing at the time)

Language –

← Noble at the start – respectful but decisive ← Transparent – says what she means – no match for Iago ← Innocent – ‘not by this heavenly light’ – angelic ← ‘My lord’ – Othello or God – worships Othello like God ← Reluctant to say word ‘whore’ ← Little ‘voice’ – can’t change anyone through her words – no-ones listening ← Inconsistency in her character – joins in Iago’s crude jokes II.1

Cassio -

Character –

o Contrast Othello o Natural suitor for Desdemona – white, respected, charming o Relationship with Bianca socially acceptable in Shakespeare’s time – modern audience judges him more harshly o Popular with women o Abuses Bianca – fulfills Emilia’s idea ‘men devour women’ o Realizes power or reputation – ‘reputation, reputation,
reputation’

Language

← Compliments ← Polite about Desdemona ← Laughs at Desdemona ← Dramatic irony – ‘honest Iago’ ← Contrast to Iago’s – straight forward

Emilia -

Character –

o Practical, realistic o Loyal to Desdemona – dies for Desdemona’s reputation – and the truth o Worldly, wise – women being unfaithful ‘for the world’ o Obedient wife – steals handkerchief, asks permission to speak o Innocent victim o Handkerchief contradiction – reluctant to give it without knowing the plan o Feminist character – believes in equality

Language –

← Metaphor – men= stomach, women=food ← Plays with words – ‘by this heavenly light’ ← Similarities to Iago’s but uses to reveal honest opinion – Unlike Iago, uses it to conceal. ← Racist terms – ‘most filthy bargain’ ← Has a voice – is killed for it (Feminist reading – women speak out threaten male patriarchy so must be silenced)

Bianca –

Character -

o Supports Iago’s portrayal of Cassio o Represents what Iago portrays Desdemona as o Powerless o Victim o Links to stereotype of Venetian women as courtesans

Language –

← Little voice= little power ← Pleading ← Angry/jealous – not taken seriously

Themes –

Appearance/reality –

• Whole play based on their contrast • Emilia most practical and realistic character (sees reality) – ‘the worlds a huge thing; it’s a great price for a small vice’ – Talking to Desdemona about cheating on Husbands for the world.

• Iago appears to be honest, ’honest Iago’ – Dramatic Irony – Audience knows he isn’t

• Iago appears to be faithful to Othello – then refers to him as ‘lusty moor’ and ’the devil’

• Othello’s inability to accept reality – Desdemona chose him but fails to accept she loves him – ‘She did deceive her father marrying you’

• Othello appears to be racial stereotype – but in fact isn’t – ‘far more fair than black’ – Black on the outside, white on the inside

• Desdemona is portrayed as unfaithful by Iago – In reality she is innocent

• Iago refers to himself as Janus – 2 faced God

• Although Bianca is perceived as a ‘whore’ – she has a heart of gold – genuinely loves Cassio

Power –

Iago – • Most powerful • Manipulates all other characters • Uses language to gain his power • Uses his power to create chaos • ‘Plague him with flies’ – I.1 • Uses his reputation as ‘Honest Iago’ to gain his power • Destroys other’s reputation for his own gain (Cassio’s, Othello’s and Desdemona’s) • ‘From this time forth I never will speak a word’ – Iago maintains his power by denying Othello and the others any closure and continue manipulating them through the end.

Othello - • Noble, powerful general at beginning • Loses his power and control as a result of Iago’s manipulation • Loses control over himself physically (epileptic fit) and mentally (loss of language – ‘O! O! O!’ • Loses reputation and position • Othello’s power is based on Desdemona and when he loses her he loses everything – ‘The general’s wife is the general’

Men - • Male dominance

Desdemona – • Little power, passive victim, forgives Othello – ‘commend me to my kind lord’

Emilia – • Takes power, dies for it • Not suitable in this society for women to have power • Betrays her husband for the truth and Desdemona’s reputation.

Bianca – • Lack of power and reputation • Abused by Cassio

Love and Hate –

Love - • Othello and Desdemona – True love – destroys them ‘Then must you speak/on one that loved not wisely, but too well’ V.2 ‘My life upon her faith’ I.3 ‘How I did thrine in this fair lady’s love/ and she in mine’ I.3 ‘Her father loved me…’I.3 • Emilia and Iago – Faithful • Bianca and Cassio • Roderigo has lust not love for Desdemona – wants her to commit infidelity

Hate – • Iago’s hatred for Othello and Women • Othello’s hatred for Casio – ‘Thy bed lust – stained, shall with lust’s blood be spotted’ V.1 • Brabantio’s hatred for Othello – Based on prejudice, ‘O thou foul thief’ I.2 • Iago creates hate and replaces love - without him Othello and Desdemona would have had a successful marriage,

Jealousy –

• Othello becomes obsessive and compulsive due to Iago’s manipulation which makes his jealousy more potent - Is Othello naturally jealous?

• Iago is a jealous character – Cassio for his job, Othello for position and status, Desdemona for Othello’s love (Queer reading)

• Handkerchief as a symbol of jealousy – meaning put on it by Othello and Iago and Bianca and Cassio creates infidelity thoughts.

• Roderigo of Othello and Desdemona – Loves Desdemona

• Othello - ‘Must you speak of one that loved not wisely but woo well’ – Denies jealousy, yet jealousy caused him to kill Desdemona.

• Othello - ‘That we can call these delicate creatures ours/ but not their appetites!’ – Jealous of Cassio sleeping with Desdemona when they may not have consummated their own Marriage.

• ‘Tis a monster/ begot upon itself, born on itself’ – Jealousy is an uncontrollable monster that breeds on itself.

• ‘They are not ever jealous for the cause/ but the jealous for they’re jealous.’ – Jealous people often have no reason for their jealousy. Desdemona is oblivious o Othello’s jealousy.

Justice and Judgment-

• Men get justice for their actions – Cassio, Roderigo, Iago and Othello – Women do not receive justice, they are killed unjustly – Emilia and Desdemona • Misjudgment causes chaos - Othello’s misjudgment of Iago • Taking justice into their own hands – causes corruption and evil – e.g. How Iago decides to punish Othello and Othello to punish Desdemona and Cassio. • Justice in the hands of an individual allows evil and manipulation – Advocates democracy and a fair trial.

I.3 – Brabantio puts Othello on trial and misjudges him based on Iago’s information II.3 – Othello judges Cassio – Misjudges him due to Iago V.2 – Othello acts as a judge, jury and executioner of Desdemona after Iago’s manipulation.

• Iago’s ultimately evil due to hi corruption of justice. • Divine justice acts – Cassio gets promoted into Othello’s job and Iago and Othello are both given punishment for their crimes. • Women receive no justice • Play is about injustice and misjudgment

Othello I.2 – ‘My parts, my title and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly’ – His confidence in justice

Othello I.3 – ‘If you do not find me foul in her report…not only take away, but let your sentence even fall upon my life’

Othello V.2 – ‘When you shall there unlucky deeds relate, speak of me as l am… then must you speak of one that loved not wisely but too well’

Lodovico V.2 – ‘This is thy work’ – and ‘to you, lord governor, remains the censure of this hellish villain’ – Law being enforced

Othello II.3 – ‘Honest Iago…who begun this?’ – and ‘Cassio, I love thee, but never more be officer of mine’ – Confrontation between Cassio and Othello

Race –

• Iago plays racist? • Iago conjures Elizabethan racial stereotype in I.1 – Othello becomes this in V.1 • Iago most evil – white • Iago – links Othello and animals – ‘an old black ram tupping your white ewe’ • Shakespeare shows us the stereotype then destroys it – Othello-noble- more sympathy towards Othello • Is Othello stereotype naturally (racist) or does society/Iago force it upon him (not racist) • Iago links black with evil and white with good – Othello adopts this – Desdemona pure and right V.2 • Desdemona - whit stereotype – pure, virgin? • Emilia – racist – ‘most filthy bargain’ V.2 – Othello – Becomes savage • ‘The moor’ – constantly an outsider • Initially Othello is exotic, interesting, storyteller • Duke’s compliment – ‘your son-in-law is far more fain than black!’ • Fair= white – good – Othello Conflict • Othello says ‘haply for I am black’ – thinks Desdemona unfaithful because marriage was unnatural • Desdemona – colour blind – naïve •
Other Notes –

Conflict – dualities and opposites

• Black – white • Outsider – insider • Faith – jealousy • Soldier – Husband • Public – private • Men - women • Love – hatred • Words – actions • Justice – injustice • Good – evil • Honest – dishonest • Powerful – powerless • Virgin - prostitute

Dramatic Structure –

• No sub-plot – adds effect of claustrophobic, painful tragedy • Little relief from tragedy • Other characters provide comparison with Othello and Desdemona – add to dramatic tension - e.g.
Cassio and Bianca’s relationship • Longs scenes – build up tension and are interspersed with short scenes – often violent scenes • IV.3 – sad scene that builds up Desdemona’s death • Lots of opposites • Lots of dramatic irony – Iago is the main source of this. • Play relies on repetition and reversal

• Reversal e.g – o Iago’s stereotype reversal – then partially fulfilled o Iago’s most powerful when Othello is weakest o Cassio’s reputation lost – then restored as is Desdemona’s o Iago’s ‘honest’ reputation is reversed by his wife’s real honesty o Othello is on trial in I.3 and is the judge ( who misjudges as he was misjudged by Brabantio) in I.3 and V.2

• Repetition e.g – o Iago manipulates confusion in darkness in I.1 and
V.1 o Iago repeats his manipulation of Roderigo with all characters building up to Othello o Repetition f language is used for dramatic effect – persuasion, disbelief or extreme emotion – ‘honest’, ‘think’, ‘lies’, ‘The handkerchief’ and ‘My husband’ o Men abusing women – Iago abuses all three, Cassio abuses Bianca, and the clown abuses Desdemona. o Othello and Desdemona echo each other – about not betraying the other for all the world o Iago also kills his innocent wife

Shakespeare’s use of time – Double time scale

Short time – creates dramatic tension

• Desdemona and Othello’s wedding night same day they get to Cyprus • Desdemona pleads for Cassio’s job back the next day – and Iago suggests the affair. • AS Othello killing Desdemona has to happen fairly quickly it seems only a matter of days between arriving in Cyprus and the tragedy.

Long time – reflect Othello’s paranoia, also adds to realism

• Emilia comments that Iago asked her to steal the handkerchief ‘a hundred times’ • Bianca complains to Cassio ‘What keep a week away?’ • Othello is convinced Desdemona and Cassio committed the act ‘a thousand times’

Setting -

Venice – • More of a democracy (compared to England) • Culture – Cultural sophistication, power • Wealth • Civilization • Powerful military • Order • Part of Italy - the Duke • Passionable setting for revenge tragedies

Cyprus – • Island – isolation, separate • Conflict – war- fighting over it • Politically unstable history • Chaos • Represents Othello – he is under attack • Storm – turmoil, violence, chaos, change, confusion • Othello and Desdemona removed form familiarity and safety

-----------------------
Persuades Othello

Parallels