Is the story‚ “Othello” Racist? When reading the play Othello‚ a modern day reader cannot help but wonder if the play is racist. After all‚ there are several places found throughout the story that reference derogatory terms towards people of African descent. Comments such as‚ “Blacker devil”(5.2. 131)‚ “an old black ram” (1.1.9)‚ and‚ “Moor are now making the beast with two backs” (1.1.7)‚ may leads the reader to believe that story is racist towards black people. However‚ this may not be true
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Othello is the protagonist of the play; he is a highly respected general of the Venetian army. Othello is not a Venetian though; he is a moor‚ which means he is from North Africa. This puts Othello in a very unusual position; he is one of the most important people in the Venetian army and very respected but is also an outsider because he is a black man. I perceive Othello’s character at this point in the play to be Naïve‚ honorable and honest; he really has nothing to hide. His naïveté’s will cause
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------------------------------------------------- Filial ingratitude in King Lear! Filial ingratitude is a dominant theme in King Lear. It is a universal theme in the sense that it is common to find many sons and daughters who show much ingratitude and cruelty towards their parents. In the play‚ there are two fathers (Lear and Gloucester) who suffer because of favoring certain kids to others. Their tragedy is caused by those whom they have already favored and preferred. The play gives us incidents
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partnership and possibly end it. Shakespeare’s protagonist‚ Othello‚ becomes deceived and unable to decide in whom to place his trust. The noble Moor chooses wrongfully and places himself under the loyalty of Iago‚ allowing him to corrupt and transform him‚ destroying his sanity and relationships with others. Consequently‚ the Moor’s trustworthiness and envy become his weaknesses and result in his downfall. In the play "Othello"‚ by William Shakespeare‚ the protagonist’s flaws contribute to his downfall
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Othello Essay Emilia and Desdemona are both confined within a patriarchal power structure‚ and although their responses to this dynamic are different‚ they both ultimately die because of it. Emilia and Desdemona reside within a patriarchal society. Emilia and Desdemona both react differently toward their husbands’ actions. Both Desdemona and Emilia die as a direct result of their husbands’ authority over them. Emilia and Desdemona live within a male-dominant society. Iago makes it apparent that
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mmOXFORD SHAKESPEARE TOPICS Published and Forthcoming Titles Include: Oxford Shakespeare Topics GENERAL EDITOR~:PETER HOLLAND Lawrence Danson‚ Shakespeare’s Dramatic Genres AND STANLEY WELLS Andrew Gurr and Mariko Ichikawa‚ Staging in Shakespeare’s Theatres Peter Holland‚ Shakespeare and Film Douglas Lanier‚ Shakespeare. and Modern Popular Culture Jill L. Levenson‚ Shakespeare and Modern Drama Ania Loomba‚ Shakespeare‚ Race‚ and Colonialism Russ McDonald‚ Shakespeare and the
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The Malleability of Gender Roles in A Midsummer Night’s Dream Gender roles and relationships have been among the most commonly explored themes in literature for several centuries. William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of the earlier examples of this‚ exploring the malleable nature of these roles and relationships. The play starts in ancient Athens which represents a perfect example of a patriarchal society. However‚ shortly afterwards‚ the action is moved to the forest where
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Shakespeare Research Paper In today’s modern society‚ a person’s actions are defined by their perception of power and control in their life. Knowing that certain actions can help you achieve success can prevent depression and a capricious personality. But when helplessness begins to take over‚ and the individual begins to feel like a “pawn of fate”‚ this is sometimes perpetuated into a climax of bitter emotion leading to despicable actions. These ideas are not only exemplified in real life but also
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this is true but in a different way. Iago is clever with the way he manipulates the people around him in order to fill his plan without having to be directly involved with it himself. Othello‚ however‚ is suggesting that Iago can interpret what the behaviour of the people around him well and‚ in that way‚ advise Othello to do the right thing with Desdemona. His modesty comes to show once again when he’s contemplating why Desdemona might have been inclined to cheat on him‚ ‘…I am black And have not
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UNDERSTANDING CRIME AND VICTIMIZATION From Siegel‚ L.J. & Worrall J.L. [2012]. Introduction to Criminal Justice 13 th ed. One of the goals of criminology is to develop an understanding of the nature and cause of crime and victimization. Criminology is the scientific study of the nature‚ extent‚ cause‚ and control of criminal behavior‚ and seeks to develop an understanding of the nature and cause of crime and victimization. People choose to commit crime after weighing potential
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