Othello Racism Essay - 1909 Words

Othello: Racism Just how serious is the problem of racial prejudice in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello? Is it pervasive or incidental? This essay intends to answer questions on this subject. Blanche Coles in Shakespeare’s Four Giants maintains that the racial discrimination in the play may be overstated by critics: In the first scene, Roderigo has referred to Othello as â€Å"thick lips.† No other character in the play attributes any such negroid features to Othello, and it should be remembered that Roderigo has a half-insane prejudice against and hatred for Othello. Brabantio refers to his â€Å"sooty bosom,† but may he not have meant his hairy chest? Some rather fair men have black hair on their chests. The word â€Å"sooty†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more content†¦Arise, arise; Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you: Arise, I say. (1.1) The phrase old black ram and the word devil both make reference in an offensive manner to dark skin color. The allusion to white ewe has the effect of putting Othello’s darkness into sharp contrast. A few lines later Iago once again turns his invective fully on Othello with three stinging racial epithets: Zounds, sir, you are one of those that will not serve God, if the devil bid you. Because we come to do you service and you think we are ruffians, youll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse; youll have your nephews neigh to you; youll have coursers for cousins and gennets for germans. (1.1) The words devil, Barbary horse, and gennet (a dark-colored Spanish horse) all use race at the expense of the hero of the drama. And then Roderigo chimes in, stating that Desdemona has gone â€Å"To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor† and â€Å"made a gross revolt.† The repeated reference to Othello as â€Å"the Moor† by Iago, Brabantio and Roderigo is essentially a statement of his race since the Moors were, as a people, dark-skinned. When in Act 1, Scene 2, Iago seeks to frighten Othello by telling him of Brabantio’s influence as a senator, the general answers confidently: â€Å"Let him do his spite: / My services which I have done the signiory / ShallShow MoreRelatedRacism in Shakespeares Othello2768 Words   |  12 PagesRacism in Othello Racism seems to be a big concern in Shakespeare’s tragic play, Othello. Because the hero of the play is an outsider, a Moor, we have an idea how blacks were regarded in England, in Elizabethan times. There are many references that bring about the issue of racism from the very beginning to the end. In the tragedy, where Othello is coming from is not mentioned, yet through the descriptions the reader is informed that he belongs to one of the Eastern nationalities such as AfricanRead MoreRacism In Othello Essay1414 Words   |  6 PagesShakespeare’s Othello depicts the downfall of a highly respected war general and explores themes such as jealousy, gender, and deception. The exploration of these themes evinces the racial, cultural, and social climate of Venice. The primary philosophies of the seventeenth century about race are a substantial part of Othello’s doubt and insecurity, which ultimately lead to his tragic demise. The encounter between worlds with di ffering values and ideas plays a considerable role in the context of Othello. ThereRead MoreOthello : Racism And The Moor1013 Words   |  5 Pages Othello: Racism and the Moor William Shakespeare’s Othello uses the racial tensions of the period to enhance the execution of the play subtly. At the time of his writing, ethnic minorities were so disregarded, almost to the point of being ignored, yet Shakespeare chooses to make the protagonist a black male who rises to power. Repeatedly throughout the play, the contrast of black and white as opposites permeates almost every plotline. When referring to Othello, the otherRead MoreEssay on Racism in Shakespeares Othello2541 Words   |  11 PagesRacism in Othello      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Samuel Taylor Coleridges Literary Remains is just one of the essays that presents an attack on Shakespeare for his lack of realism in the monstrous depiction of a marriage between a beautiful Venetian girl, and a veritable negro, in Othello. He sees Shakespeares transformation of a barbarous negro into a respected soldier and nobleman of stature as ignorant, since at the time, negroes were not known except as slaves. (Appendix) The extract seems to raiseRead More Racism in William Shakespeares Othello Essay1059 Words   |  5 PagesRacism in William Shakespeares Othello The play, Othello, is certainly, in part, the tragedy of racism. Examples of racism are common throughout the dialog. This racism is directed toward Othello, a brave soldier from Africa and currently supreme commander of the Venetian army. Nearly every character uses a racial slur to insult Othello at one point in the play. Even Emilia sinks to the level of insulting Othello based on the color of his skin. The character that most commonly makes racistRead MoreRacism By William Shakespeare s Othello1277 Words   |  6 PagesRacism in Othello William Shakespeare wrote Othello during the wars between Venice and Turkey dating back to the sixteenth century. On November 1, 1604, Othello was performed for the first time by King’s men at the court of King James I. Race is one aspect that affects people’s lives. â€Å"Racism rejects mankind and a means of legalizing diversity† (Mutlu 135). With traces of racism, Shakespeare portrays the story of a general and his wife. From the beginning of Othello, there is a coordination ofRead MoreEssay about Racism in Othello862 Words   |  4 PagesRacism is inextricably linked to the story of Othello and presents several universal themes, still prominent in modern society. It is this that questions what sort of message Shakespeare intended to convey to his audience; was Othello the black ‘moor’, portrayed as a tragic hero? Or did his character eventually come to resemble the prejudices of which he was a victim? A text rich with ethical debate, Othello is a story of black and white, culture, fate, and ultimately good versus bad. Racial ‘otherness’Read MoreEssay Race and Racism in Othello1793 Words   |  8 PagesIn What Way Would A Modern Audience React To The Way Race And Racism Is Portrayed In Othello? In the Sixteenth century, as we see clearly from Othello and other works of both Shakespeare and Cinthios original version of Othello, race was a topic of great debate and discussion. Today, in the twenty-first century the debate retains its controversy and passion. However, attitudes towards race have taken a dramatic turn during the last century. In the developed world people are now living in anRead MoreOthello: A Covert Discussion on Racism Essay1625 Words   |  7 Pagesset, and was trying in this creative way that the mind set of the people was not correct even for that time. How and why did Shakespeare purposely portray Othello the Moor as a tragic hero, like Hamlet or King Lear, or did this character redevelop over time, as society’s view on racism changed. This issue of race is not signaler to Othello alone but through out the play with all the other characters, such as the main antagonist Iago, and the prejudice Barbantio. I will also attempt to exploreRead More Essay about Racism and Jealousy in Othello762 Words   |  4 PagesRacism and Jealousy in Othello The theme of racism is strongly depicted in William Shakespeares Othello. It depicts the attitude of European society towards those that were different in colour, race and language. In Europe, people of white complexion were the majority and all other races were considered to be less important and inferior.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are several characters in this play that portray this mentality. These characters include Brabantio, Roderigo and Emilia. But by far, the face

China s Ancient Silk Road - 908 Words

China’s Ancient Silk Roads The Silk Road, a name given to the ancient trade routes linking China and Central Asia, was started in the second century BC when the Han Emperor, Wu the Great, sent his representative Zhang Qian to the west to start business. In 1877 CE, Ferdinand von Richthofen, a German geographer and traveler, called it the Silk Road (Hansen). The Silk Road is the most important trade route in history. It connected people from different continents, and it shaped the lives of people all across the world. During its peak, the Silk Road served as an international trade route and an incredible cultural bridge. â€Å"Starting from Chang an (today s Xi an), the capital of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD), and crossing the vast Western Regions, Zhang reached Loulan, Qiuzi, and Yutian and established trade relations with these small, but important kingdoms† (Wu). From China to Britain, the Silk Road stretched. â€Å"By the time of the Roman Emperor Augustus (27 BCE – 14 CE) trade between China and the west was firmly established and silk was the most sought after commodity in Egypt, Greece, and, especially, in Rome† (Mark). However, silk was not the only commodity that was traded. â€Å"Many of us have a mental vision of a single road connecting Europe with Asia but when you actually go to these countries, you see nothing like the Appian Way in Rome,† Author Valerie Hansen explains. â€Å"In almost every place there are multiple routes across the desert, maybe around theShow MoreRelatedAncient China s Trade And Economy1445 Words   |  6 Pages Ancient China s Trade and Economy From as early as 2100 BCE to as late as 1912 CE, China lived and prospered in the period of the dynasties (Timeline of Chinese History and Dynasties). The dynastic period included successions of rulers who usually descended from the same family. After the ruler passed away, their successor took their preceder s sole-reigning position of emperor. The Xia Dynasty started the period of the dynasties in 2100 BCE. (Timeline of Chinese History and Dynasties). TheRead MoreThe Silk Road And Its Effect On Every Aspect Of People s Lives1615 Words   |  7 Pagesfoundation can be linked to The Silk Road. The Silk Road is referred to an ancient network of trading routes that started around the 2nd century B.C, reaching its zenith around the time of the Tang dynasty (6th-9th c.) and declining in the late 14th century B.C. . Its origin dates back to the Han Dynasty where the Silk Road was used to reach out to surrounding cities and empires to develop alliances for trade. The original purpose for The Silk Road was to link China to Europe through trade and forRead MoreThe Maritime Silk Road And The Sea Trade Routes909 Words   |  4 PagesThe Maritime Silk Road also played an important historical role. 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Abraham Adams free essay sample

Write a critical analysis of the character of Abraham Adams in Fieldings novel â€Å"The Adventures of Joseph Andrews†? Why is Parson Adams described as the novels true hero? The novel â€Å"The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews, and of his Friend Mr. Abraham Adams† is written by Henry Fielding in the 18th century during the Augustan Age. His novel was the first published full-length of the English author and, and indeed among the first novels in the English language. Published in 1742 and it is a parody of the novel â€Å"Pamela† from Samuel Richardson. At the time the novel was published, the most profound contention that arose between critics was the character of Parson Adams. His personality was carefully developed by Fielding and is markedly the most developed character in the novel. Parson Abraham Adams is described as a radically good albeit naive, man. He is represented as a Samaritan always seeking out the best in people and treating them well. We will write a custom essay sample on Abraham Adams or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The good nature of Adams is also his disadvantage because he cannot explain the failings and dishonesties that mankind is prone too, and so sets himself up to be deceived and disappointed. He bears the name of Abraham, one of the most memorable Biblical characters. He was so dedicated to God that he even after much pleading with the Lord for a child, he was commanded to sacrifice his beloved son on an alter. A parallel can be drawn between the Biblical figure and Fielding’s hero on the basis of their excessive good-heartedness and unprecedented trust in the benevolence lying in God’s will imposed on them. Parson Adams is described as the novels true hero because compared to a normal citizen he is more intelligent:† Mr. Abraham Adams was an excellent Scholar. He was a perfect Master of the Greek and Latin Languages; to which he added a great Share of Knowledge in the Oriental Tongues, and could read and translate French, Italian, and Spanish. He applied many years to most sever Study, and had treasured up a Fund of Learning rarely to be met with in a University†. (65). The first meeting between Adams and Joseph depends upon Josephs similar aptitude for learning compared to similar people his age. After questioning Joseph about several subjects, Adams declares that, he answerd much better than Sir Thomas. When we put aside their many similarities we can say that Adams shines a little bit more than his friend Joseph. Because of his goodness and naivety he is represented like the good funny character which the readers adore more. Abraham always wants to help people and to cure their problems that’s why he get himself in a lot of troubles which are hilarious. Mr. Adamss objection to Methodism, which is also Fieldings objection, has to do with its emphasis on faith over charity or good works: he gives his opinion: that a virtuous and good Turk, or Heathen, are more acceptable in the sight of their Creator, than a vicious and wicked Christian, tho his Faith was as perfectly orthodox as St. Pauls himself. His looks helps him to be the more liked character. Parson is not the typical well-dressed and neat parson that we expect to come across:He had on a Night-Cap drawn over his Wig, and a short great Coat, which half covered his Cassock; a Dress which, added to something comical enough in his Countenance, composed a Figure likely to attract the Eyes of those who were not over-given to Observation. (Chapter XVI) . In fact he is quite contrary to the anticipated ideals. He is a middle-aged man of about fifty years old. Adams is a strong, healthy, and energetic man. His physical appearance is quite interesting as he has a, â€Å"comical† face. Fielding uses the traditional stereotypes to tell his tale. His ability to create an entertaining and intellectually stimulating story that closely resembles reality. That’s why he uses Parson Abraham Adams . He is a stereotype of a person which is so kind that in some way amusingly stupid. Everyone knows characters similar to these. These generic figures make it easier for him to apply a lesson to all of the readers.