Othello as a Black Man in a White Society

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Othello as a Black Man in a White Society

Shakespeare's play,Othello, explores themes of love and passion,

'otherness', jealousy, revenge and order vs. Chaos, which all revolve

mainly around the protagonist, Othello. Surrounded by Venetians within

a white society, Othello begins to realise his 'otherness' thus his

insecurities as an outside and a "Moor" increase. The deceptive Iago

uses these dangerous blemishes in Othello's personality to manipulate

the moral Othello, using his one fatal flaw, jealousy.

During the 16th Century, the Elizabethan audiences' attentiveness and

familiarity of the thin line between order and chaos would have added

to the tragic story of Othello. This was due to the invasion of Cyprus

by the Turkish in 1572. They would also have had a clear understanding

of the difference between savagery, which they stereotypes black

people to be; and so called civilisation because of the predominant

residence of the white people. Black people were generally only

conveyed through literature, usually as evil and chaotic.

Shakespeare explored the double-edged surroundings that are portrayed

within Othello as a play, and the chaos and jealousy that reeks from

Othello through the depreciation of his morals. The war that the

Elizabethans were familiar with symbolises the tempest that Othello

himself was dragged into, the war within his heart and soul.

Shakespeare's portrayal of Othello is of a Venetian general but at the

same time as an outside to the society that he resided in. His status

as an alien is given to him by the people that surround him, including

his so called acquaintances, due to his one supposed imperfect...

... middle of paper ...

...ay, such as the supposedly "Honest"

Iago. Othello was a great man within the play, a gracious general and

a passionate husband, but it was the fault of himself and his lethal

error of jealousy that allowed him to be frail enough

(personality-wise) to be influenced to commit the murder of Desdemona.

As Othello's manners transformed into a violent storm, he began to fit

the stereotype that was formed about him as an aggressive black man,

which is when the start of his downfall occurred, whereas at the start

of the play, when he was caring and generous, such emotions like

jealousy would not occur, thus preventing his downfall. Othello's

personality changed into a ball of contradictions, his feelings

entwined in confusion and jealousy, as Sean McEvoy rightly interpreted

"the contradictions within his ideology destroy him".

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