Othello - A Play That Transcends Time Essay - 941 Words

Only by considering a range of perspectives can we truly appreciate the world of Shakespeare’s Othello. It is through my exploration of these perspectives and their relationship with changing morals and values that has enriched my understanding of the play. One such reading of the play challenges the marginalisation and objectification of woman in a patriarchal Venetian society, while taking into account the changing role of women in modern society. Another interpretation of Othello examines its post colonial elements through the protagonist Othello, and his insecurities of being a black man in a white society. My interpretation of the play as a portrayal of the values existing in Shakespeare’s time is filtered through these†¦show more content†¦However the textual integrity of the play can be questioned. In terms of its pacing, Othello’s transition from a love that overcame social boundaries to murderous hate is almost too abrupt, to the point that it is unconvincing and unrealistic. The fact that Othello blindly follows the words of Iago, without once consulting Desdemona, takes away the play’s realism. On the other hand, this can be attributed to the gender system of the time, and Othello’s insecurities about his race and age. Stage directions instruct Othello and Iago to kneel, and to modern audiences this symbolises that the bond between the two men is stronger than marriage representative of the patriarchal society of Shakespeare’s time. The play reflects the patriarchal values of society by categorising females into the three main stereotypes: the housewife, whore and innocent virgin are Emilia, Bianca and Desdemona respectively. Women in Othello’s world stand for a marginalised group, outsiders in a man’s world and their role in society is described with â€Å"[men] are all but stomachs, and we are all but food†, reflecting contemporary conventional views. Bianco and Emil ia portray the negative typecast of women and are slandered by Iago, who accuses them of being â€Å"pictures out of doors†¦players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds†. This fits with the Madonna-Whore Complex, where women are either sexually promiscuous orShow MoreRelatedOthello, By William Shakespeare Essay1659 Words   |  7 PagesCritics have debated the significance of Othello’s race in terms of portraying his identity for a long time. The negative connotations of â€Å"blackness† have led to the creation of many racial constructs associated with the â€Å"Moor†; this denigration has infused the opinions of many critics, such as Albert Gerard, proposing that Othello’s â€Å"negroid physiognomy† reaches down to the â€Å"deepest levels of personality† and that he is a â€Å"barbarian†. However, many other critics like Edward Berry and Martin OrkinRead MoreA Relationship Between A White And A Black Mothe r1313 Words   |  6 Pagesmusic. It is unclear if Morrison is trying to make a comparison between a white and a black mother (the latter is usually reputed to be not-so-good-mothers, especially in American culture). It is challenging to separate race issue in the events of this play. Desdemona tells Barbary that she is color blind when the latter tells her she was just a slave due to the color of her skin. Desdemona tries to show Barbary the bond between them by countering the claim that her whiteness makes a difference. â€Å"I hadRead MoreOthello Speech815 Words   |  4 Pageshuman condition in Othello. Give reference to one character and one theme. For centuries, William Shakespeare has captured the hearts of men and women with his tragedies. His plays explore human existence and raise questions about what it means to be human; allowing the audience to relate to his characters despite the era in which the play was produced. 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It is a fact that â€Å"Human nature remains the same (Kiernan Ryan 1989).† Both plays explore issues surrounding emotions like love, envy, jealousy and pride provoked by life experiences such as racism, fate, rifts between parent and child, a quest for position through deception or for justice or an intoxicating sense of being all powerful which transcend timeRead MoreEssay about Comparing Shakespeares Othello and Nelsons O2076 Words   |  9 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s Othello Tim B lake Nelson’s â€Å"O† each demonstrate the issues of their respective contexts through the chosen mediums of both composers. Shakespeare’s Othello uses the medium of theatre to present ideas such as jealousy, appearance versus reality and racism through a variety of literary techniques while also encompassing the conventions of a classic Shakespearean tragedy. These ideas remain universally relevant in Blake Nelson’s modern day adaptation â€Å"O† which parallels the ideasRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare1825 Words   |  8 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s plays transcends time and is renowned for their captivating plots and complex characters. Othello by William Shakespeare is a tragedy play that portrays major themes such as racism, manipulation, and jealousy just to name a few. Throughout the whole play, these themes are represented through the conniving character from the play, Iago. Out of all the plays Shakespeare has written, Iago is believed to be the most complex villain of all times. During the play, Othello, a black military