Analysis of William Shakespeare´s Othello - 737 Words

The Tragedy of Othello, a play by William Shakespeare, was written in the early 1600’s. If Othello was written in a different time, 21st century America, the view of people of different genders and races would differ, women would be held to a more equal social standard and the issue of Othello being black, wouldn’t be as prominent when he marries Desdemona. This play was written in a time where it was essential to follow cultural values. During this time women were expected to respect all male figures in their lives no matter how powerful or how old were. This concept is evident in Othello, specifically how Desdemona acts towards her father, and at times towards her husband Othello. Overtime this cultural value of the man being a dominant figure in society has lessened.Today in 2014, a 21st century American woman, is not held to such high expectations. Women are seen as equals to men in many aspects, so it is no longer part of our culture for women to respect men as muc h as they were expected to in the past. In the first act, Desdemona speaking to her father says, â€Å"My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty: To you I am bound for life and education; My life and education both do learn me How to respect you†¦but heres my husband, And so much duty as my mother showd To you, preferring you before her father, So much I challenge that I may profess Due to the Moor my lord.†(528-530) At this point she goes against the cultural value for a woman to respect the maleShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Othello s Othello By William Shakespeare Essay2117 Words   |  9 Pages Racist Ideology As Seen In Othello As a writer, William Shakespeare possessed an uncanny ability to address topics that were, for the most part, unnoticed in society. Every one of his characters feels realistic because they are so complex and based on psychological motivations. When Shakespeare’s Othello was first written, there was undoubtedly a complicated relationship between white English citizens and so called â€Å"foreigners†. However, society’s inability to understand or accept different culturesRead MoreAnalysis Of Shakespeare s Othello, By William Shakespeare1040 Words   |  5 PagesWhen pairs of texts are considered together, their universal themes and ideas lead to greater understanding, appreciation and insight of both the old and the new. The texts Othello, William Shakespeare (1600) and Othello, Geoffrey Sax (2001), ring true for this statement. Despite the differing contexts and ages, the universal themes of racism and betrayal bring new meaning to each of the texts. The primary meaning from the juxtaposition of the two is that of the human condition, and how the problemsRead MoreAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Othello889 Words   |  4 Pagesthey saw as issues in their respective cultures and societies. William Shakespeare in one of his most famous plays Othello lies out a problem which he thought was pertinent enough for him to deal with directly, that is the problem of race. Othello was a Moor, a man of African descent who was put in a hostile situation by being put in Venice a primarily white society. The role of race in Othello and the kind of language used by Shakespeare throughout the play point towards Othello’s race and how othersRead MoreAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Othello1603 Words   |  7 PagesMAJOR WORKS REVIEW GENERAL 1. Title - Othello 2. Author - William Shakespeare 3. Date of Original Publication - 1622 4. Novel Type - Play STRUCTURE 1. Point of View - Iago 2. Relationship to meaning: The reader sees things the way that Iago sees them. This gives the reader an inside look on Iago’s evil plans, which also leads to a better understanding of all of the other characters, but Iago especially. The reader sees how Iago manipulates so many of the characters, like Roderigo and MontanoRead MoreAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Othello 992 Words   |  4 PagesElleana Morrison Professor Connor Shakespeare 340 Midterm Paper, Prompt 5 7 April 2016 A Black Iago Othello is, in the opinion of many, one of Shakespeare’s most prolific plays. It broke the mold by assigning the lead protagonist role to a black man, and the central love story is of that between this older black man and a young white woman. Othello has perhaps the most wicked- and likable- villain in all of Shakespeare’s work. It has love- both fulfilled and unrequited, family conflict, rebellingRead MoreAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Othello1449 Words   |  6 PagesHow to Survive Your First Relationship William Shakespeare, the Elizabethan poet and playwright, wrote his plays within one of four genres: comedy, tragedy, history, or romance. These genres make his plays very different from one another; however, they all share common characteristics. Shakespeare incorporates a message for his audience to become aware that ultimately teaches a lesson. In Othello, the message Shakespeare portrays to his audience is the importance self-knowledge; which is the abilityRead MoreAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Othello950 Words   |  4 Pagescharacteristic in a person. Iago appears to demonstrate insane, mad behavior, but a discerning eye reveals otherwise. Iago?s manipulation over people leads to the death of Roderigo, Desdemona, and Othello. In Othello, by William Shakespeare, Iago?s jealousy over not being lieutenant is mistaken for madness and portrayed through irrational behavior. Firstly, Iago poisoned Roderigo?s thoughts to try and win Desdemona over, which in the end brings him to his untimely death. Iago provokes Roderigo to sellRead MoreAnalysis of The Theme of Language in William Shakespeare ´s Othello802 Words   |  3 PagesIn Othello, one of the most interesting enigmas is the relationship between the spoken language and knowledge (or lack their of) which eventually leads to the downfall of Othello. One might contend that Othello’s lack of understanding throughout the play derives itself from the powerful, toxic language of Iago, which poisons the otherwise sound, knowledgeable mind of Othello. One might be comfortable with the idea that language has such a powerful, direct effect on human beings and can be used toRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello As A Tragic Hero1323 Words   |  6 Pagesown demise. William Shakespeare’s Othello the Moore of Venice is a play about a heroic individual that goes through a tragic event based on h is decisions throughout the play. Many of the characters that Shakespeare presents in his plays reveal attitudes and value that is reflective of both the Elizabethan society in sixteenth century England and William Shakespeare; these values are evident in the context of the Venetian society that Othello takes place in. Through Othello Shakespeare embodies hisRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Works Of Shakespeare1126 Words   |  5 Pages Before I start right off in this essay, I believe it s only fair you should know a little back story of the author himself; William Shakespeare. Shakespeare was born April 26, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, which is located in the United Kingdom. Even though his goals were to become an actor, he fell into writing and become one of the most well-known writers in his life. There s a lot of controversy surrounding Shakespeare and there s many people who believe that he, himself did not write his famous