Power, Race and Women in Othello by Shakespear and Sax
Race
Shakespeare
• A fear of foreigners during Elizabethan times fostered misogynistic and racist values, which is evident in the way Othello’s blackness becomes a symbol of alienation to which all characters in the play must respond.
• Using grotesque animal imagery, Iago voices an explicitly stereotypical view of Othello, as a “Barbary horse,” depicting him as an animalistic outsider. Through the image of conflict in black and white, Iago emphasises on the racial demarcation between Othello and Desdemona, that “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe,” associating Othello with uncontrolled animalistic sexuality. Iago’s overt and vicious racism becomes representative of the reigning stereotype of the African on the Elizabethan stage
• Insecure because of his race, Othello echoes Iago’s choice of bestial image “I had rather be a toad and live upon the vapour of a dungeon,” reflecting his barbaric nature and status as an outsider.
• Shakespeare demystifies and questions the racial hierarchies in the society due to which meritorious people like Othello have to suffer.
Sax
• In Othello, Sax centres on the issue of race as an important social and political theme in the modern context, and makes a harsh comment on the institutionalised racism of the Metropolitan police force, and by extension, the society in general.
• Like Iago, Jago’s outburst to the audience is filled with indignation as bestial imagery, “you stupid, patronizing ape,” pervades his dialogue. Jago conceal his racist sentiment with pretentious affability in a seemingly jesting comment, “you clever black bastard,” yet the bitter undertones of this statement evokes tokenism and dramatic irony. This hypocrisy is representative of the façade of racial tolerance which the government and law enforcement systems hold up for political correctness.
• The idea of tokenism is reinforced through the juxtaposition of the bathroom scene, where Commissioner Carver makes racist
Shakespeare
• A fear of foreigners during Elizabethan times fostered misogynistic and racist values, which is evident in the way Othello’s blackness becomes a symbol of alienation to which all characters in the play must respond.
• Using grotesque animal imagery, Iago voices an explicitly stereotypical view of Othello, as a “Barbary horse,” depicting him as an animalistic outsider. Through the image of conflict in black and white, Iago emphasises on the racial demarcation between Othello and Desdemona, that “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe,” associating Othello with uncontrolled animalistic sexuality. Iago’s overt and vicious racism becomes representative of the reigning stereotype of the African on the Elizabethan stage
• Insecure because of his race, Othello echoes Iago’s choice of bestial image “I had rather be a toad and live upon the vapour of a dungeon,” reflecting his barbaric nature and status as an outsider.
• Shakespeare demystifies and questions the racial hierarchies in the society due to which meritorious people like Othello have to suffer.
Sax
• In Othello, Sax centres on the issue of race as an important social and political theme in the modern context, and makes a harsh comment on the institutionalised racism of the Metropolitan police force, and by extension, the society in general.
• Like Iago, Jago’s outburst to the audience is filled with indignation as bestial imagery, “you stupid, patronizing ape,” pervades his dialogue. Jago conceal his racist sentiment with pretentious affability in a seemingly jesting comment, “you clever black bastard,” yet the bitter undertones of this statement evokes tokenism and dramatic irony. This hypocrisy is representative of the façade of racial tolerance which the government and law enforcement systems hold up for political correctness.
• The idea of tokenism is reinforced through the juxtaposition of the bathroom scene, where Commissioner Carver makes racist