Introduction
The topic of discrimination on various grounds, including racial ones, is not new. People who differ in skin color and culture often become outcasts in society. The very existence of a divergent person gives rise to a societal conflict. Shakespeare’s Othello deals with such a confrontation, showing the viewer the story of a Moor forced to adapt to Christian Venice. In terms of literary canons and conventional themes, Shakespeare’s work considers Othello’s religious and ethnic differences. However, the story of a young Venetian general who does not fit into society and becomes the object of envy is also imbued with a racist attitude towards an outsider. His path is burdened by the need to defend his honor in an inhospitable society, which builds a network of intrigues against him, leading to the death of the innocent. Thus, most of the conflicts unfolding in the play are built around the problems of racism, which do not lose their relevance even after several centuries have passed since Othello was written.
Cultural Context
Culture is significant when considering the problems raised in Othello. The time of writing the play and the events taking place are approximately in the same era – the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century. In the region of Cyprus, the site of Othello’s action, the Venetian-Turkish war is unfolding at this time. In William Shakespeare’s “Othello: The Moore of Venice,” the Turks advance to capture the island: “Tis oft with a difference–yet do they all confirm / a Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus” (Shakespeare). The war and the clash of two cultures – Venetian and Turkish – serve as a background for the unfolding events. The religious contrariness between Christians and Turks who profess Islam is an essential element that forms the basis of these cultural contradictions. The focus on the spiritual component is a characteristic feature of the literature of this time. However, by the time the play was written, the problems of racism were becoming more relevant (Gaydo 1). Shakespeare in Othello reflects this transition, giving more importance to the race and origin of the characters, separating them not only by skin color but also by geographical origin. Nevertheless, in contrast to modern literature and the current perspective on these issues, the problem of racism was still closely intertwined in culture with religion and philosophy. The contentious issues in Othello are found between the lines. However, the cultural context of that time does not bring the issue of race to the fore but does not deny the existence of this problem.
Issues in the Play
The totality of the relationships, which determines the characters, reveals several problems at once. One of the central themes, for example, is Iago’s envy of Othello because of the appointment of Cassio as his assistant (Shakespeare). He cannot accept that his talents remained unrecognized and the post he desired was occupied by a person much less experienced than himself. However, Iago’s attitude towards Othello is shaped not only by envy. In Susan Snyder’s “A Modern Perspective: Othello,” Iago’s speeches often refer to Othello using various offensive terms: “I hate the moor, I have told thee often, and I retell thee again and again” (Snyder). Calling Othello the Moor, Iago openly discriminates against his boss based on his nationality and people’s prejudices. Othello’s military and personal merit are not enough to ignore his outward foreignness to Venice (Hu 13). Thus, one of the most critical issues that can be traced between the play lines is the problem of discrimination based on belonging to another culture and, most importantly, another race – the Moors. It must be understood that this division was much more blurred than modern racism since the Moors were understood as a whole group (Gaydo 2). Nevertheless, the essence of the problems displayed in Othello remains and can be traced up to modern times.
Similarity with Current Issues
The discrimination process differs between Othello and modern people yet the phenomena are similar in many ways. The main reason for the differences, in this context, is the culture in which people who experience racism live. Othello is a general in Venice, and his position prevents Iago from directly insulting him. In Thompson Ayana’s “Shakespeare and Race,” the author argues, “Here are some clear through lines that trace from Shakespeare into our 21st-century world” (Ayana). Shakespeare uses rude epithets to emphasize the strangeness of the black Othello to the white Venetian society. Immigrants and people of color often face similar problems in the modern world. The BLM protests are a testament to this, highlighting the historical injustices against black citizens (Gaydo 1). A similar situation is observed in Cyprus, where there is still a prejudice against blacks, which puts Afro-Cypriots in a position identical to that of Othello (Ozkaleli and Kanay 1). The reason for all these examples is the presence in societies of various prejudices, including racial ones, which do not allow even worthy people to avoid the status of an outsider altogether (Hu 15). The universality of these reasons in various cultural and historical contexts makes this play more accessible to the modern reader.
Accessibility of the Play
The problems demonstrated in Othello cannot be entirely accessible to the modern viewer. First, the reason for this is the rich cultural context, which is necessary to understand the intricate relationships between characters. In Folger Institute’s “Understanding Race and Religion through Othello,” “that kind of black/white dichotomy speaks to that so and related to this question” (Folger Institute). Even the name “Moor”, which is often used instead of Othello’s name, has a very vague and inaccurate description. This incredibly mobile term simultaneously describes Arabs, blacks, and people professing the Muslim faith (Folger Institute). As a result, even the position of Othello in society may be somewhat incomprehensible to an unprepared person. Moreover, there is minimal emphasis on Othello’s exact race, which hides the problem of racism between the lines. Unlike the current situation, racism in Shakespeare’s play is much more subtle. Only occasionally in the text are there rude, racist remarks, as in the case of Brabantio’s speech: “For if such actions may have passage free, / Bond-slaves and pagans shall our statesmen be.” Consequently, some actors in their interpretations of Othello generally deviate from this problem, showing the character as a military man without emphasis on his skin color (Ayana). However, the issue of racism is still an essential part of the play. However, it doesn’t look like its modern expression, the manifestations of discrimination and prejudice are reasonably accessible to the contemporary viewer. Consequently, despite numerous analysis difficulties, Othello is still a relevant play.
Relevance of Othello
Othello can be more applicable in the current world situation despite the play being subject to obsolescence. First, the questions raised in the play do not reflect specific events but the essence of social interactions. The problems of honor, prejudice, and envy are integral to life. In this regard, the situations demonstrated by Othello can become relevant to any person. However, the ongoing fight against racism also gives this work additional relevance. In this context, Shakespeare’s play can be an excellent illustration of what a society full of prejudices can bring a different person to. For all Othello’s virtues, he is ultimately forced to revert to his original low status. Lodovico, taking both Othello and Iago into custody, openly calls the former a slave: “For this slave, / If there be any cunning cruelty / That can torment him much and hold him long, / It shall be his” (Shakespeare). The Venetian society did not fully accept him, considering him a stranger. In today’s world, there are many injustices as well, including those related to racial hatred and discrimination. As a result, many people are forced to experience the status of an outsider. The fact of prevalence of this phenomenon is what makes Othello so relevant.
Conclusion
Thus, as this analysis shows, most of the problems and events demonstrated in Shakespeare’s play are built around racial discrimination and alienation of the Moor Othello in white Venetian society. Although this reason is not the only one, the general’s non-belonging to this community became one of the reasons for the hostility and suspicion towards him among many characters. Since, even after several centuries, people continue to become strangers and experience discrimination and racism, Othello remains relevant. The human conflicts shown in the play allow the audience to understand the principles of the functioning of society. This view of classical literature also shows the longevity of these principles. Othello’s example fits well with modern trends and racial oppression and allows one to call for destroying existing stereotypes and constructing a more just society.
Works Cited
Folger Institute. “Understanding Race and Religion through Othello.” YouTube, uploaded by FolgerLibrary, Web.
Gaydo, Kyle. “In Defense of the “Moor”: Race, Racism, and Violence in Othello and O.” Locus: The Seton Hall Journal of Undergraduate Research, vol. 4, no. 5, 2021, pp. 1-13.
Hu, Ge. “Othello the Victim of Racial Other.” Lecture Notes on Language and Literature, vol. 5, no. 2, 2022, pp. 13-15.
Ozkaleli, Umut, and Serap Kanay. “Afro-Cypriots: Prejudice, Colourism, Racism, and Rising Black Consciousness in Cyprus.” Journal of Intercultural Studies, 2022, pp. 1-16.
Shakespeare, William. “Othello: The Moore of Venice.” The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, 2005. Web.
Snyder, Susan. “A Modern Perspective: Othello | The Folger SHAKESPEARE”. The Folger SHAKESPEARE, 2020, Web.
Thompson, Ayana. “Shakespeare and Race.” YouTube, uploaded by Oxford Academic (Oxford University Press), Web.