Race, Religion, and the Significance of Stereotypes in...

According to author Chinua Achebe, â€Å"The whole idea of a stereotype is to simplify. Instead of going through the problem of all this great diversity†¦you just have one large statement; it is this.† These broad simplifications have been found throughout history and often reflect the attitudes of an entire society at a specific time period. In particular, one can discover much about the prevailing attitudes of a society through its literature. Shakespeare, specifically, has written multiple works that incorporate generalizations of his era. For example, Shylock from The Merchant of Venice served as the archetypal Jew of the late 16th century. Othello explicitly includes race and religion as a fundamental part of the motivations behind the†¦show more content†¦During the early 17th century, when Othello takes place, a Muslim character would have been strongly disliked and would be offered no chance for redemption from a Christian society. During this particular time in 17th century Europe, the idea of a Muslim offensive was something on the minds of many. In Othello, the invading of Cyprus can be seen as a representation of that Muslim threat. And Othello, too, is a symbol of that Muslim threat attempting to invade and overthrow Venice, according to Virginia Vaughn (Vaughn 22). But through removing the religious aspect of Othello’s character, Shakespeare allows for the audience to focus specifically on the color of his skin and his actions, rather than his religious differences. In doing so, this allows both the audience and the characters in the play to more open-minded and tolerant of Othello, as he has adopted their religion and has made an attempt to assimilate with the society of Venice. A statement such as, â€Å"Your son-in-law is far more fair than black,† stated by Duke of Venice, would never have been made if Othello had been a typical Muslim Moor (1.3.289). In making that statement, the Duke has gone beyond the ini tial dislike of Moors and has come to accept Othello, in a sense. This kind of acceptance would not have been possible if Othello had not been a Christian, but because Othello has converted, the Venetian society is more tolerant of him.Show MoreRelatedOthello, By William Shakespeare1218 Words   |  5 Pageshistorical time period where emphasis was shifting from religion to race and ethnicity, key indicators of differences that perpetuated into racial prejudice and racial ideologies are evident in Othello by William Shakespeare. Although racism was not fully formed at this moment in history, Othello can be interpreted as a representation and an exploration of this shift in ideology. In the past, before this change toward racial differences, religion was the major segretory factor in signifying prejudiceRead MoreRacism By William Shakespeare s Othello1197 Words   |  5 Pagescentury, many scientists supported the belief that the human race could be categorized into different ethn ic groups. Racism is generally defined as discrimination, prejudice, or antagonism directed against an individual(s) of a different race or ethnicity based on a certain belief. Every society that once lived on this Earth has essentially been affected by this global issue. Racism has been one of the most malicious aspects of the human race since the very beginning of history, and is still a topicRead MoreOthello, 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, man y other critics like Edward Berry and Martin OrkinRead MoreEssay about Comparing Shakespeares Othello and Nelsons O2076 Words   |  9 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s Othello Tim Blake 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 MoreGp Essay Mainpoints24643 Words   |  99 PagesEnvironment a. Developed vs. Developing b. Should environment be saved at all costs c. Are we doing enough to save the environment? d. Main reasons for environmental problems nowadays 5. Religion a. Religion divides more than it unites b. Religion and politics c. Science and religion 6. Terrorism a. Can terrorism ever be eradicated? 7. Sports a. True purpose of sports nowadays b. Sports and Media 8. Foreign Aid a. How effective is Foreign Aid? 9. Migration a