Othello is based in 16th Century Europe when the Christian Venetians were locking horns with Muslims of the Ottoman Empire for the Mediterranean lands of Cyprus etc. The word ‘Moors’ used for Othello was used for Muslims and may suggest he was converted to Christianity and recruited to the Italian aRead more
Othello is based in 16th Century Europe when the Christian Venetians were locking horns with Muslims of the Ottoman Empire for the Mediterranean lands of Cyprus etc.
The word ‘Moors’ used for Othello was used for Muslims and may suggest he was converted to Christianity and recruited to the Italian army in the crusade against the Turks. The inspiration behind the text was a story Giraldi Cinthio’sfrom Hecatommithi.
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Racial bias and prejudice is strident in Othello with the title character facing the brunt of it. Pitting his physical virtues against his wife Desdemona who is fair and pear white in complexion becomes a constant tone of discussion and attack. Iago, Brabantio, Rodrigo, Othello (self-flagellation) aRead more
Racial bias and prejudice is strident in Othello with the title character facing the brunt of it. Pitting his physical virtues against his wife Desdemona who is fair and pear white in complexion becomes a constant tone of discussion and attack.
Iago, Brabantio, Rodrigo, Othello (self-flagellation) all show a clear revulsion to Othello’s race and even his ethnicity being a ‘Moor’.
Desdemona is probably the only person that decided to look past the racial difference between herself and Othello and accept him for his valour and courage.