outsiders in othello

Originally scheduled for spring 2020 and postponed until further notice, Lantern Theater Company’s production of William Shakespeare’s Othello features a cast of major characters who are all outsiders, on the periphery of the Venetian establishment. When Othello denies him that advancement, Iago plans revenge. But it also means that guards are down and loyalties are upended — leaving Iago the space he needs to weave his deceitful web, using the particularities of their outsider status to ensnare them. Lantern Theater Company’s production of Othello was originally scheduled for spring 2020 and has been postponed until further notice due to Covid-19. Although Othello is an outsider, he also has a weakness that will inevitably be the cause of his suicide. Those of foreign birth were excluded, as were women and those from less wealthy families. Desdemona is the one character who actively pursues her outsider status. Noblemen could — and that was all. They could participate in Venetian culture, if not its power structure. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. He is demonized by the European society because of his fixed ideas, racial and cultural differences. Due to the fact that the hero of the play is an outsider, a Moor, we have an idea how blacks were related to in England, in Elizabethan times. It was also considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, with its explosion of art, architecture, and literature. His foreign birth and extensive travels would prevent him from securing a place in Venice’s power structure, which demanded a spotless record and high native birth. 'Othello' is one of Shakespeare's most well known tragedies. There is a small part of Othello's consciousness imprinted with the experience of being the outsider. IAGO: The ClimberOf the major characters, Iago is the one who, at first blush, seems to be most inside. The Italy of Othello’s time was not the unified country of today; Florence and Venice were entirely different countries. Othello struggles with trust and Iago uses this quality to his advantage. How Does Shakespeare Present The Theme Of The Outsider In 'Othello' Act 1? The roles we set were based on Othello and our own experience as outsider. Don't use plagiarized sources. But Othello is also the character most on the outside. Punk, Trotsky, Che Chic and the consumption of revolutionary icons, Why I Can’t Enjoy Ariana Grande’s “Positions” Music Video. Sometimes such outsiders occupied the centre-stage, in plays such as Shakespeare's Othello, or Christopher Marlowe's The Jew of Malta, or in court masques such as Ben Jonson's The Masque of Blackness, or in the pageants such as Thomas Middleton's Triumphs of Truth which were enacted before the citizens of London when a new Lord Mayor was appointed. Othello and Cassio are both outsiders in this sense, Othello is a black man, a "Moor", and Cassio is a "Florentine". But it is, perhaps, these things that endear him to Othello and other members of Venice’s elite; just as Othello’s rich stories win him friends, so too do Cassio’s pleasing manners and impressive intellect. He is exceedingly clever and capable of building and maintaining relationships with people who are deeply loyal to him. Visit our website for more information. Academia.edu is a platform for academics to share research papers. Shakespeares Othello is considered an outsider within renaissance Venice. For all practical purposes, Othello has transcended the condition that would keep him on the outside looking in. Othello is called a "Moor," yet his physical description seems to suggest a black man from central Africa, rather than an Arab. Othello: Iago the Outsider. Othello: The Outsider (Acts 1 and 2) It is without a doubt that Shakespeare chooses to expound on the concept of the outsider in the first two acts of the play because this concept or theme will be of paramount importance especially in the later parts of the play. Othello becomes an outsider and a foreigner due to lack of experience in human relations and communication. All of the major characters in Othello would be unwelcome to take a permanent place in Venice’s halls of power. Characters such as Othello, Iago, Desdemona, Cassio and Emilia are all outsiders for one reason or another, and it shapes their actions throughout the play. Othello: the Outsider(Acts 1 and 2) Othello: The Outsider (Acts 1 and 2) It lacks a doubt that Shakespeare picks to state on the concept of the outsider in the first 2 acts of the play since this principle or style will be of paramount significance particularly in the later parts of the play. We tried to present how this outsider feel, how she doubt herself and how helpless she is. There is very little communication between the characters throughout the play so the outsider’s differences are emphasised. Racism seems to be a big issue in Shakespeare’s tragic play, Othello. Dr. Kerry Noonan explores the concept of the outsider, and the role that it plays in Othello. By simply leaving her home without permission, she rebels. Dr. Kerry Noonan explores the concept of the outsider, and the role that it plays in Othello.  Characters such as Othello, Iago, Desdemona, Cassio and Emilia are all outsiders for one reason or another, and it shapes their actions throughout the play.  Grasping this concept will help the students understand the actions of the main characters in the play. Celebrity Pregnancy — Why Do We Want To Know. An ideal Venetian noblewoman was silent and seldom seen — in fact, the more they could literally stay inside their homes, the better. The hero looks different in the society where moral and ethical standards deviate considerably from his personal ideas about life and relationships. Set in 16th century Venice, Othello, by William Shakespeare, explores the idea of an outsider from the very beginning of the play. Othello as A Tragedy of Outsiders 948 Words | 4 Pages. Othello’s stories — about himself, to himself, and to others — sets in motion a tragic romance. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. In the case of Shakespeare's Othello the outsider from humanity would be Iago for he truly stands out from the rest of society. In Shakespeare's "Othello," themes are essential to the working of the play. In the case of Shakespeare’s Othello the outsider from humanity would be Iago for he truly stands out from the rest of society. ( Log Out /  In Shakespeare’s play “Othello” the character Othello is presented as an outsider to the events that are taking place amongst the other characters. In any story with a recurring dark theme there always must be an outsider from humanity who somehow stands out from the seemingly equal community. Yet, as seen in the drama, looks can be deceiving. Racism in Othello. He is a Moor — in Shakespeare’s time, anyone with dark skin — and a former Muslim; Christians in Shakespeare’s time would have a hard time trusting his conversion. The play was not only a show, but a reflection of ourselves. It is a story of black versus white. His status as a cultural, religious, and racial outsider keeps him outside of Venice’s power structure, isolating him and providing Iago insecurities to play upon. Othello as A Tragedy of Outsiders The most obvious way of being an outsider in Othello is through being a foreigner, and a non-Venetian. He should be closer to Venice’s elite than any other character. Why Celebrities Pretending the World is “Normal” is a Public Health Concern, The Lessons to be Learned From Black Panther and Chadwick Boseman, Whatever Happened to the Heroes? DESDEMONA: The RebelOne character is a member of the Venetian nobility, born into the republic’s upper echelons of wealth and power: Desdemona. Venetian society was very strict about who could hold power in the republic. And yet they are all extraordinary in their own ways. Iago presents Othello as an Arabian outsider to the Venetian society by comparing him to this brutish animal that has imposed itself into the life of Desdemona without the consent of her father. He is an outsider who is clever and certain in military matters but is socially insecure. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Bigotry In Othello– Prices Estimate With Page Numbers. Shakespeare’s Othello is considered an outsider within renaissance Venice. Othello is in an impossible position as a black man serving a white patriarchy.Is Othello foolish to expect his adopted society to accept his marriage to a white woman? ( Log Out /  He is a native-born Venetian, a respected member of the military, and has friends like Roderigo who are members of the upper reaches of Venetian society. This paper discusses how from the the outset of the play, "Othello", Shakespeare makes it explicitly clear who the outsiders are. However, she is subject to lashing from both men and women, and she is a complete outsider to any society. Othello’s power is short-lived by design. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. The label of "Chinese" was obviously referred in the acting many times to stress how ethnicity alienated the outsider. There is a small part of Othello's consciousness imprinted with the experience of being the outsider. Change ). Grasping this concept will help the students understand the actions of the main… The strictures of Venice fall away, leaving a new sense of freedom and the possibility of building a new kind of life. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. He was excluded from what the truth holds and this caused his downfall, along with his jealous nature and stubbornness. In addition to his being a foreigner, Iago objects to the things about Cassio most identifiable with his country of origin: his refinement and his academic nature. Florence was a wealthy state — on par with Venice. Shakespeare portrays Othello as an outsider through the limited usage of Othello's name, racial slurs, animal imagery, the idea of isolation, and Othello's very own recognition of … Paradoxically, despite of Othello’s apparent eloquence, he still protests “Rude am I in my speech, / An… The Venetian rulers grant him even more power when they send him to Cyprus to defeat the Turks and then rule the island. All of the Venetians on Cyprus’ shores are strangers in a strange land, one with echoes of their home but new rules and norms. By the time Othello’s characters and their compatriots land in Cyprus, everyone is an outsider. Othello as A Tragedy of Outsiders The most obvious way of being an outsider in Othello is through being a foreigner, and a non-Venetian. One decides to destroy the other because of this motiveless evil. What he is not, though, is a member of the nobility, and by function of his birth he never will be. Shakespeare has put a twist within this play, as there is a battle between good and evil, good being represented as a black man while evil being represented as a white man. Throughout Act 1 – Scene 1 Othello is referred to as a ‘Moor’ by Brabantiao, Iago and Roderigo. Shakespeare uses Othello, a black army general, to explore the relationship of an outsider in high Venetian society using a variety of approaches. Outsiders: black. The paper examines how Othello is the strongest candidate and as the main character of the play, he fits in the least. Othello as an Outsider in Human Relations. OTHELLO: The Moor The character most on the outside is also the one with the most power at the start of the play. Shakespeare uses Othello, a black army general, to explore the relationship of an outsider in high Venetian society using a variety of approaches. Reproduced in Social England, ed. Academy Awards History: Why the Oscars Get so Much Buzz? An "Indian" in a contemporary drawing by John White. But noble women, despite their families’ resources, had no such options. The hero looks different in the society where moral and ethical standards deviate considerably from his personal ideas about life and relationships. CASSIO: The FlorentineThere is one more outsider in the play’s main quartet: Cassio, a Florentine. "Iago is lower class while Othello is an outsider, but both represent outsiders' views of the society they belong to. Outsider, Victim, Reflection of the Male Psyche: The Significance of Bianca in Shakespeare's Othello Rio Tang 12th Grade Bianca appears sparsely in Othello: a grand total of three times. Othello as an outsider Essay 768 Words4 Pages Set in 16th century Venice, Othello, by William Shakespeare, explores the idea of an outsider from the very beginning of the play. She would never be an insider due to her gender; by making the choices she does, she embraces and pursues her own place with exceptional bravery. Racial prejudice against the outsiders existed during the Elizabethan Age and Shakespeare attempted to create a parallel world in his tragedy Othello, The Moor of Venice where he captures a wide array of reactions towards a Black Muslim by the white majority Christians in Venice. Othello and Cassio are both outsiders in this sense, Othello is … His best hope for social advancement is to climb the ranks in Venice’s military; by achieving military power, he could gain stature, wealth, and influence. Othello is a ‘Moor’ and is different to other characters; Desdemona is also an outsider in the military world of Cyprus; Roderigo has followed the army and is not meant to be there; and Bianca can also be considered an outsider when compared to the conventional behaviour of the other women in the play. Themes Race and colour Study focus: Othello the outsider. By the time Othello ’s characters and their compatriots land in Cyprus, everyone is an outsider. Get Your Custom Essay on Order 1024647: othello: theme of an outsider Just from $13/Page Order Essay Type of paper Essay (Any Type) Subject Literature Number of pages 5 Format of citation MLA Number of cited resources 2 Type of service Writing Othello Essay 1200 words 20% of […] The text is a rich tapestry of plot, character, poetry, and theme – elements which come together to form one of the Bard's most engaging tragedies. He is an outsider who is clever and certain in military matters but is socially insecure. It is only in the final scenes when Desdemona is killed that the true identities of the characters are exposed. Set in 16th century Venice, Othello, by William Shakespeare, explores the idea of an outsider from the very beginning of the play. Othello becomes an outsider and a foreigner due to lack of experience in human relations and communication. Othello is a highly respected military leader and a favorite guest of Venice’s elite families. Othello is constantly trying to remind himself, and others that he is needed in their society. Their marriage prospects — and therefore their virtue — were closely guarded commodities, goods to be traded among the nobility to consolidate and expand power. The Role of the Outsider in Literature;Othello Unit Summary and Rationale: To foster the concept of intertwining themes, the role/archetype of the outsider synthesizes with that of the Shakespearean epic form in prior academic year and supports the concept of the dangers of discrimination, isolation, racism and the inescapability of one’s fears. H.D.Traill.University of Victoria Library. ( Log Out /  Shakespeare uses Othello, a black army general, to explore the relationship of an outsider in high Venetian society using a variety of approaches. As a frustrated climber, Iago feels most entitled to be brought into the Venetian fold, and when denied he leverages his extraordinary intellect and likability to bring the other outsiders down. But they did this in order to make it easy to dismiss these foreigners once the conflict passed, as we see late in the play. New Historicist critics have argued that Othello’s tragedy comes about because he can never be anything except an outsider. Othello is an outsider, however he is not the only outsider that can be found through this play. Although Othello may be physically put out of the community, it seems that on an emotional and egotistical level Iago puts himself out of society further then Othello’s blackness does. He has even converted to Christianity, actively bolstering his connection to the Venetian society that seems to have accepted him. Othello as an Outsider. His military prowess and fascinating orations make him an exceptional outsider in Venice. ( Log Out /  However, she can access none of it, outside of the comforts of her noble house. Cassio is a foreigner in Venice. And by eloping with Othello, she actively joins him on the outside. Venetian women outside of the noble class had options: rich ones could live lives of leisure, while less wealthy women could make their way by working. His outsider status both benefits and ultimately dooms him: Venice habitually hired mercenary soldiers and foreigners to lead their military campaigns and to govern foreign territory, which works in Othello’s favor. By taking her marriage decisions out of her father’s hands, she rejects Venice’s power structure. 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