'The Beast with Two Backs'. Race and Racism in Shakespeare's 'Othello'

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, British
Cover of the book 'The Beast with Two Backs'. Race and Racism in Shakespeare's 'Othello' by Ann-Kathrin Latter, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Ann-Kathrin Latter ISBN: 9783668412163
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: March 8, 2017
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Ann-Kathrin Latter
ISBN: 9783668412163
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: March 8, 2017
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 2015 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2,0, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, language: English, abstract: This term paper seeks to dislocate traces of racism within the characters of Iago, Othello, and Desdemona in Shakespeare's 'Othello'. By scrutinizing both overt and covert forms of xenophobia, it tries to explain how and why the play came to its tragic ending. In 1994, Nelson Mandela wrote in his autobiography that 'no one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion' and that, consequently, 'people must learn to hate'. By itself, this is a simple statement but it is also egregious in the way it makes us understand. There is nothing it could not explain, no dispute it could not illuminate. And even though Mr. Mandela had originally formulated his statement with regard to Apartheid, it fits extraordinarily well to racism in Shakespeare's 'Othello'. Judging from Michael Neill's investigations into the subject of notions of human difference in early modern societies, 16th century Venice had a considerably open attitude towards foreigners of any kind, with a great deal of cultural exchange taking place between people of every colour and every religion. By the beginning of the 17th century, however, this started to change: as the number of encounters with foreign cultures increased, 'color emerg[ed] as the most important criterion for defining otherness' (Neill). As Mandela would have put it, Venetians started to learn hating others in behalf of their skin colour. And precisely this kind of development is illustrated in Othello: the Moor, who is actually a prime example for successful integration, has to endure an increasing degree of enmities and discriminations as racist sentiments begin to emerge in Venetian society - sentiments even Othello himself cannot resist.

Ann-Kathrin Latter hat einen Bachelortitel in Anglistik (British Studies) und Politikwissenschaften an der Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität in Mainz und absolviert gerade ihr Masterstudium an der Goethe-Universität in Frankfurt.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 2015 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2,0, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, language: English, abstract: This term paper seeks to dislocate traces of racism within the characters of Iago, Othello, and Desdemona in Shakespeare's 'Othello'. By scrutinizing both overt and covert forms of xenophobia, it tries to explain how and why the play came to its tragic ending. In 1994, Nelson Mandela wrote in his autobiography that 'no one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion' and that, consequently, 'people must learn to hate'. By itself, this is a simple statement but it is also egregious in the way it makes us understand. There is nothing it could not explain, no dispute it could not illuminate. And even though Mr. Mandela had originally formulated his statement with regard to Apartheid, it fits extraordinarily well to racism in Shakespeare's 'Othello'. Judging from Michael Neill's investigations into the subject of notions of human difference in early modern societies, 16th century Venice had a considerably open attitude towards foreigners of any kind, with a great deal of cultural exchange taking place between people of every colour and every religion. By the beginning of the 17th century, however, this started to change: as the number of encounters with foreign cultures increased, 'color emerg[ed] as the most important criterion for defining otherness' (Neill). As Mandela would have put it, Venetians started to learn hating others in behalf of their skin colour. And precisely this kind of development is illustrated in Othello: the Moor, who is actually a prime example for successful integration, has to endure an increasing degree of enmities and discriminations as racist sentiments begin to emerge in Venetian society - sentiments even Othello himself cannot resist.

Ann-Kathrin Latter hat einen Bachelortitel in Anglistik (British Studies) und Politikwissenschaften an der Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität in Mainz und absolviert gerade ihr Masterstudium an der Goethe-Universität in Frankfurt.

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book No translation is perfect by Ann-Kathrin Latter
Cover of the book Background of Geoffrey Chaucer´s 'The Miller´s Tale' by Ann-Kathrin Latter
Cover of the book Football As An Urban Phenomenon by Ann-Kathrin Latter
Cover of the book Cry of the Mock Turtle by Ann-Kathrin Latter
Cover of the book Beyond Archangel - The Archangel Theme in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein by Ann-Kathrin Latter
Cover of the book Le fédéralisme allemand by Ann-Kathrin Latter
Cover of the book Autistische Störungen. Vergleichende Analyse der aktuellen Erklärungsansätze by Ann-Kathrin Latter
Cover of the book Counterinsurgency Vignettes by Ann-Kathrin Latter
Cover of the book Cost-benefit analysis is not scientific, because it requires interpersonal comparisons of well-being by Ann-Kathrin Latter
Cover of the book How did the powers of the U.S. President and the U.S. Congress, as well as their relation, change during the Vietnam War? by Ann-Kathrin Latter
Cover of the book Deixis and Distance by Ann-Kathrin Latter
Cover of the book Social Deixis: The development of second person pronouns from Old English to the present by Ann-Kathrin Latter
Cover of the book NAFTA - Retrospect and prospect by Ann-Kathrin Latter
Cover of the book The Concepts of Honour and Revenge in Beowulf and Hamlet by Ann-Kathrin Latter
Cover of the book Article Analysis Paper - Procurement Helps Siemens Deliver Record Profits by Ann-Kathrin Latter
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy