GRA #2
Othello
In this paper such important issues as the theme of civil disorder, status of a person as an outsider in adopted culture, issues of race, gender and class are viewed on the example of Shakespeare’s tragedy “Othello”, alongside with symbolic meaning of the setting in the tragedy.
Civil disorder is defined as a public disturbance that involves acts of pressure, violence, damages, immediate danger and injuries to people and their property. For example, signs of civil disorder in “Oedipus Rex” by Sophocles are revealed in the very beginning and go through the whole tragedy. Thus, committing many crimes in the eyes of society, at the end of his mental and physical journey, Oedipus realizes his crimes, feels remorse and seeks for punishment. He becomes a murder, but while no one knows about, it he becomes a king. Even though he is not guilty in his crimes, he considers that death is too humble punishment for his crimes and continues to suffer in order to pay for his crimes.
The theme of civil disorder in “Othello” plays an important role in the tragedy, as it is an important part of the setting. As the events left Venice behind and take place in Cyprus, the importance of this setting change is revealed in the consequences. In Shakespeare’s presentation, Venice is a city of law, classical order, and honest government. Iago immediately fails in his attempts to create troubles for Othello, as “Venice is not a grange”. (Shakespeare) But Cyprus is opposed to Venice in terms of security. This city is an outpost; it is vulnerable to any assault, as it is washed by ocean, and only Othello possesses power in this place. Later civil disorder in Cyprus is flourishing in spite of all the attempts to maintain order made by Othello, who is totally obsessed with his jealousy. In Venice, Iago could not bring riots and lawlessness into life of society. But Cyprus is completely perfect for such things, so he uses his power for destruction.
Setting in “Othello” has a symbolic meaning. It is a well-known fact that Venice is a white city. Othello can be called a man of a color, being a Moor. Thus, his every step and action is treated more intensely and with more attention than any actions of a white man. Othello’s role in the city of Venice is significant, as his military reputation is highly respected, and he is a strong person who can defend Venetians. The only breach in his reputation is marriage to Desdemona, as it is not proper for a black person to marry and important white woman from high social level. For the Moor, Venice becomes a natural environment to be both praised and despised. The military law of Venice required a general of its army to be a foreigner. Thus, meeting this demand of society, Othello is loved and admired for his qualities of a strong leader and for valor. In the same time, his is condemned for marrying into the family he was not allowed to become a part of.
Another important aspect of the setting is revealed in the fact that Venice is a city famous for its prostitutes. Despite the fact that no one thinks of Desdemona as of a woman of that type, it takes Othello no effort to believe in her infidelity because it is a natural behavior of women from her native city and an integral part of the culture in which she was raised.
Though Othello believes in Desdemona’s infidelity, things become better in Cyprus, an island of love. Their relations turn for the better first. But Othello is sent to Cyprus to fight, so it is no wonder that fighting enters his own home, and he starts having second thoughts about his wife. Though it is clear that Desdemona loves Othello, he, in his turn, is crawling into murder: “Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul | But I do love thee! And when I love thee not | Chaos is come again”. (Shakespeare) In general, it is evident that setting in “Othello” reflects the tragedy and doom impending over the characters.
Signs of Iago’s intelligence are vividly spread through the whole tragedy. He reports of Desdemona’s elopement and immediately disappears. That is a clever step, as Othello will not suspect him in disloyalty. Iago never misses an opportunity to turn every situation to his advantage. He plans to use courteous Cassio to give Othello a suspicion that Desdemona may be unfaithful. At the same time, Iago uses this situation to make Othello insecure so that he took rush actions to Iago’s advantage. In other words, Iago’s intelligence may be called as slyness and cunningness. He uses people as his puppets for evil plans. Thus, he makes Roderigo think that Cassio is his main rival. He makes other people do all the dirty work for him to keep his hands clean. He makes Cassio thing that Cyprus soldiers will offend if he does not drink with them, and thus make Othello fire Cassio, though states that “I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth than it should do offence to Michael Cassio“. (Shakespeare) The scene of temptation reflects his true genious in the best way. He uses Cassio’s remorse and shame to his advantage and slyly hints that Cassio has some secrets from Othello: “I cannot think that he would steal away so guilty like“. Iago implies that this situation may be connected with a woman and immediately makes Othello believe in his lies: “O! beware my lord of jealousy“. (Shakespeare) Here is a perfect example of Iago’s intelligence.
Othello is presented as an outsider in Venice. The importance of his personality to Venice in presented as a general matter. He if highly estimated for his military skills and courage. However, that is not enough to become a part of the noble Venice society and its culture. Othello’s role is passive, as he is not a victor but a mere victim of society and Iago’s intrigues. Though people describe Othello as a decisive man of action, his role in society is vague. That is the reflection of Othello’s position on a class level.
His race and gender issues are also important in the tragedy. Othello is no more a colonized subject, but a member of the Venetian society. Thus, he tries to grasp social ideology, get used to its cultural values. Othello tries to enter Venetian society very cautiously with no mistake. However, it was ruined after his rush relations with Desdemona. And that immediately contradicts everything Othello has achieved so far, as a black man is not supposed to be married a white woman from high society. These are both gender and race problems. Othello is not an ordinary black man. He is a person who is involved in society life and takes a position of a general. In this world, people fight for property, and his love to Desdemona demonstrates people that he seeks property possession. Marrying Desdemona, he will not only have the beloved woman nearby, but also will obtain desired social position. And that behavior is not appropriate for a black man in the eyes of people in Venetian society. These are the main ambiguities caused by class, race and gender issues.
In conclusion, “Othello” is a complicated tragedy that apart from the problem of jealousy that lies in the very surface reveals many other problems of society and people’s relations on the ground of such factors as race, class, and gender.
Works cited:
Shakespeare, William. “Othello”. Web. 31 Oct. 2014
<http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1793/pg1793.html>
