Racism And Reality In Othello

Geoffrey Sax’s contemporary re-interpretation of William Shakespeare’s Othello has proven its innate ability to survive the tides of modernity, despite hailing from an era long gone by. Sax is able to manipulate the core concepts and ideas put forward by the great Bard, while retaining and further exploring the key, universal themes of racism, bigotry and power. Shakespeare’s original piece reflects upon traditional Elizabethan values and context through a tragedy spurred by hatred and deception – whereas Sax’s rendition, set in modern London, chooses instead to focus upon issues of racism, corruption and adultery in a post-feminist society. Although the two pieces are different in story, they still convey the same universal issues originally put forward by the Bard himself.

Context varies significantly between the two texts – with the original piece being set in the …show more content…
Instead of being discussed within the public light, racism is hidden away in the confines of an institutionally corrupt police force, and public sector – where a façade of racial tolerance is put forward by government and police force purely for the sake of political correctness. This is seen where the original Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police announces the promotion of black and Asian officers in an effort towards equality, yet is juxtaposed by the Commissioner’s true prejudices, which are disclosed in a seemingly private situation; thus leading to his scandalous resignation, allowing the newly free position of authority to be appointed to John Othello. This idea of indirect racism is further demonstrated by Ben Jago who, unlike Iago, who harbours his innately racist prejudices through the use of soft indignation and dramatic irony, causing him to make comments such as, “you stupid, patronising ape” and, “you clever, black bastard”, whose sour tone reveals a sense of tokenism and innate white