The negative stereotypes associated with color, especially blackness, creates a tragic sense of inferiority and “nobodiness” among the black people because of the crippling effects of slavery and segregation. Othello is a unique character among English literature, as he is a black military general, who has power and influence over many white men. However, Othello still feels like an outsider, a black-skinned man among the white Venetians, despite his intelligence, honesty, sincerity, and apt fighting skills. Author, Brent Staples, shows through the main character the ability of the black man to be perceived as the victimizer of violence and savagery, when in reality, he is the victim of racist attitudes defined by history of the past. Similarly
…show more content…
For example, Iago, Othello’s ensign uses racist slurs to foster Brabantio’s, Othello’s father-in-law’s, fear of intermarriage. For example, Iago manipulates Brabantio’s fears by comparing Othello to an “old black ram,” which is “tupping your white ewe” (Shakespeare 1.1.97). Iago plays on the Elizabethan notion that black men are violent and animal-like. This violent notion of black men is highlighted in “Black Men and Public Space” as the protagonist was walking on the streets of Brooklyn and women around him would grab their purses tighter and walk hurriedly pass him, as if they were bracing themselves against being tackled. Staples explains how it is not surprising that women react in fear, as “women are particularly vulnerable to street violence, and young black males are overrepresented among the perpetrators of that violence” (Staples). There is a double standard for the black man with particular members of the white population. For instance, Brabantio used to love Othello, inviting him to come to his home and talk about his war stories. Brabantio has a double standard for Othello, as he only tolerates Othello for a black man because he is a valuable solider, but as soon as Othello marries his white daughter, he believes Othello is not worthy of his daughter. He claims that Othello …show more content…
For example, when Iago tells Othello that Desdemona likely cheated on him because she wanted a man “Of her own clime, complexion, and degree, Where do we see in all things nature tends” (Shakespeare III.3.268). Consequently, even though Othello knows Desdemona loved him sincerely even if he was a black man, he is easily manipulated by Iago. Othello is a victim of society’s racist ideologies, as it seems that Iago told him what he already suspected to be true. Othello starts to believe what the white people around him portray him, seeing himself as inferior to the white population. He says Desdemona’s infidelity was ruining her reputation to something as inferior as his own “begrimed and black face” (Shakespeare III.3.441). Othello become more and more as just “The Moor” that everyone sees him for, leading him to kill Desdemona, embodying the animal-like behavior that the black man was characterized to embody. Likewise, in the “Black Men and the Public Space” the main character destroys his self-identity and becomes a white face. The black man refuses to accept his psychological manhood, as he conforms to the white society, waiting to leave a building or enter the subway with nervous white people around. The black man chooses to “remain a shadow, but a survivor”
For example, Iago, Othello’s ensign uses racist slurs to foster Brabantio’s, Othello’s father-in-law’s, fear of intermarriage. For example, Iago manipulates Brabantio’s fears by comparing Othello to an “old black ram,” which is “tupping your white ewe” (Shakespeare 1.1.97). Iago plays on the Elizabethan notion that black men are violent and animal-like. This violent notion of black men is highlighted in “Black Men and Public Space” as the protagonist was walking on the streets of Brooklyn and women around him would grab their purses tighter and walk hurriedly pass him, as if they were bracing themselves against being tackled. Staples explains how it is not surprising that women react in fear, as “women are particularly vulnerable to street violence, and young black males are overrepresented among the perpetrators of that violence” (Staples). There is a double standard for the black man with particular members of the white population. For instance, Brabantio used to love Othello, inviting him to come to his home and talk about his war stories. Brabantio has a double standard for Othello, as he only tolerates Othello for a black man because he is a valuable solider, but as soon as Othello marries his white daughter, he believes Othello is not worthy of his daughter. He claims that Othello …show more content…
For example, when Iago tells Othello that Desdemona likely cheated on him because she wanted a man “Of her own clime, complexion, and degree, Where do we see in all things nature tends” (Shakespeare III.3.268). Consequently, even though Othello knows Desdemona loved him sincerely even if he was a black man, he is easily manipulated by Iago. Othello is a victim of society’s racist ideologies, as it seems that Iago told him what he already suspected to be true. Othello starts to believe what the white people around him portray him, seeing himself as inferior to the white population. He says Desdemona’s infidelity was ruining her reputation to something as inferior as his own “begrimed and black face” (Shakespeare III.3.441). Othello become more and more as just “The Moor” that everyone sees him for, leading him to kill Desdemona, embodying the animal-like behavior that the black man was characterized to embody. Likewise, in the “Black Men and the Public Space” the main character destroys his self-identity and becomes a white face. The black man refuses to accept his psychological manhood, as he conforms to the white society, waiting to leave a building or enter the subway with nervous white people around. The black man chooses to “remain a shadow, but a survivor”