Moors

Moors struggled to find harmony in Shakespeare’s time in Venice, England, and throughout Europe. Othello, the Moor, plays the Other in Shakespeare’s play Othello. The Other is an interesting character that is seen throughout Shakespeare’s plays including Shylock in The Merchant of Venice and Caliban in The Tempest. The Other is usually an outsider, someone who can be mocked, abused, or condemned. Little says, “But, as Othello’s countrymen will finally have it, no amount of rhyming or coupling (or punning) will leave unseen the black Other whom the audience suspects is hidden within Othello.” Little talks about how as much as one can try to hide Othello’s blackness in his qualities, nevertheless it is still there and will be ridiculed. Othello shows the great difficulties a Moor faced in western society. Moors were…

The word Moors derives from the Latin mauri, a name for the Berber tribes living in Roman Mauretania (modern day Algeria and Morocco). It has no ethnographic meaning but can be used to refer to all Muslims, Berber or Arab, who conquered the Iberian Peninsula. These Moors, who were religious fanatics, arrived in Spain in the year 711 and thus began a period of history which would shape Iberia differently than the rest of Europe as the land adapted to a new religion, language and culture.…

In William Shakespeare’s play “Othello,” Othello is respected for his status as military general for the Venetian army and his stance while he is discriminated for his looks and race -a commonality of the time. Similarly, because of the media portrayal and our looks, hispanic females in today’s American society are both dominating for the “spicy latina” and as a symbol of sex and “spiciness” for “spicy latina.” “Othello” tells the story of the fall and demise of a Venetian general who was…

Iberian Peninsula ‘Andalus ' (“15 things”, 2009). “700 years Islam flourished in Spain, known as the Moors” (YouTube, 2009). As Nahda Productions (2009) video says, “Muslims forces created a society so rich and powerful” and was peaceful invasion; Real Crusades History (2013) video says, “The Christians who were conquered didn’t like it. The Muslims were violent, raped, enslaved the Christians” or infidels. The Muslim culture swept Spain and brought in their religious values and synagogues. “It…

The concept of “Race” plays a very significant and critical role on Othello, the play in which Shakespeare tells the story of the “dark Moor” who eventually finds himself struggling against his jealousy in the midst of white society. The very beginning of the play may be considered illusory for a reader who is unfamiliar with Othello's character: in fact, many derogatory terms are used, especially by the villain Iago and his confederate Rodorigo, to define Othello. This would certainly lead the…

Pearls of Granada: Court of Myrtles and Court of Lions “Praise be to God, my finery and my diadem dazzle those already endowed with beauty…” the inscription found in a niche in the Sala de la barca is a subtle praise to the owner and the design of the courts. The stylistic use of Arabic inscriptions, muqarnas, and stucco decoration are the emblematic features of the alhambra.To understand the Alhambra, a palace that rests on top of a hillside in southern Spain, it is important see how its…

Ferdinand and Isabella demanded tribute from Granada, the last Muslim stronghold in Spain. The Moorish King of Granada replied in 1476 that, “The mints of Granada coined no longer gold, but steel!” The Catholic Monarchs began attacking in 1482, Ferdinand leading the armies and Isabella supplying them from the rear even though she was pregnant with her fourth child. A 50,000-man Spanish Christian army drove the Moorish King Mohammed XI out by 1492 along with all remaining Jews. Ferdinand and…

Iago also tells Roderigo (who loves Desdemona) that he hates Othello for promoting Cassio over his head despite his long service. But, nevertheless, everything that Iago says to other persons in the play is doubtable because he is actually manipulating all of them. Therefore Iago’s soliloquies are very important for learning what he really thinks, what has been passing through his mind and so we know that: he is using Roderigo only as a source of gold and jewellery, that he hates Othello and…

Alfombras are carpets made of sawdust which is dyed into various colors. The materials are then placed on streets and arranged to display pictures and symbols, usually related to the holiday of Easter or the country in which it is created. During the festivities the alfombras are destroyed. This tradition occurs every year during Holy Week, or Semana Santa. This is a popular tradition in Antigua, Guatemala which is famous for its elaborate alfombras. The tradition was introduced to the…

Earlier in the novel, we learn that Othello gave Michael Cassio the leuteniship instead of giving it to Iago. However, is one promotion really the reason why he wants to drive Othello into doom? In Iago’s soliloquy in Act 1, he does mention how he hated Othello, but he never made a clear justification for his statement. In fact, Iago says. “I hate the Moor, / And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets / ‘Has done my office” (1.3.429-431). If paraphrased, Iago is saying that he hates Othello…