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 reader to believe that the entire story gravitates around a racist discrimination of Othello, since we are not given any description of the protagonist rather than his racial difference. Both Iago and Rodorigo often refer to Othello simply as “The Moor”…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
" In double knavery - How? - how? - Let's see. After some time to abuse Othello's {ear}. That he is too familiar with his wife. He hath a person and a smooth dispose. To be suspected, framed to make women false. The Moor is of a free and open nature That thinks men honest that but seem to be so, and will as tenderly be led by th' nose as asses are. I have't. It is engendered. Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light" Act 1.Sc.3, 437-448). This quote clearly…
The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were years of growth for the great empires of Europe. Two of these empires, the Portuguese and the Spanish, looked to expand their territories and power while seeking land not only throughout Europe, but also across the Atlantic in the Americas. Both empires commenced their expansions by sending conquistadors to discover and colonize land in the New World. Once they arrived, both the Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors, with the help of the native…
are presented as being both the enemy, but also as a valued friends. The vast majority of the Moors represented in the text are only present to show how strong and powerful El Cid is. Thousands of Moors are introduced to combat El Cid, as he conquered Muslim territory along the fringe. These Moors are presented in a negative light. When El Cid 's band of soldiers enters the fringe they are leaving "Christian-clean lands." Muslims territory, therefore, would have been considered dirty to these…