Setting and Characters in "Othello"

Paper Summary:

This paper suggests that, in William Shakespeare's "Othello", racial discrimination could have been the unconscious motivation in the plotting against Othello. The play was published around the time when people of color were just making their way into the British scene. The author points out that Othello is the only person or character of color in the cast. The paper also describes other key characters, Desdemona, Iago and Roderigo, and their interactions with Othello, which forms the core of the drama. The author emphasizes that Shakespeare's characters are very real and so true to human nature that, centuries later, they seem to represent mankind today.

From the Paper:

"As a product of her time and circumstances, Desdemona should be a typically and stereotypically weak and submissive daughter to Branbanzio and wife to Othello. She is the young and sexual daughter of a prominent Venetian citizen who falls for the marvels and tales of courage of Othello. Her comfortable life allows her to pursue a dream husband and also assert her independent will and influence over him when she wants to. Women in those days, as represented by Shakespeare's characters in this play, are subjugated to men."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Sparknotes Editors. Othello by Shakespeare (1622) Paperback. No Fear Shakespeare. Sparknotes, July 3, 2004

More papers on Setting and Characters in "Othello":

• Analytical Essay # 146841 : "Order and Chaos in Othello"
• Analytical Essay # 31231 : "The Characters of "Othello" and "Jane Eyre" as 'Other'"
• Comparison Essay # 99718 : "Desdemona and Ophelia"

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