Friday, September 25, 2015

Othello Essay Outline

Thesis: Although Shakespeare generally shows some sympathy to his characters that are outsiders, the stereotypes portrayed and the harshness that they evoke outweigh attempts at sincere sensitivity towards minorities, as seen through both Shylock and Othello.

Shylock:
Instance of sympathy:
"Hath not a Jew eyes... The villainy you teach me I will execute--and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction" (III.i.48-61)

  • the only sympathy that is evoked towards Shylock from the audience
  • at the same time, we resent him for it
    • he becomes vengeful, stating that the reason is the treatment that has been placed upon him, which seems unreasonable
Instances of stereotypes and alienation:
"The Hebrew will turn Christian.  He grows kind" (I.iii.175)
  • Jews are evil and ruthless
"Certainly the Jew is the very devil incarnation" (II.ii.24)
  • Jews are compared to the devil
"My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter, Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats!" (II.iix.15-16)
"I would my daughter were dead at my foot and the jewels in her ear" (III.i.75-76)
  • The Jew cares more for his money and possessions than his daughter
Ultimately forced into Christianity and loses all of his possessions.


Othello:
Instance of sympathy:
"Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors... I won his daughter" (I.iii.91-111)
  • calm, collected, humble, patient, and articulate

Instances of stereotypes and alienation:
"An old black ram Is tupping your white ewe.  Arise, arise! Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you" (I.i.97-100)
  • not only is Iago specifying that Othello is black, but he is being vulgar and implying that he is the devil
"your daughter and the Moor are {now} making the beast with two backs" (I.i.129-131)
  • Iago refers to Othello in an animalistic sort of way
"And yet, how nature erring from itself" (III.iii.267)
  • Othello and Desdemona's relationship is unnatural given his skin color
    • He starts to lose confidence as a result and becomes aware of how he isn't good enough for someone like Desdemona
"Her name, that was as fresh As Dian's visage, is now begrimed and black As mine own face" (III.iii.441-444)
  • even Othello understands and agrees with the negative connotation put upon people of color

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