Othello: Opposing and Critiquing Social Stigma
William Shakespeare’s famous play, “Othello” is a dramatic yet realistic manifestation of early Elizabethan Europe. The societies of the Elizabethan era were plagued by the ubiquitous impediments of misogyny, class division and racial stigma. Individuals of African heritage were viewed as criminals and thugs simply due to the pigment of their skin, women were defined with strict, erroneous gender expectations while social class divided and left individuals powerless. Within the play, Shakespeare fabricates a society which attempts to accurately replicate the social norms and sentiments which loomed over Elizabethan society. However, he also opposes these social perceptions through the actions of the characters portrayed. Shakespeare was a poet and writer who was considered “ahead of his time,” incessantly challenging the harmful perceptions and beliefs held by the masses of society. Through his portrayal of African racial minorities to his representation of females, Shakespeare critiques the pervasive prejudices of society within his play. He explores the notions of social justice and feminism within a society plagued by inequality, chauvinism and racism. The issues Shakespeare discusses through his play are not fragments of the past, but also prominent social issues around the world today.
Misogyny and the degradation of females was systemic during the Elizabethan era as women were perceived as the subordinates of men. While men were viewed as strong, powerful leaders and held positions of high social status. Women, however, were viewed as weak and powerless damsels. Females were even abhorred and abused to some extent, as evident in the portrayal of the character, Iago, a companion of Othello whose mind is poisoned by jealousy and vindictiveness. In Act 2 Scene 1, Iago tells his wife, Emilia that “[women] are pictures out of door, bells in your parlors, wild-cats in your kitchens, saints in your injuries, devils being offended, players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds.” This manifests Iago’s stereotypical and prejudiced perception of women, viewing them simply as incompetent, vexatious objects with only one objective: to assuage their husbands. Females were expected to obey the orders of their husbands and fathers without any question, denying them their own degree of autonomy and freedom. This same perception of woman as man’s property is also exhibited through Brabantio, Desdemona’s father. In the opening scene of the play, Iago and his accomplice, Roderigo attempt to wake Brabantio in the middle of the night and notify him of Desdemona’s absence from the house. Iago yells out in the dead of night, “what, ho, Brabantio! Thieves! Thieves! Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags!” The proclamation of thieves “stealing” Brabantio’s daughter is a prime example of objectification, as if one’s daughter is a possession that can be purloined as opposed to an individual with free will. Brabantio’s response also reflects this sentiment, announcing, “oh, heaven, how got she out? Oh, treason of the blood! Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters’ minds by what you see them act.” This statement expresses his desire for total control over Desdemona’s actions, denying her the autonomy and liberty she deserves. Such treatment and perception of women was ingrained into society during the Elizabethan era: marriages would not be conducted at the will of the daughter, but at the will of the father; men would lock their daughters in their homes, precluding them from ever leaving; they would be dehumanised, treated as possessions rather than independent people. Such a society is the archetype of patriarchy.
Shakespeare eloquently manifested this widespread societal stigma against women within Othello. However, he also explores the feminist sentiments of equality and the empowerment of females. Iago’s wife, Emilia, a woman he verbally abused and treated with contempt discusses such notions in Act 4 Scene 3, when she and Desdemona engaged in a conversation regarding the mistreatment of wives at the hands of their husbands. She asserts that “Let husbands know their wives have sense like them. They see and smell and have their palates both for sweet and sour, as husbands have.” This statement discusses the mistreatment of females within society, juxtaposing the two genders and proclaiming that women possess the same emotions, desires and intelligence that men do. By including this piece of dialogue, Shakespeare explores the world through the eyes of females, an oppressed demographic within a patriarchy completely run and ruled by males. This scene also humanises the female characters, proving to the audience that women are not unfeeling stones, but rather sentient beings who deserve to be treated equitably. Desdemona also shows strength and courage within this play, defying the control of her father and resolving to marry her true love Othello in spite of vehement condemnation. Desdemona tells her father, “you are the lord of duty. I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband. And so much duty as my mother showed to you, preferring you before her father, so much I challenge that I may profess due to the Moor my lord,” resisting his authority and making her own, independent decision. Such fortitude and strength was not common amongst women during the Elizabethan times as they were subjugated by the systemic patriarchal oppression, making the representation of both Desdemona and Emilia something that challenges the underlying prejudices and views of society. The exploration of these notions of gender equality manifests Shakespeare’s progressive thinking and how he attempts to critique and question the workings of a regressive and unjust society.
During Shakespeare’s time, the residents of society also held discriminatory, abhorrent sentiments regarding individuals of foreign, non-European heritage. Individuals of African descent were perceived as animals, as inferior to Caucasians all due to the pigment of their skin. Individuals with dark skin were dehumanised much like the women of Elizabethan society, subjugated by societal prejudice and inequality. A victim of such prejudice is Othello himself, a man of African descent living in a predominantly European society. Racist sentiment is expressed in Iago, who becomes angered as he was not appointed as Othello’s lieutenant and attempts to seek revenge. Again in the opening scene of the play, Iago wakes Brabantio in the middle of the night, proclaiming that “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe.” The black ram being described in this case is none other than Othello the black man, while the white ewe is Brabantio’s daughter, Desdemona. He utilises the negative symbolism of the black ram, something that is described as being aberrant or disreputable, thus angering Brabantio at the prospect of his pure, beautiful “ewe” being taken by the abhorrent black ram, Othello. This is also another example of dehumanisation of both women and individuals of African heritage. As sheep were considered the property of farmers, Iago uses this terminology to deprive Othello and Desdemona of their humanity. The term sheep is also used widely in the contemporary era to describe someone who adheres to common thought and cannot think for themselves, again dehumanising and belittling both Othello and Desdemona. Iago even states that Desdemona has been lost to the “gross clasps of the lascivious Moor.” Iago says this in such a way that villainises Othello, making him appear as a lustful, rough and evil character which is depriving Desdemona of her purity and innocence. Brabantio even states “ [Desdemona], in spite of nature, of years, of country, credit, every thing, to fall in love with what she feared to look on!,” asserting that women such as Desdemona would be afraid of African men such as Othello. This particular statement from Brabantio also manifests the taboo surrounding interracial marriage during the Elizabethan era. The first scene of the play eloquently represents the societal sentiments regarding Africans; the view that blacks were malignant thugs and truants who do not represent anything human. Iago and Brabantio’s conversation corroborates such systemic mistreatment and misrepresentation of blacks during the Elizabethan times.
Shakespeare expresses the prevalence of racism within Elizabethan society play through the actions and thoughts of different characters within the play. However, he also challenges and opposes such sentiments through the narrative of the play, defying the social expectations of the time and invoking thought. The most prominent defiance of such racially biased social prejudice within the play is the role of Othello himself within Venetian society. Othello was appointed by the Duke of Venice to be the general of the city’s military, a role which holds honour and prestige. Following the message that the Turks were sending a fleet of ships to Cyprus, The Duke proclaims “ Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you against the general enemy Ottoman.” The Venetian army was based upon honour, valour and prestige. To be appointed as General would require one to be respected for their efforts in war and society. Othello, an African man who is discriminated against through racial stigma is a prime example of Shakespeare’s opposition to such social prejudices. Othello is a manifestation of a well respected, honourable and courageous black man. During Elizabethan times, individuals with black skin were represented as vicious gangsters and thugs. Blacks were even viewed as sub-human during these times. However, Shakespeare utilises an African man as the main character of his play, representing him as a courageous, intelligent and moral individual. Through his representation of the black man, he challenges the widespread perceptions of racial minorities within society. Shakespeare even asserts that pigment is not reflective of personality through the words of The Duke. In Act 1 Scene 3, The Duke tells Brabantio “and, noble signior, If virtue no delighted beauty lack, your son-in-law is far more fair than black.” This again plays upon the same symbolism utilised by Iago earlier, correlating the colour black with malevolence and white or in this case, “fair” with purity and beauty. What The Duke is insinuating through his statement is that regardless of Othello’s darkness in skin colour, his heart and soul is truly virtuous and beautiful. This statement from The Duke is another example of the refutation of racist sentiment by Shakespeare. By introducing a character which perceives Othello not by the colour of his skin, but the by the nature of his personality, Shakespeare opposes the widespread societal views and stigmas. Desdemona’s attitudes towards Othello also oppose the cultural and social beliefs regarding race during the Elizabethan times. She states “I did love the Moor to live with him my downright violence and storm of fortunes may trumpet to the world. My heart’s subdued even to the very quality of my lord. I saw Othello’s visage in his mind, and to his honour and his valiant parts did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.” This statement expresses Desdemona’s love for Othello in spite of his colour, another opposition to the ubiquitous racist views of Elizabethan society.
From a cultural materialist perspective, the time period in which Shakespeare lived was a regressive and unjust era. Females were viewed as the subordinates of males, racial minorities were discriminated against and viewed as lesser beings. Shakespeare attempts to recreate such underlying societal prejudices within his play. Through the treatment of women by Iago and the dehumanisation and disrespect of Othello, Shakespeare mirrors the attitudes of society towards both women and racial minorities. While Shakespeare replicates these societal prejudices within the play, he himself does not advocate or wish to uphold them. The play is by no means a story of cultural isolation and discrimination; Shakespeare simply brings light to these underlying social issues and attempts to enlighten the audience. His portrayal of women through the dialogue of Emilia and Desdemona opens a doorway into the mind of a female during the Elizabethan times, giving an honest and accurate perspective on how women are inequitably marginalised within society. He does this with a pro-feminist contention through Emilia’s dialogue, where in the script she discusses how women have the same feelings as desires as men but are still treated unfairly. Shakespeare also manifests the racial inequality and stigma during the Elizabethan era through the words of Brabantio and Iago. However, he also refutes the societal notion that racial minorities are lesser beings or criminals through the high social status held by Othello himself. As General of the Venetian military, Othello is a respected individual within society who holds a reputable position. The interracial marriage between Othello and Desdemona also challenges the expectations and social norms of the Elizabethan era as “race preservation” was a popular notion during Shakespeare’s time.
The early capitalist societies upheld such hierarchical sentiment within society. The subjugation of a certain demographic of individuals allows a select contingent to prolong their dominion, resulting in the formation power structures fuelled by misogyny and racism. The social prejudice that Shakespeare depicted within Othello is still present in the modern era. A prime example of this is the institutionalised racism against African-Americans in the USA. Blacks were the only racial demographic to have been slaves in the USA. The notion of slavery invoked stigma and prejudice against dark pigment that is still present today, even subsequent to the abolition of legal slavery. After African slaves were emancipated, they were given no economic base to start from. They were simply thrown off their plantations with no food, shelter or money. This resulted in the creation of an extremely poor ethnic group within the nation; a poverty which would continue through generations to come. Black Americans are still economically behind within the US due to the existence of slavery and their communities are underfunded and dilapidated. The criminal justice system and media is also skewed against people of colour, demonising them and resulting in the mass incarceration of African Americans within the nation, which results in negative perceptions of African Americans amongst the citizens of the nation. Such pervasive racism was present during Shakespeare’s time and still plagues us today.
Gender inequality was also discussed through Shakespeare’s play. The societal personal attitudes towards women within Othello were extremely misogynistic and discriminatory, with the objectification of females and the deprivation of free will and autonomy being the largest two examples of social misogyny. What Shakespeare discusses here is not completely eradicated either. Women in the modern age are faced with a significant pay discrepancy within the workplace, being payed almost 0.77 cents to the dollar due to pay discrimination and other factors. This results in less opportunity for women within society, with men holding most of the high paying jobs and positions. Outside of the western world, women are also denied the simplest rights such as education itself. In Pakistan and Afghanistan, females were deprived of the right to attend school by the extremism of the Taliban. In the ultraconservative state of Saudi Arabia, women only just earned the right to drive. In several African nations, females cannot even afford to attend schooling. Some misogynistic sentiment also still exists within the broader society. Objectification of women still continues to this day while domestic violence is on the rise in cities.
Shakespeare’s perspective regarding these social issues are still relevant today, in a society full of inequality and injustice. Through Othello, Shakespeare not only challenges the regressive sentiments of Elizabethan society, but he also comments upon issues that plague our modern society. Shakespeare was known to be ahead of his time, discussing such notions of gender equality and racism before these terms were even established within society. Through this play, he critiques the internal biases and underlying societal pressures of the Elizabethan times, challenging the sentiments held by the wider society while simultaneously commenting upon the state of the world in the modern age. Shakespeare truly was a progressive thinker.
