Comparison between Othello and Skin - 1414 Words

Compare and contrast the portrayal of the predicament of the outsider in the texts Othello and Skin. To what extent are the differences between the two texts treatment of this theme due to their different historical and cultural contexts? Othello and Skin are both excellent examples of how the outsider is topic in which society is intrigued by. Both Sandra and Othello are both victims of their time and geographical setting, as well as being considered different due to their race and achievements. Although there are a great number of common themes through both Othello and Skin, such as racism, relationships with both family and the community, gender roles in relationships, the role of the outsider and the use of race in relationships, but the difference in historical context, personal achievements, respect and setting between the two are so contrasting that it changes how the audience empathises with the characters, as well as how both Sandra and Othello change during their respective films. The Shakespearean play Othello is about how a black military leader in Venice is undone by an elaborate plan thought up by Iago to overthrow Othello and obtain Othello’s high position in Venice’s military society. Othello was set in the late 16th century, when Venice’s trade was threatened by the growing power of the Turkish Empire. The setting in itself prognosticates a rapid downfall, as during Shakespeare’s time, as Venice would have been synonymous with luxury and culture, but asShow MoreRelatedComparing and Contrasting the Chiaroscuros Between Othello and Iago1709 Words   |  7 Pagessomething. William Shakespeare plays with the status quo of literature in his play Othello by giving Iago, a white man who should represent purity, an evil, black heart and by giving Othello, a black man, a noble, white heart when he should represent evil. Shakespeare â€Å"founds his play on the rupture between outward signifiers and inward signifiers, between the Moo r’s evil-seeming black face and his ‘perfect soul’, between his ancient’s honest-seeming white exterior and the ulcerous evil that breeds aroundRead More The Use Of Animal Imagery In Othello Essay1040 Words   |  5 Pages In William Shakespeare’s play â€Å"Othello† the use of animal imagery was evident throughout the telling of the story. Shakespeare explained several characters actions by comparing them to similarities in animals. The characters in â€Å"Othello† were often depicted as having animal-like characteristics. Some characters were even compared to animals by other characters in the play. By defining characters in terms of these characteristics one can get a clear description of what the character isRead MoreRacism : Elizabethan And Modern Societies1079 Words   |  5 Pagesdiversity, even if it doesn’t quite seem like it. Generations today are more open to ethnic assortment, but yet still are stuck to racial stereotypes. Everyone who is racially diverse is quietly but surely judged based on their different dialect and skin color. Many people today undermine any other race, making their opinions based off of stereotypical theories. Society today obtains high standards of unity. When something is different from the normal, it threatens the unity. This threat often producesRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare990 Words   |  4 Pagesinduce behavior that would otherwise not normally be warranted. In Othello, The Moor Of Venice, jealousy is a very important component of the play. Iago uses jealousy to control the Moor, Othello, into committing various acts against his wife, Desdomona, and one of his soldiers, Cassio. It can be deduced that the sheer powe r of jealousy is the most important theme in Othello because the play shows how a strong General, such as Othello, is subject to this malicious emotion and its trickery, how the strongRead MoreAnalysis Of Shakespeare s Othello, By William Shakespeare1040 Words   |  5 PagesWhen pairs of texts are considered together, their universal themes and ideas lead to greater understanding, appreciation and insight of both the old and the new. The texts Othello, William Shakespeare (1600) and Othello, Geoffrey Sax (2001), ring true for this statement. Despite the differing contexts and ages, the universal themes of racism and betrayal bring new meaning to each of the texts. The primary meaning from the juxtaposition of the two is that of the human condition, and how the problemsRead MoreRacism In Othello1694 Words   |  7 PagesWhy Would You Think That? Without a doubt, Othello is one of Shakespeares most confrontational pieces of literature. The play has had a tremendous impact on literature for many years. It was written in a time where there was racial segregation, which many people cant believe that there was a successful black leader. Othello, is a very high ranking official in the Army (a powerful general) and is married to a young, white girl named Desdemona. Knowing when this play was written itsRead MoreShakespeares Play, Othello, is More than a Tragedy854 Words   |  3 PagesThe audience can perceive Shakespeares play â€Å"Othello† as just a tragic play of a jealous man in the early 1600s thinking that his wife is cheating on him with another man. It could be just that, however it could be something much deeper. Many argue that the main character Othello may have had a Oedipal Complex. This is a psychoanalytical theory introduced by Sigmund Freud in 1899. It is the idea that one has a desire for sexual involvement with the parent of the opposite sex and a sense of rivalryRead MoreThe Significance of Power in William Shakespeares Othello, Gwen Harwood’s â€Å"In the Park†, and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close1389 Words   |  6 Pagespower or lack of power including the potential of the individual or groups to use this power to enrich or challenge other people communities or ideologies to what extent is this true of Othello. Power and lack of power have the ability to enrich, even challenge other peoples communities and beliefs. Shakespeare’s Othello is one example of a text that expresses the potency of Power and its abilities to enrich and/or Challenge. Power can be illustrated within a text through: The Power of words, the powerRead MoreA Relationship Between A White And A Black Mother1313 Words   |  6 Pagesstories and music. It is unclear if Morrison is trying to make a comparison between a white and a black mother (the latter is usually reputed to be not-so-good-mothers, especially in American culture). It is challenging to separate race issue in the events of this play. Desdemona tells Barbary that she is color blind when the latter tells her she was just a slave due to the color of her skin. Desdemona tries to show Barbary the bond between them by countering the claim that her whiteness makes a differenceRead MoreShakespeares Use of Language to Show Othellos Changing State of Mind1627 W ords   |  7 Pagesfriendship. This is dramatically effective, being at the beginning of the scene because all through the scene Othello is seen thinking and talking about how disloyal she is. It also makes the tragedy at the end of the play more awful, as the audience knows she really is innocent. Iago then cunningly preys on the inquisitive nature of all humans, including Othello, to mould his mind to thinking the way he would like. He says unbeneficial things, dropping hints as to his feelings