OTHELLO AND THE ROVER

Othello and The Rover

Othello and The Rover

Introduction

Many Elizabethan's had negative views of black Africans. Some Elizabethan's viewed non-whites as inferior beings and savages; and because religion played a big part in Elizabethan culture, others would associate blacks as evil and witchcraft, and other non-Christian superstitions such as the devil. Usually black was associated with evil and white with good.

Brabantio proves a good example of Shakespeare showing these images, when he accuses Othello of witchcraft, “she is abused, stolen from me, and corrupted by spells and medicines” (act 1 scene 3 line 61), he says that the “Moor” must have used “drugs and minerals”, Othello's and Desdemona's answer to this is that it was the stories of Othello's life which captured her heart not black magic, for example Desdemona says “I saw Othello's visage mind” (act 1 scene 3 line 249), and Othello tells everyone present “I won his daughter” (act 1 scene 3 line 94)

In the play “the Rover” The carnival setting is the naim issue which caused mistaken identities. Because of this confusion Behn is able to further the comedic and suspense elements. For example, Don Pedro is denied his opportunity with the lovely Angellica when his friend (and his intended brother-in-law) Don Antonio pays his offering to be with her. Don Pedro is further incensed by the fact that this is a slight against his sister, Florinda, which ultimately leads to the setting of a time and place for a duel. Of course, Don Antonio believes he is confronting Belvile from his verbal exchange with Don Pedro.

Discussion

The most important issue in Othello is feminism. The feminist analysis allows us, as current readers, to judge, contrast and to compare the different social values and status of women in the Elizabethan times. Othello serves as an example to demonstrate the imbalance of power compared with men, the beliefs associated with women's roles and also the men's perspective on women in general in past society compared with today's.

During the time when Othello was written, there was a strong sense of racism and hatred towards coloured people in society and this is made apparent through the characters and their speeches(Bevington 1988). Their racial comments reflect the original context and provide values and beliefs towards non-white people during that period. The racist characters include Iago, Roderigo, Brabantio and Emilia.

So by the time Othello comes into the play, from what is said by Roderigo, Iago and Brabantio, we get the picture that Othello is a sexually possessed animal. This is because Roderigo is angry that Desdemona has married Othello, when he was in love with her; Brabantio feels betrayed by his daughter for marrying Othello behind his back; and Iago seeks revenge on Othello for promoting Cassio to lieutenant when he feels that it should have been him. To Iago, Roderigo, and Brabantio, Othello's colour and racial background as well as marrying Desdemona are alarming, they see it as an unnatural match, they refer to Othello's ...