Shakespeare's England was not a very accepting society when it came to foreigners. Shakespeare, through the captivating play Othello, addresses and reflects these racist issues during the 1600s, while Good Will Hunting reveals the inherent human condition. Both texts highlight the fact that our fear of change, our fear of threats cause us to alienate outsiders. In Shakespeare's England, racially different people challenged the status quo and thus were seen as a threat that must be resisted. Shakespeare reflects this as Othello's and Desdemona's marriage, black man and white woman, is seen as “against all rules of nature” although it simply is just a change in tradition.
In The Tempest, by William Shakespeare, the reader is introduced to an interesting character which critiques the master/slave relationship. This character, Caliban, is the slave of a powerful man, Prospero, who treats Caliban cruelly and disrespectfully. Whether or not Caliban deserves this harsh treatment is an issue the reader would have to determine themselves only given the clues Shakespeare has given them. Calibans introduction to the reader is not a flattering one; “A freckled whelp, hag-born not honoured of a human shape… Dull thing I say so; he that Caliban. Whom I now keep in service” (Act 1.2 lines 283-286).
Racism: Othello and LWT Film One of the main overarching themes in both Shakespeare’s original play of Othello and the LWT modern film appropriation is of racial discrimination. During the Elizabethan era, which is the context that the original play is set in, black people were considered to be alien to white society and were thought to be driven by passions and emotions instead of reason and intellect as white people were thought to be. They were believed to be imbalanced and dangerous and were hence labeled second-class citizens. Othello is a moor and is therefore an exceptional example of the discrimination black people received during this era, however is an unusual instance due to his high rank in the army. Throughout the play, animal imagery such as “an old ram”, “Barbary horse” and “beast with two backs” is used to describe Othello, which portray the racist attitudes held by society of the time and highlights the belief that black people were animalistic and therefore acted on emotions, lacking rational thought, like animals.
New York: Routledge, 2005. Print.) Malvolio fulfills the role as the disgraceful, inferior person within Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”. The characters in ‘Twelfth Night’ despise Malvolio. Upon Malvolio’s entrance in Act II Scene V, Sir Toby states “here’s an overweening rogue!” (Act 2, scene 5, line 27) after plotting with Fabian and Maria to punish Malvolio, referring to him as a “little villain” (Act 2, scene 5, line 12).
He finds himself restricted by the social hierarchy of a 16th century society in which birth and pedigree equate to status and he resents it. “I know my price, I am worth no worse a place” (1.1.11) He envies Cassio’s promotion to lieutenant, the position that he wanted to be in and he determines that it is the fault of his superior, Othello, as even though his master is black he has a higher rank and status because of Othello’s prowess as a general. Iago’s character parallels a low ranking character in the other play, The Duchess of Malfi. Bosola too is denied the opportunity to rise through the tight social structure. “Blackbirds fatten best in hard weather; why not I in these dog days?” (1.1.37) He too searches for a way to raise his profile in society and concludes that entering the corrupt system by employment in the name of Ferdinand, Duke of Calabria his only option, “He and his brother are like plum trees that grow crooked over standing pools; they are o’erladen with fruit, but none but crows, pies, and caterpillars feed on them” (1.1.48) The simile is representative of the
In comparison of The Lottery and The Most Dangerous Game both Connell and Jackson convey to the readers that man is inherently evil and that choices made based on societal standards, traditions, and learned behavior may not be the morally correct choice. This confirms the passage of Scripture from Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (KJV) The Most Dangerous Game, by Richard Connell and The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson share a common theme which is showing the darker side of humans, that humans possess evil tendencies and that the morals of people can be corrupted. Connell and Jackson show us that injustice and cruelty in society can be accepted as a normal behavior. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson has an unknown
Ethnocentrism promotes conflict within diverse cultural environments, and can cause an intense atmosphere of disdain for anyone that is considered to be in an inferior group (Sociology Guide-A students Guide to Sociology, 2014). An extreme example of ethnocentrism is the Nazi’s plan in the extermination of the Jews because of their desire to be the only “pure race”. Ethnocentrism and its effects have often been the cause of war, conflict, hate, and social injustice. 3. Define emigration and immigration.
The Possession of Evil Jean- Jacques Rousseau once said, “Our greatest evils flow from ourselves.” Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter intermittently argues over the manifestation of evil. Throughout the novel, evil is exemplified through Chillingworth, Dimmesdale, and Pearl as Puritan values influence their ideas of evil in the world. First, this evil is displayed through Chillingworth’s carefully schemed revenge when Hester abandons his love. Second, Dimmesdale neglects his family through denial of the truth, which is a further infliction of evil. Lastly, Pearl’s abandonment from her father and isolation from society brings about the evil she demonstrates.
Jews in Shakespeare’s England would have been familiar with portrayals of Jews as villains and main source of mockery. The comedy plot which allows the audience pity and compassion rather than concern. In Macbeth tells a story of a brave Scottish general who receives a prophecy from the witches that he will one day become the king the Scotland. Macbeth was most likely written in 1606 in the reign of James 1. James was a patron of Shakespeare acting company and he wrote under James reign.
Who knew Tybalt's unwelcome demeanor towards the Montagues would give out a quick backlash? In Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt's resentful, turbulent and belligerent disposition caused him chaos, and eventually, death. Tybalt's resentfulness towards the Montagues was one of the main causes of his early demise in Romeo and Juliet. As an example, as Tybalt saw Sampson and Gregory talking to some servingmen of the Montagues, he questioned them (referring to Abram and another servingman of the Montagues) and asked, "What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?" (1.1.67) In a way, this tells the reader that Tybalt showed his annoyance of the Montagues by insulting them and calling them unworthy peasants.