Is Shakespeare Racist?

In class on Tuesday, our Brit Lit class watched several videos on the idea of racism in Othello. One of the arguments was that Othello was written in a time where racism did not exist and there were just black people in society so it makes sense that they were written about in a play. This could be true, but what I've decided is that although it may have not been written with racist intentions, that doesn't mean that it isn't seen as racist today. Our society today is very different from the society that surrounded Shakespeare. We are very cautious about what we say and do, making every effort not to appear the least bit racist. Over time, stereotypes have developed and some qualities present in those stereotypes may appear in the play simply because it was what Shakespeare observed. Seeing those qualities, we latch on to the idea that because it is present in a stereotype, it is racist. As society changes, I think there should be some changes in plays like this one in order to avoid offending someone or starting an argument. If plays were adapted to our society and what we find acceptable instead of being performed as they were written for a society years and years ago, I think many arguments could have been avoided.

The images above have clearly been created on new interpretations of Othello without any thought of what ideas the author original meant to convey. As of now, I have not read much of the play and don't know the premise of it. Just looking at these pictures, I get a strong sense of the "black" stereotype and racism against them. The first picture, of a white actor in black face, seems to make Othello look as if he has captured his wife, with his hand across her neck making him appear as a threat to her. In the second picture, with both the white and black hand intertwined, it is very clear that race is a factor in this play: instead of just showing two hands and focusing on portraying love, the picture is quick to establish that there is a difference in skin color. The skin colors aren't even realistic, being bright white and solid black, it seems to identify the people by color instead of allowing them both to just be seen as human beings. The third picture is similar, focusing on color and no other theme. In the fourth picture, we see an image very similar to the first. The white female looks vulnerable and afraid while the man is posing a threat to her, taller and stronger than her with his hand around her neck. The fifth picture shows Othello in stereotypical garb and size, looking at a small white woman who almost looks like a chess pawn. Again, we see the stark differences in skin color and the separation between white and black. The last picture is silhouetted, saving me from mentioning skin color one more time. The pose Othello is in and the color surrounding him make the image feel threatening, showing him as a criminal.

All of these pictures have illustrated how we have turned Othello into a racist play by identifying themes/qualities in the written play and associating them with the stereotypes we have ingrained in us instead of imagining the author's mindset before interpreting the play for ourselves.

Poetry

Poetry has been around for awhile and, like novels, poems vary in length and can sometimes be difficult to understand. Nevertheless, they are powerful and able to convey a story and emotions in a number of lines. While novels may make you feel as if you are watching a scene the author constructed, poems make you feel what the author felt. They express the feelings that the poets suffer through as they write them, forcing the reader to feel the same thing. They may be a bit dramatic at times but they do feel more personal than a story impersonal to an author. 

In some cases, poems seem to portray too much emotion and take us too deep into the mind of a poet. For example, The Flea by John Donne expresses ideas that would never have crossed my mind had I not read this poem. It tells of a man attempting to convince a woman that it would not be a sin for them to be together since their blood is already intermingled inside of a flea that just bit them. I don't know about you, but talk of blood and mosquitoes does not exactly make me swoon, although it may make me faint from nausea. 

No poem is like another: they each bring forth different emotions and ideas worded in a way that makes us feel what they feel. They flow in a way that makes us want to keep reading, and gets better when read aloud. Poems are very different from other forms of writing and, while they may take some getting used to, are a way for us to connect with other people and understand feelings and thoughts outside of our own.

How to Hero

"The hero follows a code that exalts indomitable will and valour in the individual, but society requires a king who acts for the common good, not for his own glory. The greater the hero, the more likely his tendency to imprudent action as a king." -John Leyerle

This quote completely contradicts the plot of Beowulf, as the main character is a hero and does become king near the end of the story. Before I read this epic poem, I didn't have the clearest understanding of what a leader really is, nor did I understand the expectations placed on them. Leaders are somewhat selfless, driven to accomplish feats not for their own ego, but for the benefit of their people. As a hero, Beowulf was helpful to others but often was working to benefit himself. He enjoyed the attention he got after killing monsters and, while his actions did benefit others, the rewards were what he was after. 

This isn't to say that a hero can't become a leader. People change, and priorities evolve. Beowulf began as a hero looking for glory but once he becomes King of the Geats, he no longer is just in charge of himself. He is responsible for all of the Geats, needing to protect them and help them to thrive. As a hero, he is strong and willing to enter battles. This benefits him as a king as he cant be unwilling to fight and protect his people. He is able to keep them safe and all he has to change is the reason behind his actions. Instead of looking for glory, he looks for happiness in his people. I think he evolves into the right kind of King, yet his heroic instincts are what gets him killed in the end as well as what endangers his people once their protector is gone.