“Amid a Reckoning with Toxic Masculinity, Seeing ‘Othello’ In A New Light.” WBUR. “Solely reading about domestic violence may not enrage readers to the point of actually mobilizing for change,” but. Only Iago voices an explicitly stereotypical view of Othello, depicting him from the … Othello was married to Desdemona, the … Only Iago voices an explicitly stereotypical view of Othello, depicting him from the … This is the last time we see Desdemona stand up to Othello before the final scene. Violence in Othello In William Shakespeare's Othello violence can be found in several different ways. It starts subtly, with hints that she needs to repent for something, “This hand of yours requires/ A sequester from liberty, fasting, and prayer,/ Much castigation, exercise devout;/ For here’s a young and sweating devil here,/ That commonly rebels.” (A3.S4) Then, he moves on to harsher words, calling her a whore and all it’s synonyms. They walk away with a deeper understanding. “Solely reading about domestic violence may not enrage readers to the point of actually mobilizing for change,” but Othello can “force the reality of the situation upon the audience – ultimately bringing these articles to life.” (Vandy Performs) Shakespeare, by capturing something innately human, allows us to adapt his writing in ways that make it relevant to our world today. Why your go-to-market strategy should be industry focused; Dec. 1, 2020. Portia (Julius Caesar) Convinced that her husband, Brutus, will not be able to defeat Antony and his army, Portia commits suicide in her Roman home. Obviously, the entire narrative of Othello builds toward a horrific act of misogynistic violence: Othello's murder of Desdemona in the play's final scene. She blames herself, believes she can fix the situation, and is always on eggshells. “Abuse Defined.” 2020. https://www.thehotline.org/is-this-abuse/abuse-defined/. Sound off in the comments! Roderigo derides Othello too as ‘the thick-lips’ (1.1.66), while Brabantio, in his public confrontation with Othello, finds it inconceivable that his daughter should desire to ‘Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom / Of such a thing as thou’ (1.2.70–1) without being drugged or bewitched. Even then, he feels that, had she been guilty, he would have been justified. 17, How to Think Like Shakespeare | Book Review. impacted you? Theater, as a visual art, has the unique ability to make audiences face realities they may never face. Othello, by contrast, is a noble figure of great authority, respected and admired by the duke and senate of Venice as well as by those who serve him, such as Cassio, Montano, and Lodovico. Othello being African already makes him an outsider and highlights racism in Venice. Firstly, when Othello strikes his wife in public, then when he kills her, and when Iago stabs his wife, Emilia. But Iago’s plan works and he makes Othello love, thank, and … It isn’t long before the abuse follows a too familiar pattern by escalating “from threats and verbal assault to violence.” (HelpGuide.org) He strikes Desdemona across her face in front of a crowd of people. If so, how? “Killing Desdemona: the domestic violence in Othello.” The Sydney Morning Herald. Firstly, when Othello strikes his wife in public, then when he kills her, and when Iago stabs his wife, Emilia. It makes sense because of our current societal discourse and because Othello provides a great look into what abuse looks like … Drawing on the concepts of Jungian and Freudian psychoanalysis, I argue that the association of female speech and silence with sexuality is a projection of misogynist and racist discourses. “Abuse Defined.” 2020. https://www.thehotline.org/is-this-abuse/abuse-defined/, Vandy Performs. “Domestic Violence and Abuse.” 2019. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/domestic-violence-and-abuse.htm. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. One blogger said “the sound of the actual slap pierced my ears and forced my mind to remember the scene long after the play. The actor playing Othello, Ray Chong Nee, was quoted as saying “We all agreed that her death shouldn’t be softened. Shakespeare can and does spark conversation about modern issues, and that is what makes his writing so special. This tenacity of Desdemona is partly what serves as her downfall; she continues to champion Cassio’s cause even when she knows this may create problems for her. As a matter of fact, the story mainly revolves round the theme … Not only does this story give many different examples of violence, it displays how mental violence can promote physical … “Killing Desdemona: the domestic violence in Othello.” The Sydney Morning Herald. Theatre allows us to do that. Not simply a marker of barbarism, blood and the violence it connotes is a flexible form of self-fashioning that Othello uses to repair his understanding of the world shattered by Desdemona's purported infidelity and to negotiate this tension between stability and fluidity. The story revolves around its two central characters: Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, and his treacherous ensign, Iago. Othello is … Having accurate portrayals of abuse forces the audience to confront the reality of domestic violence, furthering the conversation and, hopefully, advocacy. In saying this to line Emilia, Iago clearly means that Desdemona’s alleged adultery has led to violence. Desdemona attempts to defend herself, escape, and beg for her life. There are three key points where we see violence against women in “ Othello ”. He is a well-respected African general in the Venice army and is happily married to Desdemona, a white woman. 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