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Othello is, indeed, unable to 'read' Iago fully, and is initially overly confident that his merit will transcend cultural barriers. By the end of the play, Othello has become so suspicious and twisted by racism that he is unrecognizable, even to himself: "Is this the / noble Moor whom our full senate/Call all in all sufficient?" asks one observer. (4.1) parallel situation for a Black athlete is not hard to imagine. Consider a young man, from the streets, who is thrust into a world of unimaginable fortune and fame, because of his physical gifts. However, the manners and subtleties of the white world are impenetrable to him. He may date a White woman, but has hardly been able to adjust to a world where feelings, rather than physical prowess matter more, just as Othello the general from a hard life has never been married or lived in a world of women. Moreover, Desdemona admits that she is moved by pity, or Othello's difference from her, rather than her kinship with her future husband, hardly a good foundation for a relationship. Similarly, those who show young, Black athletes kindness might also, even in the athlete's own estimation,...
(Hunt, 2003, p.1) Tragically, Othello desires to be integrated into the society he has given his life to saving, but unless society is willing to work equally hard to embrace persons unfairly regarded as alien, a truly tolerant world will be nothing, to paraphase another Shakespearean play, but a midsummer dream.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. "Othello." MIT Classics Page. [6 Nov 2006] http://www-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/othello/
Hunt, Maurice. "Shakespeare's Venetian paradigm: Stereotyping and sadism in 'The
Merchant of Venice' and 'Othello." Papers on Language and Literature. Spring 2003.[6 Nov 2006] http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3708/is_200304/ai_n9225201
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. "Othello." MIT Classics Page. [6 Nov 2006] http://www-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/othello/
Hunt, Maurice. "Shakespeare's Venetian paradigm: Stereotyping and sadism in 'The
Merchant of Venice' and 'Othello." Papers on Language and Literature. Spring 2003.[6 Nov 2006] http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3708/is_200304/ai_n9225201
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