A Critical Analysis on Othello - Term Paper Example

Elizabethan Era is characterized by the high level of segregation based on the color, caste, monetary status and other variables prevalent in the society. It was however, an era of romance and creativity where theatre was at its peak, however, the rich were able to consume seats and the poor had to stand in the crowd to entertain themselves with the show. Thus, Othello is a clear portrayal of the Elizabethan Era, where racism is the most prevalent theme as Lago and Brabantanio were judging Othello based on his color which made them believe that owing to his black color, Othello isn’t competitive enough.

The whole story revolved around the theme, where eventually racism becomes the base for the intense tragedy reflected by the play. If the play had been written in some other setting, the modern setting for that matter, the situations and conditions have been very different from that reflected in the play, which would be addressed in the paper in the later section. The Elizabethan Era is highly important for the period which preceded and followed the era, as it was the period of intense competition and rifts between the Catholics and the Protestants, also following this period was the renaissance which was the peak of literature and education for Europe.

Though the author has identified the problem very beautifully leaving a strong impact on the readers, however, he has failed to offer a solution to the problem portrayed. Othello is the central character of the entire play who is indicated as a black person indicated at various places, for instance when Lago informs Brabantanio as, “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram/ Is tupping your white ewe!" (1.1.89-90) However, despite his color he is highly competitive and is a Moorish General for the Venetian army, which makes Lago jealous of him inducing several plans to somehow shatter the life of Othello.

Lago, however, is also furious on Othello as he had promoted another officer Cassio instead on him, due to which he first tries to convince Brabantanio that his daughter Desdemona had married Othello because of the evil spell cast by Othello. In this quest, Lago eventually manages to make Othello believe that Desdemona has an affair with Cassio, over which Othello eventually murders her. Also, he cuts Cassio`s leg pretending that Othello had done so, in a fight, however when he sees Rogerido he even murders him in an effort to hide his act.

In the end, when Othello discover the truth about the innocence of his wife, he is deeply shocked and he hits Lago but doesn’t kill him as he wants to see him in the pain, however, as the Venetian nobleman comes to take them into custody, Othello commits suicide however Lago is tortured all his life while Cassio becomes the governor of Cyprus. The play is set in the Elizabethan Era and the values of the Era have been perfectly portrayed in the play, with racism being the most prevalent one.

Brabantanio has reservations against ‘the marriage of his daughter with Othello based on his color, also the belief system that Brabantanio is fed with indicating that the evil spirits were used by Othello for convincing his daughter for marriage are all characteristics of the Elizabethan society. The hierarchal order called the great chain of being was believed to be true during that era where God was the highest on the order, thus, this belief system is reflected right in the beginning of the play where the issue of the evil spirits have been raised.

Similarly, Lago has criticized the features and the color of Othello multiple times in the play, which can be