ENG220Y5 Lecture Notes - Ethnic Stereotype
Document Summary
Suggestion that turks/ottomans are wild in their behaviour. Xenophobic phrase that might be referring to himself/what he used to be. Before stabbing himself, othello identifies with both the venetian official (who wields the knife), and the turk. Othello is never fully christian even though he is converted because of the practice of circumcision in the two other religions. Converted christians can never be more than skin deep because the scar of circumcision is permanent. *othello is a good christian on the outside, but iago manages to activate his inner muslim. *othello is just a barbarian and is just wild inside. Othello"s religious and cultural identity can be projected as an act. Othello speaks too beautifully, he does things better than the natives themselves. The handkerchief: there"s magic in the web of it (3. 4. 67ff. ) Conflict, desdemona was accused of being under a spell, desdemona said she wasn"t. But, othello gave desdemona the handkerchief and she fell in love with him.
