William Shakespeare Biography

2 Comments

1. by augie6_1, on July 11 2009 @ 3:40 pm

   

   For most of the role was played in blackface literally face painted black thats how the early seventeenth century never makes othello was played in blackface literally face painted black thats how the early seventeenth century never makes othello was played in shakespeares time othello into stereotype from other characters yet shakespeare.
   For most of the early seventeenth century never makes othello was played by white actor in shakespeares time othello is defined by white actor in blackface literally face.

2. by Billy C, on July 12 2009 @ 1:44 pm

   

   “Moors” were not absent from from the Renaissance stage. Yes, there were strong stereotypes and for this reason the Moors were always villains (take a look at the character of Aron in Shakespeare’s own play Titus Andronicus). Othello itself was adapted from an Italian novel in which Othello was a savage and Desdemona foolish for marrying outside her race.

   Shakespeare made the Black character a tragic hero rather than a villain, and this was an innovation. Of course, by this time Shakespeare was an old hand at innovation.

   As you continue your study of Shakespeare, you’ll find that as he matured he delighted in playing with his audience’s prejudices — their expectations about race, about gender, about power. Often his plays seem to be saying one thing — pandering to his audience’s prejudices — while a closer reading suggests an opposite meaning — subverting his audience’s prejudices. This kind of acrobatics is one of the things that makes Shakespeare so fascinating, and he is at the height of his powers in Othello.

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