SOCIAL BARRIERS

By Sherilyn Pavis

Racism

Restrictions of class

Feelings of inequality and superiority

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT THAT YOU COULD BE CONTRIBUTING TO SOCIAL PREJUDICE?

THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL BARRIERS IN OTHELLO

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How social barriers affects the characters in the play.

OTHELLO WRITTEN BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

HOW DOES THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL BARRIERS AFFECT THE CHARACTERS IN OTHELLO?

•Play a large role in helping to establish a person•‘Blacks’ are considered outsiders in the Venetian and English society•Iago is seen as a racist character in the play•Iago's hatred towards Othello turns into racist insults as the play progresses.

OTHELLO IN THE VENETIAN SOCIETY.

OutsiderInsider

•Military commander of the Venetian Military•Guard to a powerful Italian city.•Commands respect and admiration

•Black ‘moor’•From African heritage•A foreigner in Venice

WHICH CHARACTERS SHOW RACISM?

Brabantio: “With the Moor say’st thou?” “Damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her!”

Iago: “your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs”. “I hate the Moor”

Emilia: “O thou dull Moor”

THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL BARRIERS IN THE PLAY

•Leads Othello to believe he has an unfaithful marriage

•Iago uses Othello's insecurities about himself and his marriage to manipulate Othello.

•Iago sets out to destroy Othello using racism as discrimination.

WOULD THESE EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED IF:

•Othello had been white?

•Iago had not been able to make use of Othello's insecurities?

•Or do Othello's insecurities only occur due to being an outsider?

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNT?

The impact that social barriers (such as racism) can have on a person and on society.

•Social barriers have the impact to destroy relationships and lives.

•As seen in the play ‘Othello’ written by William Shakespeare

CLASS QUESTIONS:

1. Which character manipulates Othello using racist remarks?

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2. “Did an Egyptian to my mother give. She was a charmer, and could almost read the thoughts of people. She told her, while she kept it, “Twould make her amiable and subdue my father”

In this quote what object is Othello talking about?

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