| How is the character of Othello more "modern" and believable than Hamlet, King Lear, or Macbeth? If you'd prefer (and haven't read the above works), consider Othello's character in light of Beowulf, Sir Gawain, and other ancient/medieval protagonists. How does Othello depart from the older heroes of literature? |
Monday, December 10, 2012
The Moor
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ReplyDeleteOthello embodies the modern idea of heroism because of his flaws and lack of appeal to the culture in the book. Ancient and medieval literature, (such as Sir Gawain, Beowulf, and Hamlet) generally create their heroes and protagonists from the ideal man: young, white, affluent male, raised in wealth and power and ready to assimilate their talents into the warring nation to create a name for themselves. In all three novels- Beowulf, Sir Gawain and Hamlet- each protagonist embodies the characteristics of the archetypal hero sought out during that time. Othello, however, diverges from the typical ancient/medieval because of his race, age, and position in the social hierarchy of the novel, an idea that is much more present in modern literature (the underdog that ultimately saves the day.) This idea is present in modern literature such as Huckleberry Finn, where the protagonist faces adversity in his situation. Othello introduces the idea of the unconventional hero and departs from the older heroes of literature, thus making Othello not only more "modern" but much more believable.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Christina, about the idea that Othello differs from heroes of other ancient medieval literature based on his race and age, but I disagree that he differs from those other heroes based on his position in the social hierarchy of the novel. Like you said, Othello is the underdog and that is what makes a modern audience like him and root for him, however, it is only because of his race and age. Othello is a general and holds a very high social rank in the story because of this. Not only is he a general, but on top of that he is black and relatively old. For this reason he is the underdog- throughout the play he endures crude remarks based on his race and age, but continues to persist through these comments and perform highly in his position.
DeleteOthello can be considered a more modern character than Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear because he, unlike the other three characters, is a very strong and independent hero who is not easily controlled by others. While Hamlet unquestioningly listens to the commands of his father’s ghost, Macbeth is a pawn carrying out Lady Macbeth’s biddings, and King Lear is seemingly controlled by whoever is flattering him at the moment, Othello is a very sensible and level-headed leader, respected by all, even racists, as a wise, talented, and just military general. In fact, the only one able to manipulate Othello in the slightest is Iago, and this is only because Iago’s character is so duplicitous and devilish that he is able to fool everyone into thinking he is the most honest man in the world despite living a complete two-faced lie. Thus, Othello is only ruined because he is the sole target of the concentrated efforts of arguably literature’s greatest villain, and not because he is weak or submissive in the slightest. However, Othello is no perfect hero, for just like in Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth, his eventual destruction is brought about through himself, by his own capacity to be overcome by anger, envious passion, and rage.
ReplyDeleteOthello, in contrast to Beowulf, Sir Gawain, and other ancient/midieval protagonists, is not a hero that is widely respected and renowned by other characters in the story. Beowulf and Sir Gawain were generally seen as noble, and any instance that may have suggested otherwise was proven wrong. When Unferth tried to diminish Beowulf, he was seen as a rambling drunk and when the knights of the Round Table left King Arthur to accept the Green Knight's challenge, Sir Gawain took his place. On the other hand, rather than receiving constant praise and gratitude, Othello finds himself a victim of discrimination by the play's characters. Rather than holding Othello in a high regard for his position as the army's general, the main characters of the play use racial terms to describe him behind his back. This displays a widespread resentment of the play's hero. It is also fair to consider that Othello is placed against literature's greatest villain, Iago. Unlike the villains faced by Beowulf and Sir Gawain, Iago holds the ability to manipulate individuals to take his side. Iago was able to convince Roderigo and Brabantio to act against and despise Othello. A similar instance may have occurred in Beowulf through the words of Unferth, if he wasn't overruled. Iago is seen as literature's greatest villain because he has proven himself not only able to act against the protagonist, but also able to take what belongs to the protagonist and use it against him.
ReplyDeleteThe main difference between Othello and Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth is his social status among the community. In modern heroes we most often see the hero as a lower class individual that is very relatable, and never holds a very high position of power, unlike King Lear and Hamlet. The modern era likes to see the underdog save the day, which is entirely different than what medieval stories entailed. Othello is moving toward a modern protagonist because he does not hold the highest power and he is black which automatically puts him at a lower status than almost everyone he talks to in the play. The social class issue is one that is very blatantly present in Othello (conversation between Othello and Barbantio in the Duke's court) and his struggle with that is what brings him a step towards a modern day protagonist.
ReplyDeleteOthello’s character is more modern because he is more relatable. Unlike other previous heroes, it seems as if he achieved his position through talent rather than blood. Hamlet could become the hero that he was because he was thrown into his power, and able to do more with it. Being black put Othello at a disadvantage to begin with, so his rise to his position came with respect from his people. Overcoming that prejudice helped Othello gain faith from Venice. He is also more believable than heroes such as Beowulf because he task seem more reasonable, and he diminishes them quite well. For example, the fight between Cyprus and Venice was extinguished as quickly as it started. Also, Othello can be considered a modern hero because he is flawed. It can be argued that Beowulf and Sir Gawain were flawed too, but their flaws never led them to any tragedies, or any tragedies that resulted in so many deaths. Othello’s flaws of being easily persuaded, and quick-minded eventually led to his destruction. These other heroes who always succeed and never truly fail are less believable than a flawed hero. Othello is a modern hero because he is flawed and succeeds in some aspects but also makes bad decisions in who to trust which leads to his downfall.
ReplyDeleteIn ancient literature, the hero normally has physical confrontations with the villain and it is much less psychological. Like most of the other heroes, his character is respected by the other people and is a very capable person. Othello has skills that make him indispensable to the story and he placed himself in a position of power. Beowulf had physical strength, Sir Gawain has chivalry, and Othello has his military skills. However, Othello is not liked by most of the other characters unlike many other heroes in ancient literature. He is disliked due to his race and he does not have a strong base supporting him. He also self-destructs due to his emotions which does not happen in many other novels. He is depicted as human with human flaws which is not common in many older books. He is more believable than a hero like Beowulf who seems perfect in every way.
ReplyDeleteOthello, the infamous character by William Shakespeare, is much more believable than Beowulf and Sir Gawain because of the relationships he has with the other characters. Shakespeare surrounds Othello with an array of characters from Iago and Rodrigo, (who despise him), to Desdemona, (who loves him). On the other hand, Sir Gawain and Beowulf are greeted almost entirely by praise and immediate acceptance, an unrealistic expectation in the modern world. The fact that Othello is disliked by many different people, yet liked by a few, for distinct reasons make him seem more human, or at least a much more dynamic character. Sir Gawain and Beowulf embody the older spirit of literature by showing less dynamic personalities. This is evident rom the akin reactions of most of the characters from their respective novels.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Othello is a more modern character than those of Beowulf or Sir Gawain but do not think of him to be more believable. Othello is more modern in the sense that he is as equally flawed as he is valiant. Beowulf and Sit Gawain on the other hand were trying too hard to live up to the ideals of medieval heroism. Beowulf had a constant need to prove himself and held himself up to impossible standards. Likewise, Sir Gawain spent his adventure trying to live up to and maintain the chivalric code that he had a duty to uphold as a member of King Arthur's Court. Othello does prove that he is a worthy man and is deserving of his title but then allows "possibilities" to cloud his judgement rather than demanding actual evidence. Othello is different from the other heroes in that he allows himself to be affected by social indecencies rather than focus on his duties to his country and his people. I say that Othello is not so believable because, its very hard to believe that a moor would be so revered in the first place. Contrasting him with someone such as Sir Gawain for example, whose blood lies within honor, makes Othello and implausible option for a hero. The fact that he is of a different race and that his transgressions have been overlooked due to personal status does not seem to be a very credible foundation for a hero.
ReplyDeleteOthello separates himself from the protagonists of Beowulf, Sir Gawain, and other heroes in ancient literature because he is not an outspoken hero who goes on noble quests, slays monsters, and saves the lives of many. Othello is a hero because of his military prowess, which in itself makes him a more modern and believable character, but he is not treated with high regard among the people because he is a Moor. Othello departs completely from the heroes in ancient literature because he does not receive praise and high regard for his accomplishments; instead he is constantly referred to using racist terms, and holds a lowly position in society. Othello is contrasted by Beowulf because Beowulf’s heroics of slaying monsters enable him to be held extremely high in society because of his great physical strength and courage. Likewise, Sir Gawain embarks on a journey in which he defeats the Green Knight’s challenge by being chivalrous and honorable all throughout his quest. In turn, Sir Gawain is also regarded as a hero within society. Another essential difference between Othello and other ancient heroes is that he is not successful in overcoming a great challenge. Othello is clearly outmatched by Iago, the most evil of all foes, and cannot defeat him due to Iago’s ability to manipulate him because of his delicate psyche. The way Othello embodies a hero takes a step toward modernity because the heroes in more recent texts are not the perfect character who can overcome any obstacle.
ReplyDeleteThe character of Othello can be considered more modern because of his characteristics, interactions with others, and means by which he came to power. Othello isn’t the typical protagonist that we usually see. Shakespeare breaks boundaries by presenting this African American character that has come to power through hard work and loyalty, and not through family ties. It is because of his race that he is often tested, and discriminated against. He is seen as a strong character not only because of his noble actions but because of his abilities to push aside those who discriminate against him. The character of Othello is made more believable because he has people trying to work against him and is not held up on the same pedestal as Beowulf and Gawain were. This makes the character of Othello more relatable and also possibly more heroic because he is trying to push past those who are working so hard to bring him down.
ReplyDeleteOthello is the contradiction which makes him more of a hero. In literature, we often sympathize with the under-dog, hoping for the hero that has endured everything to overcome the villain with nothing. Hamlet, for instance, is a prince, that was born with the privileges that many heroes have to preserver through. Beowulf is considered an old hero because he represents the god-like form that plows through all of his challenges. Sure he was left alone as a child, but that had no effect on him when he was fighting Beowulf. But the two things that these men have in common is the ability to challenge themselves to overcome the prejudices and stereotypes. This made them heroes. Othello is a much more modern and believable hero because he has that part of him that sets him aside from others, that is a constant reminder of how he wasn't good enough for the society. However, Othello takes these jokes and uses them to make himself a better man. He is a general, and a successful man with a wife. Perhaps the fact that someone so different can be so great is a point of jealousy for men like Iago. Once again, Hamlet was a hero that tried to save his family, but he was the one that put himself through ridicule when he acted insane. It is the man that is unfavorable, that risks everything that we, as readers root for. This is the modern hero.
ReplyDeleteOthello is a more modern protagonist since he doesn't fit any of the criteria that Beowulf, Hamlet, or Sir Gawain fall under; he isn't a white male who is young and needs guidance from others in order to make his decisions. For example, in Hamlet, he listens to the Ghost of his father in order to prove that he was murdered by Claudius while also in Sir Gawain, he has to listen to the Green Knight's challenge as well as the game that he plays with Bertilak at the castle. Othello, however, must make his own decisions and he also had to make his own reputation. Unlike Hamlet, he wasn't born into a royal family that already had influence in society. He came from another country and wasn't white which caused him to have to overcome many racist oppositions. He didn't have an easy transition to the power/influence he currently has and his character is built off of the hardships he had to endure in order to obtain his current status.
ReplyDeleteOthello is very different from the older heroes. This is because unlike Beowulf, Sir Gawain, and other older protagonists, Othello is a complex character. Beowulf and Sir Gawain are both flat characters in that the reader does not get a sense of depth or humanness. Both had to deal with unnatural enemies and both seem like perfect embodiments of heroism. Othello on the other hand departs from this image of classic heroism. The depth of Othello’s character comes from the internal emotion and conflict often scene in modern literature. Othello’s flaws only help to relate the reader to Othello. Also, throughout the play the reader gets to see character development and a change in Othello’s overall behavior. Othello’s dynamic characteristics are what give him his appeal over characters like Beowulf and Sir Gawain. Real people are dynamic and implementing similar traits into Othello is what makes it more modern and believable.
ReplyDeleteOthello is vastly more modern than other heroes as he is much more relatable to the common age. This holds true through the fact that he is black and is somewhat of the underdog. The fact that he has to fight for Desdemona and elopes with her- having to deal with the raft of her father, makes him much more relatable than the princes who can woo any girl they want. In many other plays the hero is held at such a higher esteem than all around him and no one would dare to mess with him, yet in "Othello" he has to deal with many conflicts to become the well respected man he is.
ReplyDeleteThe similarity Othello shares with the other heroes of literature is that he is well respected and admired by everyone. However, he diverges from the “older” heroes in that Othello has flaws. Beowulf, for example, was flawless; he was wise, great on the battlefield, and brave. Beowulf’s imperfections were never highlighted in the poem; his strengths were emphasized instead. Othello, on the other hand, is more of the underdog in the play and that gives the character a more modern twist. Through the manipulation of Iago, Othello loses everything that mattered: his wife, reputation, position, and respect. However, these failures humanize him and allow the reader to closely relate and sympathize with him.
ReplyDeleteOthello is not just modern because of his race and position in the army, but because of the sophistication of his speech, his demand for ocular proof, and his status as a tragic figure in the novel. Othello defends himself through his words and stories; it's how he justified his marriage and how he refuted Iago's accusation. This is a modern twist to the hero because most early heroes, like Beowulf,were viewed as such due to their military triumphs and leadership triumphs. Although Othello does possess similar triumphs, they are not what defines his character. Additionally Othello is a tragic figure with flaws. Past characters like Beowulf were made to be perfect members of society that were to be admired. Othello has flaws, mainly his impulsiveness and his jealousy, which is more of a modern idea. It's much easier to identify his flaws with Sir Gawain's.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of this play, Othello almost seems like the perfect hero; wise, witty, cunning, great with the ladies, a rogue streak, and most almost more important than all the rest, a rough road to success. In my humble opinion this is what makes him such a modern character, not just his race, or his speech, or any individual qualities but the culmination of them all. Modern readers like to root for a central hero, as we discussed in great depth in Beowulf. Almost immediately Othello plants himself as this hero. If that wasn't enough, he is a tragic hero as well! Hollywood would be in tears. Sure, Shakespeare might have strayed just a bit from the silver screen Disney happy ending, but up untill that point, he contains all the necessary parts of a modern hero, and that is why he remains so timeless.
ReplyDeleteAs has been noted frequently, Othello differs from older heroes in his social standing. He has brilliant military talents and is very valuable to Venice so therefore he can be viewed as a hero. But because of his race and status as a foreigner, Othello is doomed to a lower social standing. His military achievements and symbolic value to Venice then are not the result of birth right or privilege but of his own merit. The perception of Othello as a "self-made man" makes him more relatable to modern readers because this reflects modern notions of equality. The concept of nobility is lost on modern readers as is the idea that heroes should be perfect beings capable of conquering every obstacle, as several students have mentioned. The previous placement of heroes on pedestals is no longer characteristic of modern literature or film. Rather, because the most dominant social, political, economic, and cultural concept of the last 200 or so years is equality. Othello then is more modern because he is allowed transgressions and despite his race is more identifiable than the sociopath Iago. The only thing I am struggling with is the fact that Othello leaves readers by killing himself after having killed his wife, a hardly heroic act. By this I think it is important to be weary when analyzing the heroic qualities of Othello but also would like to point out that Othello's final speech is quite moving, perhaps suggesting that the new age of heroes do not have to possess military of physical strengths but rather a sturdy mind and a dedication to the more valuable aspects of life like conviction.
ReplyDeleteTo begin with, I agree with what was posted ahead of me numerous times. Othello is different than the other characters we have read about because he is more flawed, and hence more relate able. In addition to this, I think another reason Othello is more modern and believable is because he faces more realistic issues that any of the other heroes we have read about. I think it is safe to say that no one born in this century is going to be defending their chivalric code, fighting dragons, or attacking Herot. However, it is a very real possibility that we might run into racism or adultery. I believe that these issues are what make Othello so much more believable than the other stories mentioned.
ReplyDeleteYeah I would have to say that Othello is a more flawed character in the minds of readers than previous heroes that we have read previously and in class. I agree with the points made above about his race and age holding him back and keeping him down in society. This obstacle for Othello is the reason that readers like him because it shows he's just a normal guy dealing the hand he was dealt which is very relate able in modern literature. I also agree that his standing in his area of work is to show that he is worth something to Venice which makes the reader in turn see that he is valuable and makes him seem more like a hero.
ReplyDeleteOthello differs from previous heroes because his major conflicts in the story are more to do with his internal flaws than a fixed monster or antagonist. While Iago does serve as a sort of villain, he really implements the harder faults within Othello to bring the leader down, which is a much more modern aspect of literature. The idea that the hero suffers from isolation is an additional aspect that Othello has which relates him to modern literature. Othello is alone in the world due to the fact that he is not of the same race or ethnicity of the Venetians. Previous heroes such as Sir Gawain and Beowulf were already noble members of society free of the concerns that burden Othello. Furthermore, Othello meets a tragic ending more like the characters of contemporary literature, such as Grendel or John the Savage in Brave New World. Obviously Othello is a more modern hero on account of his internal conflicts, conflicts with society, and the tragedy of his ending.
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