解析《奥赛罗》悲剧的社会因素Analysis the Social Factors of the Tragedy Othello.doc

【英文】毕业设计论文解析奥赛罗悲剧的社会因素Analysis the Social Factors of the Tragedy Othello ContentsEnglish Abstract.IChinese Abstract.II. Introduction1Analysis of Racial Discrimination.22.1. Theoretical Analysis.22.2. Racial Discrimination in Othello .32.3 The Influence of Racial Discrimination on Othellos Character.6. Influence of the Feudal Patriarchy on Tragedy of Othellos Marriage.103.1. Theoretical Analysis.103.2 Othellos male chauvinism in his marriage. 113.3 Desdemonas over-obedience in her marriage.14. Conclusion .16Acknowledgements.18References19 Analysis the Social Factors of the Tragedy Othello Name: Pan Jianchao Major: English Tutor: He Zhanyi Abstract: Othello was written by Shakespeare in 1604 and it is the mostcontroversial one of Shakespeares four major tragedies. Traditional humanistreadings largely ignored the impact of social forces on the tragedy of the famous playthey just saw the play as concerned simply with the flaws in Othellos Characteristics“Theory of Jealousy” has been dominant in Shakespeares research for a long time.According to many views on the tragedy of Othello in my opinion it was a doomedtragedy. Based on social factors this paper tries to explore the deep social reasons oftragedy of Othello. Because of the tumor of racial discrimination in society the whitehas superiority of its race and culture while the black has to take the burden of theirsense of self-based psychology. In addition the feudal dark forces of the patriarchalculture and medieval religious conventions were still dominated the social ideologyso the social factors make a great influence on the causes of the tragedy Othello. Key words: social factors racial discrimination patriarchy tragedy 解析奥赛罗悲剧的社会因素 学 生：潘建超 专 业：英 语 指导老师：何占义 摘要:奥瑟罗是莎士比亚在 1604 年所创作的，它是莎士比亚四部主要悲剧中最有争议的一部。传统的人文主义读本大多忽视了社会因素对这部著名悲剧的影响，而是仅仅简单认为这部戏剧主要关注的是奥赛罗性格的缺陷，“嫉妒说”曾在奥赛罗研究中一直占据着统治地位。根据对奥赛罗悲剧的不同观点，笔者认为，这是一部注定的悲剧。从社会因素出发，本论文探究了造成奥赛罗悲剧的深层社会原因。由于社会存在种族歧视这颗毒瘤，白种人有着种族及文化优越感，而黑人不得不承受自卑的心理压力，另外，父权制以及中世纪宗教习俗等封建黑暗势力依旧主导着当时的社会意识形态，因此，社会因素对奥赛罗悲剧的发生有着重大影响。 关键词：社会因素；种族歧视；父权制；悲剧.Introduction Othello is one of Shakespeares four major tragedies. Although the plot of theplay is very simple it reflects many aspects of life. Since hundreds of years ago manycritics have been arguing on what the root of tragedy is. Just like KMNewtonpointed that “Othello has produced more controversial critical echo than any other ofWilliam Shakespeares tragedy plays.” Reference Guide to English Literature p401 Oneview is that jealousy and credulity make Othello lose his reason and human natureand another view is that the great power of evil causes the tragedy of OthelloHowever I think no matter what the view is the tragedy is inevitable and it has aclose connection with Othellos society and time. In Othello through the tragedy ofthe very individual Shakespeare emphasized the influence of the society andindicated the relationship between the very individual and the society. Certainly acertain individual must be influenced by a certain time and society. On the angle ofracial discrimination Othello just reflects the whites superiority of its race andculture and people living on the margins of society owning self-abased characteristicin their deep heart. In addition the feudal dark forces of the patriarchal culture and medievalreligious conventions were still dominated the social ideology. It attached tremendoussignificance to the cause of unfettering individuals from feudal conventions. While itis widely acknowledged that “individual” here exclusively refers to the male in thesociety in other words the society was still forcefully dominated by men inaccordance with strictly hierarchy and women were still proceeding in inferiority andshowing up to meet mens needs. They were required to be subject to their fathersbefore marriage and to their husbands after marriage. Fathers authority andhusbands authority together make up the doctrine of patriarchal culture. This led tothe male chauvinism and womens over-obedience prevalent around the wholeEuropean in that age. Although Othello and Desdemonas tragedy is more or less canbe blamed on them however our attitude to their tragedy is not disgusting and hatredbut mercy and regret Othello and Desdemonas death is deeply rooted in the socialand time the powerful forces of darkness like cruel waves engulfed them in thecurrents of history. All of the social reasons consist of the main factors of thetragedy Othello.Analysis of Racial Discrimination2.1Theoretical Analysis Race on the international stage has been become an important topic for a longtime. We know that since the birth of mankind we had already been divided intodifferent races and then the fallacy of racial discrimination were appearing. Racialdiscrimination from the beginning of human history to now have never stoppedarguing and race is also a very sensitive topic. “Racial discrimination is a kind ofprejudice and unfair attitude to the colored people”. （Liu Xiaojuan 2006）Namelyin broad sense except white person all the other colored people are the subject toracial discrimination. For the colored people the racial discrimination is a nightmare. “In fact in thetime of Elizabeth with the expansion of the colonist the discrimination for the blackpeople became more and worse.” Bloom Harold.p87 We know in the early slave tradethe black people were the main victims. They were killed and sold. hey had nofreedom and wisdom. They were nothing. For the white people the black people werethe tools for them to get profit. They were forced to work for the white people. The racial discrimination was also one of the causes of Othellos tragedy. Therewas no doubt that Othello a black moor lived in the time and society ofdiscrimination. This discrimination did not come from some single people but fromall the walks of the country. 2.2 Racial Discrimination in Othello Racial discrimination reflected in every part of Othello. Though Othello is nobleMoorish descent he is a Moor so he is easily subject to discrimination. ThoughOthello is an excellent commander in the wars when he in search for his identity in awhite world he is deeply feeling that he was a cultural otherness. “Othello is clearlyan outsider in Venice. He is belongs to different races and countries and come fromNorth Africa to help Venice fight against the Turks. In addition Othello come fromdifferent communities of discourse and language so he is not someone who ismanaging Venetian culture and language.”Diane Andrews Henningfeld p25Because of his great military exploits he served in the Venice government and isrespected by the Venetian but this respect is conditional because he undertakes thetough task to protect the safety of the white government of Venice in other wordsuch respect is built on the basis of Othellos unique military gifts once he threatensto Venetians reputation status such respect can be thwarted. No matter someone whoown high status such as Brabantio or have low-status such as Roderigo and Iago areboth hold racial prejudice to Othello. Firstly let us focus our attention on Brabantio Othellos father-in-law he wasalso a pure racist. Brabantio is the senator of Venice from his inconsistent attitudetoward Othello we can see that how serious of his racial discrimination psychology inhis mind. Before he knew Othello and his daughter fell in love he treated Othello ashis honorable guest just as Othello said：Her father loved me oft invited meStill questioned me the story of my lifeFrom year to year the battles sieges fortunesThat I have passed. Othello p37From this we can see that before Brabantio knew Othello fall in love with his daughterhe regarded him as the best friend while he knew it in his eyes Othello became aguilty moor. If we think carefully we can get a conclusion that people who likeOthello with so prominent fame and social status how he doesnt deserve hisdaughter Desdemona If we can ignore the racial discrimination against the blackpeople the marriage in our eyes is perfect enough. Just because Othello is an Africanmoors Brabantio opposed to the marriage so strongly. To Brabantio the marriagebetween his daughter and moors can be seen as a great shame of his family as well ashimself. Secondly let us shift our eyes on Iago and Roderigo. in Iagos eyes Othello is aquotold black ramquot “ Barbary horse”，and embodiment of devil. Due to Iagosdiscrimination coupled with his failure to be promoted by Othello and plus otherminor reasons arousing his extreme hatred toward Othello which promote him to seta plot to revenge on him. Firstly he successfully took advantage of Cassios kindnessto make Othello remove his post of Lieutenant then he suggested Cassio to seek favorfrom Desdemona during this period he grasped the opportunity of Desdemonasenthusiasm of helping Cassio to successfully instigate Othellos suspicion. Later hecreated a handkerchief incident which deepened the suspicion of Othello finally hesuccessfully arranged the meeting of Cassio and Desdemona which made Othellofurther believe his suspicion on Desdemona. Iagos scheme make Othello goes crazy.This is Iagos whole process of implementation of his conspiracy. From this we cansee Iagos motive of treacherous behavior juggle plot ruthless revenge and tramplingall moral norms with impunity is completely out of his racial discrimination. What hehas dong also shows his intolerable hostility to the progressive ideal and faith ofhuman. Roderigo attitude toward Othello can be regarded as the representatives ofsecular commons in 17th century. He once said: I say again hath made a gross revolt Tying her duty beauty wit and fortunes In an extravagant and wheeling stranger Of here and everywhere. Straight satisfy yourself. Othello p14 There is no other better evidence to prove the secular racial discrimination thanthis sentence. Obviously in the eyes of Roderigo Othello is a “wheeling stranger” inshort he believes that Othello the Moor does not deserve the love of Desdemona. Overall we can see that the social discrimination is the root of the tragedy ofOthello. There are three reasons can prove that. First of all Shakespeares descriptionsor hints on different social classes racial discrimination in his drama making us havea clear knowledge of the whole social background of that time. Racial discriminationjust like a vicious tumor is widespread in all social classes it is the biggest obstaclefor Othello and Desdemona to pursuit their love on the road. Second Iago thedesigner of the plot and the manipulator of the tragedy hates Othello and the roots ofhis hatred lies in Othellos Moorish identity and his skin color. Iagos evil hideousface cover his racial Discrimination on Othello makes it difficult for common peopleto see the truth. Kind-hearted people tend to be confused by Iagos lies and they thinkthat the root of the tragedy is caused by Iagos unsuccessful job promotions or theunwarranted adultery between Desdemona and Cassio but all of these are minorsthey just serve as a catalyst for the evil root of racial discrimination Finally Othello the victim of the tragedy is also the tragedys accomplicethough his nature losing is closely linked with the racial discrimination we cantignore that his character flaws also make a great influence on the causing of thetragedy. Due to the racial discrimination and Iagos trickery Othello suspicion wasinstigated he slowly believes that a Moor could not actually win the love of a whitegirl gradually he loses his confidence and becoming self-based. At beginning hefirmly believes Desdemonas loyalty and chastity but slowly he begin to suspectDesdemonas motivation of love and finally he completely denied Desdemonas love but believing that Desdemona is a “wicked Whore” step by step he make the tragedypersonally. In summary we can say that racial discrimination is the main source of thetragedy Othello.2.3 The Influence of Racial Discrimination on Othellos Characteristics Any persons characteristics are affected by the society. Othello is the same asthat and his characteristics are the outgrowth of the society. In Othellos societyracial discrimination appears everywhere. It is understandable that Othello as amarginal person who is often looked down upon owns a sense of inferiority complex.Because of a sense of inferiority complex Othello is easy to have jealousy andcredulity characteristics that cause the tragedy.2.3.1 Othellos sense of inferiority complex If someone is discriminated by the others the inferiority complex is easilycoming out from his bottom of heart. Inferiority complex once formed and developedit will be having a significant negative impact on human psychology. Self-deniedideals are easily arousing upheaval and dramatic changes in ones emotion and mindmoreover itll seriously affect peoples work and life sometimes under a certaincondition it maybe causes a cruel crime. If someone loses confidence he will easilylose courage to fight with the difficulties if someone totally loses his confidence hellbe unable to face themselves and their life. The reason for those people who go toextremes and even committing suicide is because of their psychological pressure istoo big to beard. The main social factor contributing to Othellos inferiority complex is racialdiscrimination. We all know that Othello is a “Moor” which is a disparaging remarkof Muslims in North Africa given by Spanish and Portuguese later it refersspecifically to the black mixed residents of Western Sahara Berbers and Arabs whowere located in northwest. Combination With the description of the script of OthelloOthello was among the Moor with black mole skin and thick lips which provide areason for people at all levels to discriminate against him. From the attitude of variousVenetian classes toward to Othello we will see that racial discrimination iswidespread in the society. Skin color and origin determines his status in the eyes ofthe Venetian. In the minds of white Venetian Othello is a low dark-skinned alien justlike a hero salve. It is precisely because the secular racial discrimination arousingOthellos suspicion of a Moor could actually win the love of white girls and then hegradually lost confidence. At the beginning he persist in believing Desdemonasloyalty and c.