Brabantio Protests the Marriage of His Daughter Essay

Brabantio Protests the Marriage of His Daughter - Essay ExampleThis essay would therefore like to determine whether Othello is doomed to illuminate because of his position as a Black, or because he is merely an outsider. But even with the second option, the play would demonstrate xenophobic tendencies. What was the attitude of Shakespeares England to Blacks? England beginning encountered Blacks some while in the sixteenth century, probably around 1554 (Orkin 166). By 1601, however, there must have been enough rise in the Black population for Elizabeth I to have noticed and criticized the great numbers of Negars and blackamoors which are crept into England (Jones 12). There was therefore, already a culture of mistrust against the Moors in England. The word black at the time had many different, negative associations of evil, as the OED suggests. However, Shakespeare may not have been part of this attitude. Aaron in Titus Andronicus is still a racial stereotype, but by the time Shakesp eare writes merchandiser of Venice, he is ready to present a more dignified Moor (Orin167).