Theme Of Chaos In Othello By Geoffrey Sax
Consider how Shakespeare’s themes of prejudice and chaos versus order were received by his contemporary audience. How does Geoffrey Sax’s production continue to find relevance in these issues for the modern audience?
Othello is a play of tragedy; that examines the darker aspects of human existence, and forces us as audience to contemplate what it is to be human. Shakespeare privileges and challenges the Elizabethan attitudes and values towards the prejudices of race and gender while also presenting his contextual theme of chaos versus order.
These values transcend the context of both modern and contemporary audiences and it is through the BBC adaptation by Geoffrey Sax that modern audiences are able to engage with relevance of these issues. …show more content…
The prejudice of racial discrimination is still relevant within modern society as it is still an issue of significant concern. Within Geoffrey Sax’s BBC production we the modern audience are able to engage with how these concerns are still a major part of our society, particularly the contextual significance of white and black audiences engaging with this production. This can be seen with Othello’s promotion which rather than being of personal significance is of political gain for his superiors.
In addition to the prejudice of racism, the play also shows to some degrees of sexism. The play is also a study of gender, the ways by which Shakespeare, Shakespeare’s culture, and our culture define men and women. There are only three women in the play and each one is bound up in a relationship with a man and at the end of the play only one of the women …show more content…
Base use of animal imagery by Iago demonstrates the common stance on women: “wild-cats in your kitchens…players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds.” The submissive nature expected of women can be appreciated through the subservient and respectful manner with which Desdemona conducts herself in the courthouse: “Most gracious duke, to my unfolding lend your prosperous ear.” As a result, Desdemona is viewed as a pure, innocent and loyal being, as evidenced through personification: “A maiden never bold; of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion blush'd at herself”. Such obedience is also demonstrated in Desdemona’s undying loyalty to Othello, even on her dead bed: “A guiltless death I die!” and “Commend me to my kind
Othello is a play of tragedy; that examines the darker aspects of human existence, and forces us as audience to contemplate what it is to be human. Shakespeare privileges and challenges the Elizabethan attitudes and values towards the prejudices of race and gender while also presenting his contextual theme of chaos versus order.
These values transcend the context of both modern and contemporary audiences and it is through the BBC adaptation by Geoffrey Sax that modern audiences are able to engage with relevance of these issues. …show more content…
The prejudice of racial discrimination is still relevant within modern society as it is still an issue of significant concern. Within Geoffrey Sax’s BBC production we the modern audience are able to engage with how these concerns are still a major part of our society, particularly the contextual significance of white and black audiences engaging with this production. This can be seen with Othello’s promotion which rather than being of personal significance is of political gain for his superiors.
In addition to the prejudice of racism, the play also shows to some degrees of sexism. The play is also a study of gender, the ways by which Shakespeare, Shakespeare’s culture, and our culture define men and women. There are only three women in the play and each one is bound up in a relationship with a man and at the end of the play only one of the women …show more content…
Base use of animal imagery by Iago demonstrates the common stance on women: “wild-cats in your kitchens…players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds.” The submissive nature expected of women can be appreciated through the subservient and respectful manner with which Desdemona conducts herself in the courthouse: “Most gracious duke, to my unfolding lend your prosperous ear.” As a result, Desdemona is viewed as a pure, innocent and loyal being, as evidenced through personification: “A maiden never bold; of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion blush'd at herself”. Such obedience is also demonstrated in Desdemona’s undying loyalty to Othello, even on her dead bed: “A guiltless death I die!” and “Commend me to my kind