If Othello had been set in a modern era, how would it differ Essay

The play Othello is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in around 1603. The story has four central characters: Othello, Desdemona, Iago and Cassio. Othello or â€Å"the moor† is a black general, admired for his superb leadership skills. He falls in love with Desdemona, and against Brabantio’s will they elope before embarking on a campaign against the Turks. However, in Cyprus, a storm destroys the Turkish fleet and the real battle turns out to be the one of Iago against Othello. Iago’s hatred for Othello is mainly caused by his anger at missing out on a promotion added to his racism. This leads to his revenge on the protagonist. In this assessment, I am going to analyse how the play would have differed if it had been set in a modern era. The play opens with a heated discussion between Iago and Roderigo. Iago complains about Othello’s decision to promote Cassio as lieutenant. He confesses that he only remains in service of the general in order to succeed in his evil plan: â€Å" I follow him to serve my turn upon him† act 1 sc 1 l. 42. Othello is described as â€Å"the moor†. This epithet often substitutes his actual name â€Å"Othello†. Moreover, Roderigo describes Othello’s with terms such as: â€Å"thick lips†, â€Å"old black ram† and â€Å"devil† Act 1.sc 1. An Elizabethan audience would not have frowned upon the use of these terms, not finding them disturbing, offensive as it would be in our politically correct, multicultural and mobile society where distances between cultures and races have been significantly reduced. It also important to point out that there were few blacks in London during that period; there is evidence to prove this as the rise of black settlements in London occurred only during the 17th- 18th Century. Christianity further exacerbated these racial ideas as it linked the colour white to goodness and the colour black to the devil and sin. Shakespeare shows that he was open and a brave writer who was willing to stand apart from his society, choosing to make a black individual his protagonist. This choice makes him the tragic hero who the audience is encouraged to sympathize with. The second difference that rises between an Elizabethan Othello and a hypothetical modern Othello is the power men have over women. This can be seen immediately in Act 1 Scene 3 with regards to Brabantio and Desdemona. Othello’s true love for Desdemona is not accepted by Desdemona’s father, who accuses him of having used witchcraft to control Desdemona’s feelings. â€Å"She is abused, stol’n from me, and corrupted By spells [†¦] For nature so preposterously to err, Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense Sans witchcraft could not† Act 1 Scene 3 lines 59 -64 Not only does Brabantio believes that Desdemona belongs to him as if she was of his property, her elopement disturbs him even more knowing that Othello is black. Brabantio cannot fathom how the beautiful and gentle Desdemona is attracted to the black Othello. The only way he can justify this relationship is by accusing Othello of having practiced spells against her. These accusations can be seen as typical of that time- average Londoners, such as those who attended and enjoyed Shakespeare’s plays, had very little knowledge about science and relied on popular ‘wisdom’ and religious doctrines to support their beliefs. A modern audience with a more global outlook would not hold – or be loath to admit to- even though racism has not been eradicated. In modern times the power Brabantio has over choosing his daughter’s husband would also not be accepted. Today in most western countries, it is considered a right for women to choose their own partner. The fac t that Desdemona and Othello elope and show a romantic and poetic union: â€Å"Desdemona: That I did love the Moor to live †¦ with him, My downright violence and storm of fortunes May trumpet to the world: my heart’s subdued Even to the very quality of my lord: I saw Othello’s visage in his mind, And to his honour and his valiant parts Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.† act1 sc3 line 245 demonstrates Shakespeare’s modern thinking and the independency from accepted views and beliefs of the time. The third important factor that would distinguish from an Elizabethan Othello from a modern Othello regards the character of Emilia. Emilia is Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s close friend. Iago uses this friendship to get access to Dedemona, in particular, asking her to steal Desdemona’s handkerchief (a gift from Othello to Desdemona). Emilia does this to â€Å" please his fantasy † even though she admits â€Å"What he will do with it,/ Heaven knows, / not I† Act 3 scene 3 line 290. and the consequences of her actions lead to tragic developments, which have vital importance in the play. From this quote we can see Iago’s hold over Emilia and how she honours her duty as a wife- something that would puzzle us even though there are also women nowadays who are at the mercy of their husbands and do not leave destructive relationships. However, as the play unfolds, particularly in the last two acts we increasingly note that Emilia is an ambiguous character: she is Iago’s victim but also has a strong opinion about men and women that is now reflected in modern society. â€Å"Emilia: But I do think it is their husbands’ faults If wives do fall: say that they slack their duties, And pour our treasures into foreign laps, Or else break out in peevish jealousies, Throwing restraint upon us; or say they strike us, Or scant our former having in despite; Why, we have galls, and though we have some grace, Yet have we some revenge. Act 4 sc 3 line 16† This would probably be a feeling shared by Elizabethans but in reverse- they would identify Emilia as a faithful wife initially but would probably be confused and maybe even shocked by her words to Desdemona and equality between men and women when it comes to desire. In conclusion, we can say that elements of the plot would have undergone marked changes if Othello had been written in modern, politically correct times. Brabantio wouldn’t be making such a drama out of the fact that his daughter has married a black man; Emilia wouldn’t be stealing at the command of her husband and racist terms would not have been used by noblemen and colleagues. If the play had been set in modern times, it wouldn’t be the same play and perhaps it wouldn’t be as exciting and powerful either. Despite the fact that the play was written hundreds of years ago and we think that things have changed, racism and sexism haven’t ended and Shakespeare’s play makes us think.