The Representation of Othello: Beyond the Shade of Skin

When considering William Shakespearersquo;s Othello, the titular character is often portrayed by a black actor. However, this casting decision often overlooks the historical and cultural context that shaped the play. Moroccan people, referred to as Moors, were not inherently black, and the casting of a black actor as Othello holds a complex history intertwined with cultural misunderstandings and progressive practices.

Historical Context and Perception

It is crucial to understand that the Moors, or Moriscos, as they were known in Europe, were not always perceived as black. In the context of Shakespearersquo;s England, the concept of African skin color as black was a misconception. The English had little to no exposure to people from the African continent and the closest they would have encountered people of color were through historic encounters with Ottomans and Jewish ghettos, such as the Fondaco dei Turchi in Venice.

The reference to Othello as a Moor likely stemmed from cultural and linguistic misconceptions. Historically, the term "Moor" was often used in the wider sense to describe anyone from the Muslim world, including people from Africa, the Middle East, and North Africa. It was not a racial reference, but a cultural one. The closest thing to an "African" they might have known would have been the people from the Ottoman Empire or the African slaves brought to Europe. These encounters, however, were not as common or widely known as the figure of a typical African.

Cultural Misunderstandings in Modern Adaptations

The representation of Othello as a black character reflects broader cultural issues that persist in contemporary media. Hollywood and progressive whites often rush to cast black actors in roles where the characterrsquo;s origins might not be purely African or where the play itself never suggests a racial reference. This is evident in the God of War video game, where Angrboda, a character from Norse mythology, is given a black appearance despite her setting in a snowy environment in Northern Europe. The explanation provided by the game developers is rooted in the fact that the Norse myths do not explicitly describe her skin color, leading to a misinterpretation of the character.

Similar misrepresentations occur in film adaptations set in Renaissance and Medieval Europe. In Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, for instance, Morgan Freeman, an African American actor, plays a Saracen warrior. This casting choice perpetuates the notion that non-Caucasian roles must always be filled by black actors, even when the charactersrsquo; ethnicities are not explicitly defined in the original source material.

The Essence of Othello: More Than Skin

Shakespearersquo;s Othello is a powerful exploration of foreign identity, deception, and the insecurities that arise from it. The importance of Othello being a foreigner, rather than his skin color, is a more accurate and profound representation of the text. As the play was written around the time of the first English settlers in the Americas, the inherent racism of the American South had yet to fully develop. The portrayal of Othello as an outsider, rather than a race, resonates with a broader theme of cultural power and resistance.

It is argued that the figure of Othello was originally not meant to underscore racial issues, but to explore the internal conflicts of a man from a different culture. The term "Moor" in the play is not meant to evoke racial connotations but rather to highlight the exotic and foreign. The desperation of Iago to undermine Othellorsquo;s power and the fear it instills in Venetian society might be better understood within this cultural framework rather than a racial one.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the representation of Othello as a black character in modern adaptations is a well-intentioned but misguided attempt at progressivism. It often stems from a misunderstanding of the historical context and the cultural significance of the play. By focusing on Othello as a figure of cultural power rather than race, we can gain a deeper and more accurate appreciation of Shakespearersquo;s masterpiece.

Key Takeaways:

The term "Moor" in Shakespearersquo;s time did not necessarily refer to black skin. Othellorsquo;s role is more about his status as a foreigner rather than his race. Modern cultural misunderstandings often lead to misrepresentations in casting and adaptations.