Hanging with the cool kids;

The discriminatory dynamics

of the wealthy elite

An Othello project by

~Sean Harrington~
 ARGUMENT
Shakespeare establishes
discriminatory tactics put forth by the
upper class toward Othello that
reflect Critical Marxist Theory and
the tendency for the upper class to
create a ‘clean’ social structure that
only gives social power to the wealthy
elite.
MARXISM: EVERYONE ELSE IS UNWORTHY!
 PEPI #1

Point: The upper class only gives full respect to those who achieve their status
through the acquisition of wealth, shunning those who gain respect in other
ways.

Evidence: “Rude am I in my speech , and little blessed with the soft phrase of
peace, For since these arms of mine had seven years pith (1.3.81-3)”. Othello
is excusing his speech when he confesses his love with Desdemona to
Brabantio and the rest of the wealthy, ruling class.

Peer- Reviewed Research: “Obviously, Othello must be a fool! Because those

were not the right assumptions in the first place. 'It is the cause', this is a
character who has evolved in the 'man‘s world' of the military” (Braxton).

Interpretation: By alienating Othello due to his military rising into the political
sphere, as opposed to the normal route of gaining wealth, Shakespeare is
supporting Critical Marxist Theory. He is stating that the upper class in Venice
is ostracizing Othello because he is not wealthy like them. Therefore, Othello is
not worthy of true upper class treatment and is not eligible to make political
decisions because of an implied lack of intellect. Therefore, Othello is treated
like a barbarian.
Is this a money tree or a family tree?
  PEPI #2


 Point: The wealthy class’ use of demeaning language establishes a clear divide
between them and the lower levels of society through their eyes, which creates a
more clear group of safe, upper class alliances.


 Evidence: “Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see” (Shakespeare 1.3). This is a
quote from after Brabantio discovers Othello and Desdemona’s love. He is
putting Othello down by referring to him as “Moor” and also questioning whether
or not he can see the fault in her actions of betraying her father.


 Peer- reviewed research: “The whispering campaigns allege that Mr. Obama is a
secret Muslim planning to impose Islamic law on the country. Incredibly, he is
even accused -- in earnest! -- of being the Antichrist” (Kristof).
 “’These distress patterns, created by oppression and racism from the
outside, have been played out in the only two places it has seemed "safe" to do
so. First, upon members of our own group--particularly upon those over whom
we have some…control . . . . Second, upon ourselves through all manner of self-
invalidation, self-doubt, isolation, fear, feelings of powerlessness and despair . . .
‘” (GenPulse).


 Interpretation: The use of a racial slur like ‘moor’ in reference to Othello creates a
divide between the user and the object of the slur. It takes Othello out of his
humanity and forces an animalistic label onto him. The same can be seen today
when the upper class, majority figures use controversial slurs to put down
minority groups. The upper, wealthy class strives to assert their position in
society as class head and the use of derogatory words helps them accomplish
this.
 The use of derogatory racial slurs, like referring to Othello as the “Moor”, can
be still seen in today’s political world. Here, people use a horrible slur to reflect
their opinion that Barack Obama is not worthy of the presidency.
  PEPI #3


Point: Those members of the upper, ruling class that do not acquire their status


through wealth are forced to always accept the characteristics that brought
them there, and henceforth are never normally assimilated into the pinnacle of
the class structure.


Evidence: Desdemona’s reference to Lodovico as a “proper man” (4.3.36) in her



discussion with Emilia highlights how her true love, Othello, is not “proper” in
Venice upper class because of his military background.


Peer- reviewed research: “After we have joyed over the birth and growth of the


glorious barbarian's purpose we must inevitably grieve as it is warped and

turned awry” (Given).


Interpretation: Othello is constantly forced to realize that he became part of the



upper class through military prowess, not wealth. The other members of the
top of the pyramid force a barbaric label onto Othello. Even his true love
Desdemona sees her ‘mistake’ in a marrying a man that is not regularly
“proper”. Othello must accept this barbaric nature, and he tragically acts upon
it by killing Desdemona. This final representation of his forced aggressiveness
is the culmination of the wealthy class’ tearing him down.
A nervous former slave clings to the only thing that society
lets him define himself with: his weapon.
 SYNTHESIS

The wealthy class has always and will always continue to
establish themselves as the ruling elite in society. Their
interpretation of their wealth is that their money gives them the
power to rule over those that are less blessed. Othello, though a
member of the ruling class, is never given any social weight because
he did not come to power because of money. His military
background became his demise because of the constant pressure on
him from the other ruling members. The same phenomenon is seen
today in the political world: the wealthy class that has been ruling
America for centuries cannot accept Barack Obama as President
because he is not one of them. This attitude is similar to the Nazis’
attempt to create a total Aryan world in that both groups are
trying to flush out those who are deemed unworthy or unacceptable
based on concepts that have nothing to do with ability.
  Works Cited
Braxton. Welcome to Wesleyan University — Middletown,

Connecticut. Web. 07 Dec. 2009.

<http://www.wesleyan.edu/music/braxton/papers/shakesp
eare-F.html>.
"GenerationPulse: Issues: Race Discrimination." Boston

College. Web. 08 Dec. 2009.

<http://www.bc.edu/sites/genpulse/issues/race.html>.
Given, Welker. "Full text of "A further study of the Othello;

have we misunderstood Shakespeare's Moor?"" Web. 08

Dec. 2009.
<http://www.archive.org/stream/furtherstudyofot00giverich
/furtherstudyofot00giverich_djvu.txt>.
Kristof, Nikolas D. "Obama And The Bigots." Autoredirect to

main site. Web. 08 Dec. 2009.

<http://academic.udayton.edu/race/2008ElectionandRacis
m/Obama/Obama77.htm>.
Shakespeare, William. Othello (The Signet Classic

Shakespeare). New York: Signet Classics, 1998. Print.

