Abstract
This study aims to present a comparative examination of the traces of racism and discrimination in two plays of Shakespeare, Othello and The Merchant of Venice, written in 1603 and around 1598, respectively in the Elizabethan Period. The attempt in this paper is to explore the construction of racism and the evidences of discrimination as depicted in Othello and the Merchant of Venice by use of the deconstruction of marriage. For this purpose, it deconstructs the marriage by focusing on Othello in Othello, and The Prince of Morocco in The Merchant of Venice; and, depicts racism and discrimination by comparing the characterizations of Othello in Othello and Shylock in The Merchant of Venice. Both sections critique the cruel issues these people experienced as other. The notion of ‘otherness’ and its application in the characterizations of Othello and Shylock, Othello vs. Shylock, the application of deconstruction of marriage to Othello and The Prince of Morocco, and racism in Othello and The Merchant of Venice are among the major items on which this article elaborates following by a conclusion describing the role of human conscience in racial and religious discrimination.
Highlights
There are many cases of marriages in the world of Shakespeare both in tragedies and in comedies
Some of the marriages are based on love, some are based on money, and some are based on race
He reinforces the dominant discourse of Elizabeth and western metaphysics which bases their existence on logo-centrism and binary oppositions like white and black, day and night
Summary
There are many cases of marriages in the world of Shakespeare both in tragedies and in comedies. ‘Difference’ is based on some facts, and this process of ‘Othering’ has always been thoroughly related to the ideology which is related to a set of false thoughts and beliefs “which serve to perpetuate a particular social formation or power structure; typically this power structure is itself represented by that ideology as eternally or naturally given – i.e. as inevitable, immutable.” (Dollimore9) In this regard Staszak explains that: The creation of otherness [...] consists of applying a principle that allows individuals to be classified into two hierarchical groups: them and us. Othello kills his innocent wife cruelly because of his jealousy, and Shylock angrily insists on his absolute right to take revenge When he understands his main tragic fault his life ruins completely, but his harmonious view of the world concerning good and evil that was obviously illustrious is repaired. Schabert asserts that “Molière’s miser is miserly”, he adds “and no more; Shakespeare’s Shylock is miserly, shrewd, vengeful, child-loving and witty.” (Schabert284)
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