Othello: A Tragedy of Early Modern Colonialist and Patriarchal Discourse

1. Introduction

Ed. Michelle Lee’s essay on “Othello” is a critical source that looks into different approaches to studying Othello and the contexts in which the play is interpreted. Lee focuses on how the play can be read as a tragedy of early modern colonialist and patriarchal discourse, and how modern critics approach Othello from the perspective of race and gender. The Venetian society in Othello is also analyzed as a microcosm of the Elizabethan period.

2. Othello as a tragedy of early modern colonialist and patriarchal discourse

Lee begins by discussing how Othello can be read as a tragedy of early modern colonialist and patriarchal discourse. She states that the play is “set against the backdrop of Venice’s conquest of Cyprus and its annexation as a colony” (Lee 1). This setting is significant because it reflects the early modern world view in which Europeans saw themselves as superior to other cultures, and justified their colonization by claiming that they were bringing civilization to those who were “barbaric” or “savage.”

According to Lee, Othello can also be read as a tragedy of patriarchal discourse because it “exposes the ways in which early modern masculinity was intertwined with notions of honor, reputation, and violence” (1). She cites Thomas Betteridge, who argues that Othello is a “tragedy of masculinity” because its decline is caused by “a crisis in masculine identity brought about by [Othello’s] displacement from Venice to Cyprus” (1). In other words, Othello’s tragic downfall is due to his inability to conform to the Venetian ideal of masculinity, which values honor and reputation above all else.

3. Modern critics approach Othello from the perspective of race and gender

Lee goes on to discuss how modern critics have approached Othello from the perspective of race and gender. She cites Richard Mallette, who argues that Othello must be understood in light of “early modern conceptions of race, color, and difference” (Lee 2). Mallette believes that these concepts played a major role in shaping how Venice saw itself in relation to other cultures, and that they affected the way in which Venetians treated people of color like Othello.

Richard Wilson also takes a similar approach when he states that Othello must be understood in light of Elizabethan attitudes towards race and gender (Lee 2). Wilson believes that Elizabethans saw women as “inferior beings" (2) and people of color as "savages"; this shaped the way in which they treated these groups, which is reflected in the way characters like Emilia and Desdemona are treated in Othello.

4. The Venetian society in Othello as a microcosm of the Elizabethan period

Lee also discusses how the Venetian society in Othello can be seen as a microcosm of the Elizabethan period. She states that Venice was “a site of racial and religious tension” (Lee 3) during the Elizabethan era, and that this is reflected in the play. For example, the character of Desdemona can be seen as a symbol of religious tolerance, as she is a Christian who marries a Muslim.

Lee also argues that the treatment of women in Venice is reflective of Elizabethan attitudes towards women. She states that women in Venice were expected to be “chaste, obedient, and submissive” (Lee 3), and cites the character of Emilia as an example of a woman who does not conform to these expectations. Emilia is outspoken and independent, and she challenges Othello’s sexist views towards women.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, Lee’s essay is a critical source that looks into different approaches to studying Othello and the contexts in which the play is interpreted. It is useful for understanding how Othello can be read as a tragedy of early modern colonialist and patriarchal discourse, and how modern critics approach Othello from the perspective of race and gender. The Venetian society in Othello is also analyzed as a microcosm of the Elizabethan period.

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