Discuss the importance of Venice and its effects on the characters in “Othello” Essay

One can see that Venice is instrumental in insinuating the characteristics of its people. The sheer importance of the land becomes the pinnacle of pride in all Venetians. Knowing that â€Å"This is Venice†, augments imbedded ideology that accumulated the people’s stereotypical values and status. This produced a state where expectations proverbially created a discriminating separation between Venetians and outsiders. Those who were acknowledged from the proximity of the city were superior insiders and those who did not hail from Venice, were outsiders. This seemingly made it desirable for those classed as outsiders to want to become a classed and accepted citizen of Venice. However, it seems that the outsiders struggle to create a false sense of security when trying to become accepted, which inevitably leads to their demise. Naturally, where-ever one lives, one takes on the ideals of that particular community. Venetian etiquette was too far founded to be able to be mastered by some of the characters. On examining speech and mannerisms of different people, it becomes easy to determine those who belong and those who do not. Venice at that time was regarded as a city admired for its wealth, prosperity and providence. Venice was also filled with exoticism, prosperity, desire and acclaimed military. The military aspect helps to explain why characters such as Othello and Iago are present here. However, the city not only flurried with a military air and Venetian aristocracy, but due to Venice at that time being the foundation of Europe’s commercial venture, its cosmopolitan prospect attracted many people from different countries and races. Because of this, it seems that Venice was willing to accept people of different cultures, but the aristocracy would not admit those people to their inmost society. It is obvious that Othello is a social inferior, the Venetians only regarding him as a fighter that use to their advantage by leading their army. â€Å"Othello† was written at a time of obvious racism, which would have been passable in a refined city such as Venice. What accentuates Othello’s racial difference is the fact that his outward isolation is so blatantly obvious. He is black, whilst others are white. Throughout the play, characters use this as a simple, yet effective device to harass Othello, making him feel vulnerable, knowing that he is unable to change his appearance. This is also the ridiculous notion Venetians have for ignoring Othello and it is impractical for him because being a general in the army, he is always surrounded by Venetian aristocracy and authority, who ridicule him because of his skin colour. However, Othello’s demise is particularly his fault, he willed himself into a relationship with Venice, and the will he used was terribly limited in what he could achieve and still does not achieve his goal of becoming a demure Venetian. Through-out the play, it is seen that the people of Venice are irresolute towards Othello. Whilst his services to their army is their main intent for keeping him bound to their society, it is a reflection of an outsider being bound to some-one purposely being used to destroy other outsiders. Whilst he is used by the society for their means, they still discriminate him. Whilst at a point Brabantio is content in accepting Othello into his household, inconsiderately he allows Othello to believe that because of this humble acceptance that his stories of bravery allowed him to get to, it did not allow him to be accepted in the city outside Brabantio’s house. As Louis Auchincloss suggested Othello is not regarded by Brabantio and others, but as a Victorian Englishman might have regarded some splendid Maharajah. Othello’s stories, like his ‘seditious’ self, entertained the people, as if his services to them were limited to fighting and amusement, ultimately labelling him as a lower class social inferior that was only ‘accepted’ to be used how and whenever the higher classes wanted. However, those stories captured the love of Desdemona, leaving Brabantio feeling betrayed when she elopes with the moor. He classed their relationship solely on Othello’s exoticism and racial differences, believing that their love was â€Å"unnatural as a black man.† However, Othello’s marriage to Desdemona provides him with a link with Venice and provides a means to abolish some of the perceptions others have of him. However, this link can only last if Desdemona remains alive, otherwise the link will be broken. Whilst their marriage exists and assumes that Othello can be classed as an insider, it evolves into Desdemona moving further away from her roots as an insider, getting pushed away to becoming an outsider. When Brabantio accused Othello of witchcraft and enchanting his daughter, the seemingly biased trial saves Desdemona from being emitted from society, as if her marriage to Othello destroyed Venice’s image and betrayed their importance. This scene, held in Venice declares the trials importance and authority and foretells of future demise. When Brabantio declares that â€Å"She has deceived her father, and may thee† Othello’s services are urgently required for war in Cyprus, the land of Venus. However the love of Venus is not a love of chastity or faithfulness, and so foreshadows that the living link that allows Othello to be partially accepted will be broken. When travelling to Cyprus, it is obvious by Shakespeare’s use of weather conditions that the boat trip unlocks the safeness and innate standards of the Venetians. The dangerous and violent natural boundaries that are the seas prove that nowhere other than where people originate from is a safe haven, which deviously proves that everyone will become an outsider at some point. It also foreshadows ultimate racial differences and problems that Othello will have to face. The weather and island also reflects Iago, and offers the perfect time for Iago’s plan to bear effectiveness. The island, where violence and war are bordered, shows that Iago’s character is malevolent and scheming and that he himself is also an outsider. It is as if the weather and island are his motivation and inner self, some-one who does not fit within the Venetian society because of his mystery. His character is one of paradox, befriending Othello, whilst plotting his downfall. He clearly fools the Venetian society that he is an insider and because of this portrayal shows that he himself was once desperate to conform. He also fools Othello and indeed himself, ultimately demonstrating that he is truly an outsider, when he lowers himself to deceive another outsider. The name Iago, is itself Spanish, and was probably a tool to imply great irony, as it makes the audience think of the shrine St Iago di Compostella, and it is hard to believe how a person of particular menace could hail from such a civil and religious place and not be fully accepted by the Venetian society, because we know that he is only deceiving them. At that time, Venice was famous for its pleasures and deceitful seductions of its courtesans, who can be classed as outsiders, as they have no status in the high class city and its low sexual tolerance. Iago, only too aware of this, acts upon the indistinguishable prostitutes who were able to dress like high class women and states that Othello is trusting and full of faithfulness. Iago tells Othello how Venetian men play love with different rules and that â€Å"In Venice the do let God see the pranks they dare not show their husbands.† This cunning statement raises Othello’s suspicions as he begins to believe that Desdemona who is a Venetian could be any different from the women on the street and the cities sexual licence adding to his doubts. Othello’s doubts only leave him to look down upon Desdemona with a discriminating air and hatred, as if she really were a prostitute. Because of the way Othello depicts Desdemona after Iago’s meddling, he ultimately sees Desdemona as an outsider, her reputation tainted by Venice’s sexual tolerance and the idea that prostitutes are of lower class. Also, whilst in Cyprus, the island itself taints Othello’s perception; he believes that her love begins to become impure. Iago and Brabantio are able to alienate both Desdemona and Othello, turning his exoticism into alien like qualities, but there is also another outsider; Cassio. Cassio being a Florentine ultimately proves that he is an outsider, and due to harassment from Iago and the nature of Cyprus takes over the refuge of gracious Venice and in his drunken state makes him out to be an abrasive, angry and violent man, some-one whose characteristics were completely different to the acts of civilised and proud Venetians. It is very apparent that geography and indeed Venice solely plays an important part in the tragic play. The two different settings, having been deliberately chosen by Shakespeare convey failings in both characters and society. Cyprus is not only used as a juxtaposition of love, but it is also used by Iago for his deviances and the demise of most people as they all become outsiders when the haven of their city and aspects of everything Venetian men stand for is taken away from them. Venice encompasses varied ideals and is used solely as a mirror to differentiate those who were considered to be insiders and those who were not. Venice’s strong and promiscuousness is reflected in all events through out the play in different ways. The insiders are bound by it’s synonymous etiquette and this can not be acquired by characters such as Othello, but can be manipulated by Iago. In conclusion, I believe that geography plays an important role in the play, the settings capable of emitting emotions and intimidating the consequences of being classed as outsiders and the trials and tribulations caused by being a ‘nonconformist’.