Romeo and Juliet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Romeo and Juliet - Essay Example The first time it is presented by Othello to Desdemona as he impresses on her the magic of the talisman that was given to his mother by an Egyptian woman. The second time it is mentioned is as Othello attempts to justify his murder of Desdemona, saying Cassius had the talisman his father gave his mother. His review of the available literature on the subject reveals that most critics tend to assume Othello is lying in the first story that he tells to Desdemona as a means of romanticizing his past while few attempt to approach the question from the opposite point of view – that Othello was telling Desdemona what he really believed. Andrews also concludes that the critics have, by and large, managed to trivialize the role that his race has played in the development of Othello’s character. Those that have concentrated on race have frequently taken the idea too far, indicating that Othello is somehow less of a man because of his ‘inferior’ race. â€Å"Iago†™s temptation of Othello depends upon the kind of naivetà © Robeson has in mind; but his impassioned behavior when Iago’s ‘medicine’ works †¦ reflects Shakespeare’s acceptance of the popular notion that blacks are more passionately emotional than whites† (Andrews, 1973: 279). Where this differs from prejudice is in the fact that Shakespeare does not make this a central element of Othello’s character, but only allows it to manifest itself occasionally, such as in the case of the handkerchief. Despite what Andrews may have to say about the absence of a critical analysis regarding the role of Othello’s race and its impact on his character development prior to the opening of the play, this is exactly the subject of Edward Berry’s article â€Å"Othello’s Alienation† (1990). Within his article, Berry, too, reviews the available literature regarding Othello’s race, claiming the majority of critics choose to relegate