The term "Moor" came from the country named Mauritania, but it generally referred to all North Africans and West Africans and, for some people, all Muslims and non-whites. The Moors were known as monstrous and savage in Elizabethan England. In 7th century when new religion of Islam was born in the Arabian Peninsula. Tintoretto is best known for his paintings that still hang as they did centuries ago in the churches and famous public buildings in Venice, including the Doges Palace. Elizabethans used the word "moor" to refer to both When he learns from Emilia, too late, that his wife is blameless, he asks to be remembered as one who loved not wisely but too well and kills himself. Throughout the play, Othello, The Moor of Venice, Othello is frequently impacted by the racial differences looming over him despite the fact that he has devoted himself to the Venetian army and fights for Christianity. It seems when you read stuff from the 16th century to mid 17th century, the moors are usually depicted as black. Othello was written some time between 1600 and 1605. Can we bring a species back from the brink? Here Iago is drawing attention to Othello's racial otherness by calling him ''an old black ram'' and is being rude beyond that as ''tupping'' here means ''having sex with.''. The moors were Muslim (Othello converted to Christianity). Answer (1 of 4): Othello was a Moroccan , an inhabitant of North Africa. Another group that suffered due to the Reconquista was the Jews who lived in Muslim Spain. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. While it can mean many things, it's certain that the term is racially and culturally charged, and not in a flattering way. In the time of William Shakespeare, however, it was a perfectly socially acceptable thing to do. She actually stays in his house, in disguise: Quicksands dresses her up as a Moorish . What do they call Othello? Despite his military prowess, Othello is also portrayed as exotic, hypersexual, and untrustworthy"a lascivious Moor" who secretly marries a white womanreflecting historic stereotypes of black people. This would have contributed to his status as an ''other.''. Throughout her coursework she has written and implemented several lesson plans in the classroom setting. National Geographics recent article "Who were the Moors?" has destroyed its credibility as authentic source of information. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. In order to maintain control in the regions that did not convert to Islam, a simple tax was created that all Christians and Jews had to pay in order to practice their religion. Between 711 C.E. The term ''Moor'' in Shakespeare's Othello means someone who is not white and is meant to separate Othello on the basis of his race and culture. Flag. Andronicus, who is a thoroughgoing villain, the Prince of Morocco Bianca is a fictional character in William Shakespeares Othello (c. 16011604). Ackroyd argues that Shakespeare would have made Othello a Spanish Moor because he knew a lot about Spanish politics. He frequently speaks of his experiences and woos others with his exotic stories. A small European city in the northeastern region of Italy, Venice, its residents were primarily white, which meant that Othello's dark skin and exotic features were a stark contrast to the stereotypical Venetian at the time. hero. Accessed 16 Sept. 2021. His officer Iago tricks him into believing that his wife Desdemona is having an affair with his Lieutenant, Michael Cassio. The term 'moor' refers to those born in Mauritania, or present day North Africa. Floyd-Wilson, Mary. Photo courtesy Library of Congress While the question is logical to me, as a reader, a director, and a lover of Shakespeare, it's not. The Moors originally came from North Africa. In Othello, Venice represents civilization, while Cyprus symbolizes the wilderness. Press ESC to cancel. Named by the Europeans as Moors, the Al-Andalus caliphate flourished, and made great advances in science, engineering . There are three Moors in all of Shakespeare: Aaron in Titus Andronicus, The Prince of Morocco in The Merchant of Venice and Othello in Othello. What are the Physical devices used to construct memories? It has no ethnographic meaning but can be used to refer to all Muslims, Berber or Arab, who conquered the Iberian Peninsula. The characters follow suit and perpetuate that ''otherness'' throughout the play. Shakespeare himself sets Othello apart as an Other in adding ''The Moor of Venice'' to the title of the play. The term moor refers to those born in Mauritania, or present day North Africa. This united empire had the resources and funds to mount an invasion of Iberia. By calling Othello the Moor, Iago is emphasizing Othellos blackness. The most famous Moor in the English-speaking world is of course the titular character in Shakespeare Othello. maintained that the Latin word "Maurus" was a synonym for "Niger". But who were the Moors, mostly known as the Islamic conquerors of Spain and Portugal . and 1492 C.E. Join British historian Bettany Hughes as she examines a long-buried chapter of European history--the rise and fall of Islamic culture in what is now Spain and Portugal. Throughout the play, he is set apart from the rest of the characters with labels and remarks that constantly point out his race. Elizabethan England. This presence even impacted broader European culture, traditions, and literature. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. The doubt and insecurity over his race lead to Desdemona's death as Othello begins to believe that she could not truly love him because of the color of his skin. 79 lessons both ways. Matt is an upcoming Ph.D. graduate and archaeologist. All rights reserved, The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. The term ''other'' is used here in the sense of one who is set apart from the cultural mainstream. Jealousy, Envy & the Green-Eyed Monster in Othello | What is the Green-Eyed Monster? "to all things of sense" (1.2.65), but not without the Abrahamic virtue of hospitality that helped lead to the present crisis. King James I of England (James VI of Scotland) Shakespeare's Othello was written in the year of Queen Elizabeth's death (March, 1603). Why does Shakespeare use symbolism in Othello? . Another important author was Alexander Pushkin who was Russian. He could not keep a calm mind and reason things out. Despite his military prowess, Othello is also portrayed as exotic, hypersexual, and untrustworthya lascivious Moor who secretly marries a white womanreflecting historic stereotypes of black people. At the time, Venice was predominately white, so Othello's skin color would be a stark contrast to the rest of the population surrounding him. Clearly, he has been taught to think of his race as a negative attribute. In the play Othello (and in any other work in English from the Who is Katy mixon body double eastbound and down season 1 finale? Corrections? Othello has been played Create an account to start this course today. Centuries of Muslim influence meant that many Muslim innovations, crops, goods, and words were spread to Spain. With his exhaustive use of the pejorative expression, Shakespeare is setting Othello apart from the rest of the characters early on in the play. Besides , they were black, thickly lipped and had curly hair. Create your account. Michael Neill, editor of an Othello was frequently performed as an Arab Moor during the 19th century. North Africans and sub-Saharan Africans. They are Aaron in Titus The term was initially used to describe people from the ancient Roman province, "Mauretania", which is now North Africa. William Shakespeare uses a strawberry embroidered handkerchief in the play Othello as a multifaceted symbolic itema symbol of love, a symbol to showcase Desdemonas role within her marriage, a symbol of Christianity, and a symbol of the loss of Othellos culture and a return to perceived barbarism. Many moors were dark-skinned with African features. 5 Who were the Moors and what did they do? There are some who interpret "Moor" as a Spanish Moor. This same year, the Spanish monarchs decided to fund Christopher Colombus which began the Age of Exploration and resulted in Spanish control of a majority of the New World from California to Chile and Argentina. North Africans and sub-Saharan Africans. 2. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Despite originating on the African continent, in the eighth century the Moors conquered the Iberian Peninsulawhat we know today as Spain and Portugal. What type of electrical charge does a proton have? Derived from the Latin word Maurus, the term was originally used to describe Berbers and other people from the ancient Roman province of Mauretania in what is now North Africa. With a total population of nearly 3.5 million, the Moors are scattered throughout much of West Africa. The Moors were from Africa and the middle east. So he hatches a plot and tells a tale designed to put them in their place: to turn 'The divine Desdemona' (2.1.73) into the 'subtle whore' (4.2.21) he thinks every woman really is, and to turn the noble, eloquent Othello into a deranged wife-killer, who proves the racist's worst fears fully justified. The term Moor is an exonym first used by Christian Europeans to designate the Muslim inhabitants of the Maghreb, the Iberian Peninsula, Sicily and Malta during the Middle Ages. It can also be used in verb form: the act of othering is the act of making someone an other, which is precisely what happens to Othello. How do I choose between my boyfriend and my best friend? Another example of this in Spanish is algodon which means cotton. that time made no distinction between Africans from North Africa Alhambra is still a major tourist attraction and is a reminder of how influential Muslim presence in Iberia was. Shakespeares intent may never be certain, and the play has been successfully performed for hundreds of years, sometimes with Othello cast as a black man and sometimes with Othello cast as Arab. The name was later also applied to Arabs and Arabized Iberians. What if we could clean them out? The 19th-century African-American actor Ira Aldridge, depicted here in the title role, was the first black man to appear in a Shakespeare performance in Britain. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. World authority on Shakespeare. After time in Venice, Othello is appointed general in the Venetian Army. All rights reserved. The play is set in motion when Othello, a heroic black general in the service of Venice, appoints Cassio and not Iago as his chief lieutenant. However, Europeans tended to use the word Moor in a broader sense to denote simply anyone who was Muslim. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Sadly, Othello internalizes this view of himself and expresses the belief that his race is, indeed, less desirable than that of mainstream culture. How were the Moors/Venetians regarded in Shakespeares day? However, once Iberia was captured from the Visigoths during the Middle Ages, they began to move more and more into modern-day Spain and Portugal. In Othello, the Moors were people of dark skin from eastern Africa and were Muslim. The disunity that occurred in Europe during the Middle Ages meant countries were more focused on fighting than funding scientific progress. Queen Elizabeth reigned, and was a very popular . Settling North America (1497-1732): Homework Help, Spectral Evidence in the Salem Witch Trials: Definition & Overview, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, First Contacts (28,000 BCE-1821 CE): Homework Help, North American Exploration & Failed Colonies of France & England, New France, New Netherlands & New Sweden: North American Settlements, The Mayflower and the Plymouth Rock Settlement, The Puritans and the Founding of the New England Colonies, The Southern Colonies: Settlement and Growth, The Middle Colonies: New York, Delaware, New Jersey & Pennsylvania, Rise of the Slave Trade: Black History in Colonial America, The 13 Colonies: Developing Economy & Overseas Trade, The 13 Colonies: World Events that Influenced Colonial America, Virginia House Of Burgesses: Definition & Importance, Plymouth Colony: History, Facts & Religion, Sir Francis Drake, Explorer: Route, Timeline & Voyage, The Lost Colony of Roanoke: Mystery, Theories & History, The Pilgrims: Definition, Plymouth & Overview, Trial of Anne Hutchinson: History, Significance & Timeline, Virginia Company: Charter, Definition & History, Virtual Representation: Definition & History, Wampanoag Tribe: People, History & Role in First Thanksgiving, The Road to Revolution (1700-1774): Homework Help, The American Revolution (1775-1783): Homework Help, The Making of a New Nation (1776-1800): Homework Help, The Virginia Dynasty (1801--1825): Homework Help, Jacksonian Democracy (1825 -- 1850): Homework Help, Life in Antebellum America (1807-1861): Homework Help, Manifest Destiny (1806-1855): Homework Help, Sectional Crisis (1850-1861): Homework Help, American Civil War (1861-1865): Homework Help, Reconstruction (1865-1877): Homework Help, Industrialization and Urbanization (1870-1900): Homework Help, The Progressive Era (1900-1917): Homework Help, American Imperialism (1890-1919): Homework Help, The Roaring 20s (1920-1929): Homework Help, The Great Depression (1929-1940): Homework Help, The US in World War ll (1941-1945): Homework Help, Post-War World (1946-1959): Homework Help, Homework Help for Activism and Civil Disobedience (1954-1973), The Rise of Political Conservatism (1980-1992): Homework Help, Contemporary America (1992-2013): Homework Help, Changes in the Modern United States: Homework Help, AP U.S. History: Test-Taking Skills and Prep: Homework Help, Critical Thinking Skills for AP US History: Homework Help, How to Write a Good Essay on Your AP Exam: Homework Help, Developing and Writing Your AP Exam Essay: Homework Help, History 106: The Civil War and Reconstruction, AP European History: Homework Help Resource, ILTS Social Science - History (246): Test Practice and Study Guide, GED Social Studies: Civics & Government, US History, Economics, Geography & World, High School US History: Homework Help Resource, High School US History: Tutoring Solution, King Henry IV of France: Biography & History, Allegory of the Outbreak of War by Peter Paul Rubens, Lucas Cranach the Elder: Biography & Paintings, Vasco da Gama: Biography, Timeline & Accomplishments, The Ottoman Empire: Facts, Government & Rulers, Jan van Eyck: Biography, Technique & Portraits, The Russo-Japanese War: Definition, Summary & Causes, Unrestricted Submarine Warfare: Definition & Concept, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community.