Othello And A Streetcar Named Desire

3053 Words13 Pages
Analyse the writers’ presentation of obstacles to love in ‘Othello’ (1603) by William Shakespeare, ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ (1947) by Tennessee Williams and ‘The Color Purple’ (1982) by Alice Walker. Despite being written in vastly different settings, it seems that all three texts are closely concerned with the struggle of extraordinary and ordinary people alike searching for one admirable end: love. The epistolary novel ‘The Color Purple’ explores the intertwined issues of racism and sexism that produce barriers to love in a similar way to the Southern Gothic play ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, in addition to issues of deception and betrayal in the play ‘Othello’. Arguably, the contrasting societal and social expectations of love are the very…show more content…
Celie identifies the reason she believes Albert beats her which is “For being me and not you.” directed at Shug. Her explanation is short and her tone lacks animosity for Shug which could suggest a way that she copes with her husband’s abuse is her admiration for Shug and belief that if she were more like the woman she would have the affection and respect from her husband that Shug receives. The reader might see this as an odd reaction from Celie however I believe it is entirely reasonable for her character to cling to the only good thing in her life once it presents itself. Structurally throughout Celie’s letters, Shug becomes the foremost important event in her life, dominating the experiences she documents for the reader showing the growing importance and influence she has over…show more content…
The vengeance Iago seeks presents an extreme form of jealous whereas Blanche only wants to be loved and her envy is a product of circumstance. On the other hand, when Iago says “My lord you know I love you.” in Act 3, Scene 3, many have interpreted the reasons behind his actions as deeper than jealousy. It may be simply viewed as another way Iago tries to solidify Othello’s trust in him but it this may also be interpreted as a display of Iago’s unconscious romantic feelings towards the general. Ben Arogundade suggests that Iago is “maddened by a repressed homosexual desire” for Othello, which is the reason behind his plotting to destroy him. Potentially, given that this is true, Iago decided that if he cannot be with Othello, he is not willing to share his affection for Desdemona or even his respect Cassio. Homosexuality was punishable by hanging during the Elizabethan era, therefore it would have been all but impossible for Iago to express his feelings for Othello although his willingness to ruin Othello’s life suggests that Iago is purely a narcissistic character who places his own importance above that of others. In contrast, Celie accepts that her love for Shug is socially unacceptable and recognises that it is unlikely she can ever love her openly. The three texts show us very different
Show More
Related

  • Streetcar Named Desire

    992 Words  | 4 Pages

    real job. They were treated with little to no respect. This gender inequality in Williams’ Streetcar Named Desire, and Shakespeare’s promotion of the progression of feminism in Othello drives home to their climax points. Streetcar Named Desire is a play about the main character, Blanche, and the journey she takes when she moves in with her sister, Stella, after her husband died. Stella has a husband named Stanley who, quite frankly, is an asshole to Stella and Blanche. He views these two women

    Read More

  • How To Read Literature Like A Professor

    3081 Words  | 13 Pages

    How to Read Literature Like a Professor Chapter Analysis Cindy Ho Introduction ~ How’d He do That? Recognizing patterns or symbols in difficult works of literature make it easier to read. The patterns and symbols in “The Fall of the House of Usher” helps one be able to fully understand the short story. For example, in “The Fall of the House of Usher”, the deterioration of the house symbolizes the deterioration of Roderick and Madeline’s health. The house is linked to Roderick and Madeline. Upon

    Read More

More about Othello And A Streetcar Named Desire

Open Document