Annotated bibliography for research paper Othello

Annotated Bibliography

Boyer, Arlynda. "The Other Interracial Marriage in Othello". ​Shakespeare
(Shakespeare)​: 11.2 (2015 June), pp. 178-200.

The article “The other interracial marriage in Othello” explores whether Emilia was a black or not. It goes on to explores different perspectives that support the notion that Emilia was black since the play is not very clear on the issue. Therefore, according to this article, the character of Emilia can be read and casted by using a black woman. On the other hand, within the article, numerous instances of women oppression are depicted. Also, the author explores how Shakespeare was fascinated with black race and always depicting them as inferior to other races in his different works. From this, it can be deduced that even women who were black were mistreated and looked down upon in the play. However, according to this particular article, it is depicted that the difference in race between black and white during the time in which the play Othello was written differs from the racial disparities that are depicted within the contemporary society.

Veldhuijzen, D. G. J. Feminism and Feminisms: An Analysis of Paula Vogel and Toni Morrison’s Feminist Play Appropriations of Othello. BS thesis. 2016.

The article explores how Shakespeare’s plays have also been adapted focusing on a feminist adoption that uses women’s characters from Othello namely Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca. In the article, it is asserted that these female characters had been neglected by traditional criticisms that have been done on Shakespeare’s plays. The article also examines the interests that might have prompted feminist writers to adopt the play, Othello. According to the author’s analysis, a primary reason for the adoption is based on the fact that female characters have been used in the play and thus there are feminist elements within the play. The author brings out the reason for feminism and how women were oppressed in the play by giving an instance within the play whereby it is denoted that whenever a man possesses the handkerchief, then they rightfully possess the women. From this, the author explains that the use of a handkerchief is a metaphor in the play to depict that women were objects to be used which is an indication that women were oppressed. There also other numerous parts of the article whereby the author discusses the issue of oppression. Therefore, from these discussions, the article can significantly build on the literature for the current study.

Smith, Ian. "Seeing Blackness: Reading Race in Othello". pp. 405-420. Michael Neill
(ed.) and David Schalkwyk (ed.). ​The Oxford Handbook of Shakespearean Tragedy​.
Oxford Handbooks. Oxford, England: Oxford UP, 2016.

The article addresses the uniqueness of the play Othello by looking at how race has been depicted within the play. According to him, it was very astonishing to find a black person at the center of a dramatic action during the renaissance period. The author also asserts that there was a frequent comparison between Othello and Emilia’s color-sensitive wish that was driven towards her mistress. Within the play, the word black was often used to refer to an outsider strategically. Even though facts are not clear within the play on whether Emilia was black, it is apparent that she was of a different race from Lago and it is for this reason that Lago often mistreated her. Therefore, from this depiction, it is evident that women were oppressed within the play and when the play was set due to racial differences. The author also explains numerous instances in the play whereby race was used as a motivation for oppressing women. Therefore, this particular study will be integral in forming the body of literature within the current research since it explores women oppression from a racial point of view.

Works Cited

Boyer, Arlynda. "The Other Interracial Marriage in Othello". ​Shakespeare
(Shakespeare)​: 11.2 (2015 June), pp. 178-200.

Veldhuijzen, D. G. J. Feminism and Feminisms: An Analysis of Paula Vogel and Toni Morrison’s Feminist Play Appropriations of Othello. BS thesis. 2016.

Smith, Ian. "Seeing Blackness: Reading Race in Othello". pp. 405-420. Michael Neill
(ed.) and David Schalkwyk (ed.). ​The Oxford Handbook of Shakespearean Tragedy​.
Oxford Handbooks. Oxford, England: Oxford UP, 2016.