Aaron, Othello, and Caliban: Shakespeare's Presentation of Ethnic Minorities in Titus Andronicus, Othello, and The Tempest
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Marietta College Honors Theses / OhioLINK
2013
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| Online Access: | http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=marhonors1367332575 |
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ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-marhonors13673325752021-08-03T05:22:46Z Aaron, Othello, and Caliban: Shakespeare's Presentation of Ethnic Minorities in Titus Andronicus, Othello, and The Tempest McGrath, Alyssa F. Literature Black Studies British and Irish Literature Theater Studies Shakespeare Minorities in plays othered characters Titus Andronicus Othello The Tempest Caliban Race in Shakespeare This thesis analyzes the ways in which Shakespeare presents three different characters, all of whom represent ethnic minorities in the plays. Aaron from Titus Andronicus and Othello from Othello are the Moors. The Tempest's Caliban is described as a monster, but is a blend of species and thus, the dominant characters treat him as a slave. Aaron, Shakespeare's earliest Moor, is depicted as a villain in the play. Othello, written later in Shakespeare's career, depicts a Moor who is misled into murdering his white wife, Desdemona. Caliban, described as the most hideous, attempts to rape a white woman but ultimately fails and attempts to assert ownership over the island on which he lives with the white woman and her father. Over time, Shakespeare's black characters and their circumstances have become more complicated, inevitably complicating the reader's reaction towards the character. Aaron fits many black stereotypes but also rejects the notion that black equates to inferiority to white. Othello fits fewer racial stereotypes as he represents nobility and loyalty throughout Shakespeare's later play. Caliban's ambiguous physical appearance or heritage allows readers to ascribe various ethnic minority groups to his character and thus, readers graft their own meaning onto the character in order to see whatever it is they want to see in the play. This thesis project will investigate Shakespeare's presentation of these minority male characters, as well as analyze the ways they do or do not fit racial stereotypes. The project will also address directorial choices of characterization by analyzing the presentation of Aaron, Othello, and Caliban in various live performances. 2013-04-30 English text Marietta College Honors Theses / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=marhonors1367332575 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=marhonors1367332575 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: some rights reserved. It is licensed for use under a Creative Commons license. Specific terms and permissions are available from this document's record in the OhioLINK ETD Center. |
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English |
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| topic |
Literature Black Studies British and Irish Literature Theater Studies Shakespeare Minorities in plays othered characters Titus Andronicus Othello The Tempest Caliban Race in Shakespeare |
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Literature Black Studies British and Irish Literature Theater Studies Shakespeare Minorities in plays othered characters Titus Andronicus Othello The Tempest Caliban Race in Shakespeare McGrath, Alyssa F. Aaron, Othello, and Caliban: Shakespeare's Presentation of Ethnic Minorities in Titus Andronicus, Othello, and The Tempest |
| author |
McGrath, Alyssa F. |
| author_facet |
McGrath, Alyssa F. |
| author_sort |
McGrath, Alyssa F. |
| title |
Aaron, Othello, and Caliban: Shakespeare's Presentation of Ethnic Minorities in Titus Andronicus, Othello, and The Tempest |
| title_short |
Aaron, Othello, and Caliban: Shakespeare's Presentation of Ethnic Minorities in Titus Andronicus, Othello, and The Tempest |
| title_full |
Aaron, Othello, and Caliban: Shakespeare's Presentation of Ethnic Minorities in Titus Andronicus, Othello, and The Tempest |
| title_fullStr |
Aaron, Othello, and Caliban: Shakespeare's Presentation of Ethnic Minorities in Titus Andronicus, Othello, and The Tempest |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Aaron, Othello, and Caliban: Shakespeare's Presentation of Ethnic Minorities in Titus Andronicus, Othello, and The Tempest |
| title_sort |
aaron, othello, and caliban: shakespeare's presentation of ethnic minorities in titus andronicus, othello, and the tempest |
| publisher |
Marietta College Honors Theses / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
2013 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=marhonors1367332575 |
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AT mcgrathalyssaf aaronothelloandcalibanshakespearespresentationofethnicminoritiesintitusandronicusothelloandthetempest |
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1719419063628726272 |