Please discuss; Difference or otherness can be seen as a powerful fource in Othello. Discuss the function and significance of this motif in the...

In Othello, the two
great fears in the white European 17th world were fear of the spread of Islam and fear
of men of color seducing their white
women:

Race: Othello is
"other," alienated by race, age, religion, language

• He is a black man in a white,
  European world of Venice (Act I)


• He is a former slave, a
  former Muslim is a white, Christian world.


• The Turk
  never appears but are feared throughout the play.  Does Othello become the
  Turk?


• Othello loses his power of language once on
  Cyprus

Gender: women are "other,"
outsiders

• Women were seen as
  either virgins and quiet maids or talkative
  seductresses.


• Desdemona is outspoken in Venice (Act I)
  but then becomes totally submissive in Cyprus.


• Emilia is
  killed when she speaks out against her husband.


• Biancha
  is the lowest in terms of social
  status

Geography as
other:

• Venice is white,
  civilized, a place of the court, a place of reason; Othello wins his day in court
  here


• Cyprus is closer to the Muslim, uncivilized world;
  an island; wild; Desdemona is represented by Cyprus: Iago (Venice) and Othello (Turk)
  compete, wage war over her


• The unity of place is lost
  between Acts I and II: Othello moves from a position of status to a position of weakness
  once on the island; Iago maneuvers better away from the court, Senate,
  Duke.

Even though this unity is lost, Othello
is Shakespeare's most Aristotelian play as it has the smallest cast, no subplot, and no
supernatural interference.