General Vision Viewpoint 1 (a) Personal Beliefes

 

1. General Vision & Viewpoint. 

1.   “Our personal beliefs – our views and values – can influence our sense of the general vision and viewpoint of a text.” 

(a)    With reference to one text on your comparative course, explain how your sense of the general vision and viewpoint was influenced by at least one of your personal beliefs. Develop your response with reference to the text.    

 

In Shakespeare’s “Othello”, there is a large amount of racism and sexism to be seen in the text. I believe that my views on racism and sexism influenced my general vision viewpoint of the text. In the text, Othello, a black general in Venice is treated quite well as he has worked hard to achieve the status he has. Although the other characters in the text initially treated Othello with respect and kindness, there was an internalized racist view amongst the Venetians. To begin with, Brabantio, Desdemona’s father had acted very respectfully to Othello for his time as general but once he had heard that his daughter had chosen to marry Othello his inner racist views and bigotry begun to shine through the niceties. For example, Brabantio says “O that you had her” to Roderigo showing that he would prefer to have the annoying Roderigo marry his daughter then a respectable black man. I believe that my view of racism in such a negative way influenced how I viewed the text because it meant I saw a greater evil in characters who acted in such a way such as Brabantio and later Iago. This racist view from the people also meant that it was hard to trust who was an antagonist and who had a modern view on different races. For example, it was hard to tell if any of the characters such as Cassio and Emilia were only being kind and accepting of Othello until he had struck a nerve that would cause a large outburst like it had to Brabantio.  

 

My personal views on sexism and misogyny were also a factor which influenced my general vision viewpoint in the text. The repetitive sexism and misogyny also reinforced the ancient nature of this text and how the text can seem like it is about a modern and respectable group of people, there is still the unjust treatment of people because of their gender or race. For example, when Iago is addressing Emilia and Desdemona as “Wild cats, Bells, Saints in your injuries,” This shows that even to his own wife who he should be treating with the upmost respect, Iago treats Emilia harshly throughout the play. The relationship between Iago and Emilia is also portrayed as loveless and physical. For example, “would she give you so much of her lips As of her tongue she oft bestow’d on me, You would have enough.” This is regarding how Iago feels that Emilia either is giving out to him or kissing him. Throughout the play it is also seen that Iago brushes off Emilia and only shows any love or gratitude when she helps him with his evil plan by getting the handkerchief while also not telling her his true plan with it. This proves the dishonest and loveless marriage they have and shows how some men in this text, such as Iago would use their wives for only devious means and thus proving the repetitive misogyny and sexism seen in this text which influenced my general vision viewpoint.