A Fresh Look at Shakespeare's Dramaturgy: Towards an Orientalist Approach to 'Othello'

Abstract

Much ink has been spilt over Shakespeare’s Othello​and the controversy over its main concerns, themes and aims. While some critics maintain that the themes of prejudice, love, faith and unbridled jealousy are the focus of the play, other scholars argue that the play is a story about ambition, human frailty and the destruction of an innocent and real love. This paper advances the claim that, through its nuances and subtleties, Shakespeare's Othello provides much more to ponder and can be equally perceived as a story about the clash and collision of two different cultures, human relationships and racial problems. Using Edward Said's theory of orientalism and imperialism as a foundation for analyzing and reinterpreting Shakespeare's Othello, the study will also showcase how through his speech and action, the most intriguing character Iago serves primarily as an agent of orientalism.