Representations Of Arabs In Shakespearean Plays English Literature Essay

Representations Of Arabs In Shakespearean Plays English Literature Essay The early years of the 1550s witnessed the first sizeable appearance of black people in England; those whom English merchants took captive and brought to England to work as slaves (Barthelemy 1987). John Hawkins was among the earliest English adventurers to bring black people to England and to sell some other black Africans into slavery in the New Found World. In the 1550s, a black man who was brought to England was married to a native white woman. The child that the mixed couple brought to life was described as black as coal. Arabs include Moors and Moroccan as well as the people that originated from the Arabian Gulf, Middle East and North Africa. Others may include other Eastern people such as Turks. The wordmoors is a loose term that is often used in the Medieval and Renaissance England. It referred to the moor, black moor, and Negroes, Indians, Mahometans and Muslims. These terms are more than not used interchangeably. It has been seen that these people have played various roles in Shakespearean plays. One example of which is Othello. The main character of the tragedy, Othello, is a racial and cultural outsider in Venice. This paper examines the links between the Arabs and stereotypes and how well they were represented in the Shakespearean plays. Further, this paper seeks to explain how the Arabs were viewed in these plays; the sorts of stereotypes that were linked to the Arabs; how these stereotypes influenced that plays and its protagonists; and the change representations and evolutions of the Arabs in the play. Problem Statement and Research Questions It is evident that the Arabs played a great part in the plays of Shakespeare, especially in the tragedy Othello. These representations have emerged as a major topic in modern and contemporary scholarships. Various studies have representations of Arabs in the English and European literature. This papers main research problem is that, on the representation of Arabs in Shakespeares plays, what is the link between the representation and the stereotypes? Specifically, this study seeks to answer the following research questions: 1. How were the Arabs viewed in the plays of Shakespeare? 2. What sorts of stereotypes were linked to the Arabs? These stereotypes were from Shakespeares contemporary society and time frame which is 16th and 17th century Britain. 3. How these stereotypes affected the plays and its protagonists? 4. How do the Arab representations changed and evolved in the plays? Research Objectives The main objective of this paper is examining the link between the stereotypes and the Arab representation made by Shakespeare in his plays. These stereotypes were from Shakespeares contemporary society and time frame which is 16th and 17th century Britain. This aims to examine the effects these representation had on the written plays as well as to study the evolution of these representations. Scope and Limitation The scope of the study shall remain in the examination of the linkage between the Arab representation of Shakespeare in his plays and with the stereotypes of his time. It can be said that this shall include interdisciplinary studies of history and literature. However, this paper shall remain a paper for literature. Arab will be the term to be used in this study; however, this may also include other Eastern people such as Turks, as necessary. Since the main focus of the study is on Arab representation of Shakespearean classics, the researcher will only be limited to the examination of the same. Therefore, the researcher shall not include other literary works that have the same subject. Finally, the researcher will not be concerned on the analysis and the criticism of the literary pieces that include the representation because of the reasons that were mentioned in the aims of this study. Review of Related Literature In the tragedy, Othello, casting the male protagonist as black, Shakespeare activates all the fantasms that have haunted white society about miscegenation to our day: the idea of the black man and the white woman. The double standards of contemporary society, a fortiriori in Shakespeares time, do not hold the same anger against relations between a white man and a black woman, where the assumed dominant and submissive gender roles are matched in the racists minds with the desired racial roles (Serageldin 1998). Shakespeare draws out a powerful argument for the profound alienation of Othello, who-despite arriving at his position by Venetian merit, which also requires him to deny himself-is still destroyed because of his race and his erstwhile, if not continued, religion. When it comes to Morocco and the image of Moors, generally speaking, the relationship between Morocco and England was a friendly one. All along, the relations between the two monarchs were of special nature in spite of the fact that violations happened from time to time from both sides. As has been pointed out in the introduction and throughout this thesis, the Anglo-Moroccan alliance was at some point so strong that the two sides fought side by side in the Cadiz expedition to punish the Spanish (the common enemies of the Moors and the English) and planned to restore the contender of the Portuguese to his Royal seat and to challenge the Spanish interests in the Atlantic and the West Indies. Matar describes the relations between England and Morocco in the Elizabethan period as oscillating between cooperation and conflict, trade and piracy. However, it should be noted here that the Moors, historically speaking, were not so much abhorred by Elizabethan Englishmen as many of their Europe an foes; mainly the Spanish and the French. The then anti-foreign sentiment (whether anti- Spanish, French, Dutch or African) was common. The Moors, though different in religion, and in color, were treated by Britons no worse than, may be better than, any other European, Dutch, Flemish, Spanish or French, aliens, pirates, merchants or ambassadors. Shakespeare is not the only dramatist who utilized foreign and exotic settings in his plays, but Shakespeares distinction was that he did well what many others have failed to do. He was able to imagine life from the perspective of these others while many of his fellow playwrights could not (Elaskary 2008). Shakespeare was bold enough in introducing a revolution in the representation of the Moor, as he did with the Jew. Shakespeare introduced his audience and readers to different types of Moors and blackmoors. The most famous, rather notorious, among Shakespeares Moors (other than Othello) is Aaron in Titus Andronicus while Caliban in The Tempest deservedly takes the status of his deputy. Aaron is among Shakespeares articulated villains. He is described as inhuman dog, unhallowed slave [Act V, iii, 14] and he commits horrible crimes against other characters in the play. Caliban is a little picaresque dwarfish character. Shakespeares Moors are portrayed in a way that is independent and unique yet not very detached from the time or society in which the plays were written. Othello may have some elements of the stereotypal Moor of his time but he is far more human, influential, and independent. Though the play was acted before King James I and his men, Shakespeare, unlike the majority of his contemporary dramatists, seems not to have been involved in the then fashionable habit of worshipping his King and stigmatizing the Others and foreigners to amuse the King and his retinue (Elaskary 2008). When it came to the representation of Moors in Elizabethan drama, it was concluded by Elaskary (2008) that the image of Moors was not static, though stereotypal; it was varied, inconsistent, contradictory and illogical. As the relations between Morocco and England ranged from friendship to enmity so did the image of Moors. When sketching out the plays that were written in the Elizabethan era, the reader may find the raging Turk; the good Turk, the voluptuous, treacherous black Moor, and the noble Moor. The trend at that time, however, was that in general the others (be they blacks, Moors, Spaniards, French, or Irish) would be the villains, the plotters, and the killers while the white natives would be the courageous men and defenders of country and Queen. Sins and crimes have been committed by the black and the white peoples since the dawn of history but the key point is, that when the white man commits a crime this does not indicate or involve an inherent judgment of his race or the nationality to which he belongs as it does with the black man. The representation of Moors in the period under study (as has always been) was always politically motivated. That is why the prudent reader will notice that that Moors with darker skin were more often painted in the darkest colors; merciless conspirators, haters and murderers, than those light or brown skin Moors. Muly Mahamet, Aaron and Caliban may fit in this category. North African Moors, however, fared well on the London stage. Abdelmelec, Muly Hamet and Othello come in this category. If nothing could have washed the black Moors white the friendly ties between Morocco and England positively affected the way Moors from Morocco were represented on the London stage (Elaskary 2008). It turns out that it was the political element rather than the religious, racial or cultural ones that played the leading role when it came to representing the other in Elizabethan England. It might not have been safer (or wiser) for Elizabethan dramatists to flatly oppose, challenge, or criticize the pol itical line of the period. Those who did boldly challenge and question the political taboos at that time ended up penniless or in jail. Thus, John Marston (and Robert Greene) was imprisoned and his manuscripts burnt for his anti-James I writings at the turn of the seventeenth century (Farag). Othellos tragedy is bared before the audiences eyes, and continues to challenge the racism and gender double standards that plague society today. It acknowledges the profound human frailties that jealousy can prey upon in all of us, but it also invites us to question the social context that would prevent people to behave in a natural and humane way and invites us to ask why it should be so (Serageldin 1998). Methodology and Method of Analysis Data driven research is an easy choice for the researcher. This is a flexible and responsive approach and the researcher will not know where the data can lead into. Although the literature is quite difficult because at the start of the study the researcher will not know which literature will be relevant later. Reading is therefore postponed until the literatures relevance is judged later on. Consequently, this may affect the structure of the research later on. Secondly, it is not only the interpretation and the understanding that emerge during the research process. The same is also applied in choosing the methodology. The contents of the research and its process both develop during the proceedings of the research. It has been a debate amongst research students the misalignment between the philosophical pluralism and methodological pluralism. This misalignment can create confusion during the entire research process. When linking the quantitative and qualitative methods of research with the understanding interpretation of philosophy which is positivism and interpretive, the research process often becomes too difficult for many. Along with other constraints, researchers face lack of time, intensity of program, through to willingness in engaging with literature. This confusion drives researchers to remove themselves in the theory and just carry out the research based on their initial goal on what to achieve in it. This relationship between the methods and philosophy has caused this current research on the investigation of Shakespeares portrayal of Richard III with so much anxiety and thought provoking questions. In this research, quantitative tools are used together with the inductive and deductive approaches. Easterby-Smith, et al (2002) has highlighted the importance of the relationship between the research philosophy and the research methods. According to them, this relationship allows one in taking a more informed decision regarding the research approach; helps in deciding which method/s are appropriate for the research; lets the researcher think about constraints that may hinder the research. Checkland and Hollwell (1998) added the component of framework which is epistemology. This consists of assumptions and counted as knowledge. It is expected that researchers shall explain and justify their respective epistemologies, their methodology and methods as well as their conclusions. Evidently, this approach encourages the researchers in being more mindful during the research process. Qualitative research allows the subjects being studied to give much richer answers to questions put to them by the researcher, and may give valuable insights which might have been missed by any other method. Not only does it provide valuable information to certain research questions in its own right but there is a strong case for using it to complement quantitative research methods. Qualitative research has its roots in social science and is more concerned with understanding why people behave as they do: their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, fears, etc. Conclusion In the tragedy, Othello, casting the male protagonist as black, Shakespeare activates all the fantasms that have haunted white society about miscegenation to our day: the idea of the black man and the white woman. The double standards of contemporary society, a fortiriori in Shakespeares time, do not hold the same anger against relations between a white man and a black woman, where the assumed dominant and submissive gender roles are matched in the racists minds with the desired racial roles. Shakespeare draws out a powerful argument for the profound alienation of Othello, who-despite arriving at his position by Venetian merit, which also requires him to deny himself-is still destroyed because of his race and his erstwhile, if not continued, religion. The representation of Moors in the period under study (as has always been) was always politically motivated. That is why the prudent reader will notice that that moors with darker skin were more often painted in the darkest colors; merciless conspirators, haters and murderers, than those light or brown skin Moors. It turns out that it was the political element rather than the religious, racial or cultural ones that played the leading role when it came to representing the other in Elizabethan England. It might not have been safer (or wiser) for Elizabethan dramatists to flatly oppose, challenge, or criticize the political line of the period. Those who did boldly challenge and question the political taboos at that time ended up penniless or in jail. Othellos tragedy is bared before the audiences eyes, and continues to challenge the racism and gender double standards that plague society today. It acknowledges the profound human frailties that jealousy can prey upon in all of us, but it also invites us to question the social context that would prevent people to behave in a natural and humane way and invites us to ask why it should be so. Work Plan and Timetable Task Description Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Writing of Research Proposal; Intensive Review of Related Studies Execution of Research Methodology Analysis of Data Gathered Writing the Research Paper Presentation and Defense of the Research Paper

Corruption in Sudan Essay

Other cities like Omdurman have 2. 1 million, Port Sudan have a total population of 450,000. Kassala, Kosti, Juba are the capital of southern region. People from the country are called Sudanese and 2009 in July Population was 41,087,825: 2. 143%. There are two ethnic groups namely : Arab/Muslim, theses group of people live on the northern part of the country and black African or Christian on south. There are also two types of religion, Islam (official), indigenous beliefs (southern Sudan), Christianity. There are also many languages like Arabic which is official, English also official, tribal languages. Education in Sudan is compulsory for some years,8 Attendance(35%-40%). Literacy level is 61. 1. This country’s main natural resources include reserves of oil, gold, natural gas copper, iron ore and other industrial metals. Sudan got its independence on January 1, 1956 and the type of government they operate is the provisional government which was established by the comprehensive peace Agreement (CPA) and signed in January 2005. This offers power sharing as far as the national elections takes place. The national election took place starting from April, November 2010. Sudan became the largest debtor to the World Bank and IMF by 1993 this resulted to the suspension of their voting rights by IMF and withdrawals under operative and fully expended loans and credit by the World Bank. It was also said that â€Å"extensive petroleum exploration began in mid1970’s and might cover all of Sudan’s economic and energy needs†. This year according to martin † Sudan may need as much as $1. 5billion of foreign aid a year and plans 2 slash government spending by a quarter as it faces budget difficulties due to its recent split into two countries, its finance minister said† and according to the finance minister† we’re expecting 6 percent (economic growth) or a little more for 2012† There have been conflicts with the northern and southern part of Sudan that have killed 1. 5 million people and also driving many ethnic groups and people from their homes. Sudan had had several episodes of civil welfare since its independence, broke association and now rule with Egypt (this actually did not benefit them anything but further trouble). All regions of Sudan face problems, both the south and the north and corruption can be counted as one of them. The southern part of Sudan has separated as an autonomous region in July 2011 even though it is a different state but it is still a very poor nation with a very low human development. Media on the southern part of Sudan is very poor, undeveloped and not well equipped. A journalist(s) does not have the right to broadcast, report or give any news, information to Darfur (other part of Sudan) and if any journalist(s) violates that law, he/she/they would be severely punished and even be jailed. Today, many journalists are still in prison and only God knows when they might be freed and which will be out. For example, in October 2010, a radio station ’Dabanga’ in Khartoum after a movement of arrests was shut down by the government and seven of its employees have been alleged of exposing state secretes, breaking the constitutional system, the punishment foe this crime is a death penalty. The civil war of 1991 in southern Sudan destroyed almost all southern medical facilities except those that had been rebuilt to treat their people who have been wounded in Juba, Malakal and Waw, these three hospitals are controlled by the government. The facilities were impracticable to use because of the scarcity of the most basic medical materials and a similar problem is faced in the northern Sudan, health care facilities had been considered helpless by the economic situation. Sudan does not have the hard currency to buy basic drugs, such as antibiotics and anti-malarial drugs, and the most important equipment, such as syringes. Private medical care in towns still functions but was also hindered by the scarcity of pharmaceuticals. In conclusion, I think after analyzing these situations in the area of banking, finance, media and medicine, the conflicts and political instability and so one, those should or are the main reason why Sudan is rated as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

Main Elements In Beloved - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1088 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/08/12 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Beloved Essay Did you like this example? Trees: With love comes trust. Paul D sees the trees as something he can trust, something you can go to when you need reassurance or support. Trees are also become a sign to a second life for him especially when the Cherokee directed him to follow the blossoming trees all the way up to Cincinnati and 124. With love comes comfort and safety. For Denver the trees or bushes symbolize a sense of safety. For instance her five boxwood bushes, planted in a ring, a place where Denvers imagination produced its own hunger and its own food, which she badly needed because loneliness wore her out. Trees have a totally different meaning for Sethe, whose back Amy Denver calls a chokecherry tree . Her tree is more a sign of the past that she doesn’t like being reminded of. Actual trees also bring up some pretty dark thoughts for her, like the dead-man when she thought Paul A was hanging from the tree. At times love can bring pain, people love something or someone that they shouldn’t. Or one ha s experienced love at one point that did not have the desired outcome creating unbearable memories. Trees hold a different meaning for all three characters as all three of them have experienced different things in life and have a different mental standing. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Main Elements In Beloved" essay for you Create order Color: Each color has a different connotation to it. The darker the color, usually the duller the emotion associated with it. Each color holds its own specific meaning. The color red shows up throughout the novel. It carries different meanings when it goes with different objects. Amy’s red velvet, for example, stands for hope and future. She described the velvet to Sethe as something â€Å"like the world was just born† and â€Å"clean and new and so smooth†(41), and therefore the velvet represents a new life. When one is receiving love while going through a rough time from family or someone who has their best interest, it encourages them to take a step that will better their life. Love expresses many emotions and characteristics such as protection, flirtation, concern, and more. In this case, there was a sign of concern or more of a hope of Sethe having a new life. 124: The 124 was a place where majority of the characters had their ups and downs. It was place that impacted the characters for the rest of their lives. It was a place that contained a haunted side, a feminine side, and a party side. 124 was haunted with beloved’s ghost. Baby Suggs moved to 124, Mr. Bowdin, the owner remembers a women died in there, and it does seem like the houses moods follow the arc of Beloveds presence at 124: from the spiteful baby ghost who likes to get Poltergeist-y on the house; to the loud fighting between Sethe and Beloved; to the quiet absence after Beloved leaves. Looking at it from all angles, 124 was a place that brought everyone together, whether it was in a positive or harmful manner. 124 is also a place that resembles sethe’s children that have survived, 124 the birth order of the living children excluding the third being, Beloved. Quote: â€Å"124 was spiteful. Full of a babys venom. The women in the house knew it and so did the children. For years each put up with the spite in his own way, but by 1873 Sethe and her daughters Denver were its only victims† (3). Tobacco Tin: In today’s society, majority of the people associate the abstract idea of love with the tangible human organ, the heart. Why? As one prepares for something exciting, their heart rate increases. The heart is the center of emotion and love is one of the biggest emotions a person will experience in their lifetime. Paul D however replaces his heart with a tobacco tin filled with all his struggles and painful memories. The tobacco tin symbolizes the lack of love Paul D has received in his life. The tobacco tin box is not something Paul D can open and face on his own, if he were to do such a thing it would force him to go mad like Halle. He needs the support of the women, Beloved and Sethe in order to realize who he really is as a person. Red Heart: Red heart from the sound of seems to represent love and passion, however, in the context of this novel it turns out to be the total opposite. Paul D and Beloved’s sexual encounter did wake up Paul D’s emotion sides but in order for that to happen, he had to drop so low, practically went to the dark side to experience the bright side of his life. As many readers may believe, Beloved came back from the dead which makes it sound like Paul D had sex with a dead girl. In true context, the â€Å"red heart† symbolizes the past and death, both of which beloved represents. It also shows that characters in this novel cannot experience love in a normal manner, they are forced to do something inhumane to feel like a typical living person. Perhaps that is what slavery does to its victims. Secret Compartment Beloved:   Beloved is misunderstood because she is something different to each major character in the book. To Paul D, she is a mystery and a lover, to Sethe she is a daughter and reminder of the old pain that she has gone through in life, along with guilt because she had murdered her as an infant, and finally to Denver she is a sister that Denver hopes to never be in solitude again with only her mother and the ghost. Along with the main characters she is also portrayed as a pregnant woman to all of the other people within the community. Though Beloved is a bad nightmare and memory for the town to remember she also seen differently to resemble her name Beloved, with the word love within it everyone creates a different image of it just like in life.   Quote:   Ã¢â‚¬Å"They forgot her like a bad dream. after they made up their tales, shaped and decorated them, those that saw her that day on the porch quickly and deliberately forgot her. It took longer for those who had spoken to her, lived with her, fallen in love with her, to forget, until they realized they couldn’t remember or repeat a single thing she said, and began to believe that, other than what they themselves were thinking, she hadn’t said anything at all† (324).

Analyzing Changes in Market Equilibrium