OJ Simpson/Othello Essay Flashcards
1st Othello Racial Prejudice Example
“the moor”
2nd Othello Racial Prejudice Example
Animal imagery portrays this divide when Iago provokes Brabantio about Othello and Desdemona’s relationship in “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe.” This demonstrates society’s intentions to dehumanise black people, comparing them to beasts.
3rd Othello Racial Prejudice Example
A rhetorical question is used when Iago questions Desdemona’s choice in marrying Othello in an attempt to manipulate Roderigo, “And what delight shall she have to look on the devil?”
4th Othello Racial Prejudice Example
A metaphor is implemented by Shakespeare in “If she in chains of magic were not bound” when Brabantio protests against Othello’s wickedness, assuming that witchcraft was used to make Desdemona love him. This implies societal views that black people had special magical powers and were evil.
1st Racial Prejudice OJ Simpson Example
Antithesis is implemented by Fred Goldman, the father of one of the victims to demonstrate the racial prejudice and strong tension when he describes the scenes after the verdict as ”Blacks cheering and whites crying.” This conveys the ever present racial divide as seen in “Othello” and the enormity and significance of the trial on the two races.
2nd Racial Prejudice OJ Simpson Example
In Nobles article, racial prejudice is presented through the use of a metaphor by Mr Darden, a deputy district attorney when looking at the case, saying “It becomes a question of who is the blackest man up here.” This metaphor portrays the societal views of 1990s America and the way race can advantage or disadvantage a person compared to the values of the 17th century, where black people were seen as inferior.
3rd Racial Prejudice Example
Emotive language is used by Nuechterlein to describe Detective Mark Fuhrman as a “truly vile racist.” This reveals the main difference between 1990s America and the 17th Century time period of “Othello” as racism existed but was not upheld by the majority of society as seen in “Othello” but rather challenged and condemned.
4th Racial Prejudice Example
Racial prejudice is again demonstrated in the short documentary through the use of contextual evidence when it is stated that African Americans could “identify with police planting evidence.” This reveals the already present inequality between races as also seen in “Othello” and the way that race has been a contributing factor to societal tensions and segregation.
1st Reputation Othello Example
Cassio expresses his disgust in himself and the word reputation through repetition after being involved in a brawl with Roderigo, “Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial.” This reveals the significance and importance placed on reputation by society and the way it controls their lives as once it is damaged, it cannot be repaired.
2nd Reputation Othello Example
Dramatic irony is employed after the brawl as Iago attempts to reassure and befriend Cassio to use him in his overall plot to destroy Othello, “reputation is an idle and false imposition oft got without merit and lost without deserving.” This is ironic due to the value Iago places upon reputation, as well as his willingness to destroy the reputations of others together with his own undeserved reputation of honesty.
3rd Reputation Othello Example
“Honest Iago” -diction of ‘honest’ or ‘dramatic irony’
4th Reputation Othello Example
Juxtaposition is employed as Othello explains himself to Lodovico about why he killed Desdemona, “An honourable murderer, if you will; / For naught did I in hate, but all in honour.” This justification from Othello reveals his desire to be perceived as an honourable man even at such a low time.
1st Reputation OJ Simpson Example
In the short documentary, “The OJ Simpson Trial; Drama of the Century,” a montage is employed with a voiceover, in “Football Star, celebrity pitchman and movie star” and clips and images of Simpson’s career. The use of a montage gives further evidence of the popular and famous persona of OJ Simpson and significance of this within the trial, in comparison to the reputation in Othello which was based on a person’s qualities or characteristics.
2nd Reputation OJ Simpson Example
“It was like a red carpet walk in” employs simile which describes the enormity of the case and huge media coverage. This hints at reputation due to Simpson being a famous athlete and actor, leading to the need for such a dramatic entrance fit for someone of that calibre.
3rd Reputation OJ Simpson Example
In Noble’s article, a metaphor is used when the prosecution are said to have attempted to “smear his character,” referring to OJ Simpson. Similar to Othello, this conveys the message of the importance of Simpson’s reputation just as in the 17th Century, once your reputation is damaged, it cannot be restored.
