Xenophobia in Othello and the Merchant of Venice - 1541 Words

William Thomas McNary 10/26/2011 ENGL 3000 The Effect of Xenophobia on Comedies and Tragedies From 1589 to 1613 William Shakespeare produced some of the most original, thought-provoking and emotionally compelling plays, sonnets, and poetry. Two of his finest pieces of work, Othello and The Merchant of Venice feature dynamic characters, and insights into the chivalry and the xenophobic disposition of the English people at the time. Throughout these two stories, three primary female characters emerge, Desdemona from Othello, and Portia and Jessica from The Merchant of Venice. The female leads in each of these stories share many things in common such as their devotion to their mate and gracefulness, but the fate each woman ends up†¦show more content†¦Portia and Desdemona also share much in common, as both women were thought to be very beautiful and graceful, and had many of the finest suitors from all over Europe. Yet Desdemona lacks the cunning and quick wit of Portia, and as a result is easily taken adv antage of by Iago whilst he is spinning his web of lies. Unlike Portia who delivers the pivotal moment of The Merchant of Venice, with her speech while pretending to be Balthazar, Desdemona is unable to alter the course of her story, as she is somewhat meek in defending Othello and cannot do nothing but respectfully hear Othello out as he is accusing her of adultery. Desdemona and Portia also differ in that Desdemona was very independent in eloping from her marriage, while Portia complied with her father’s request to wait for a suitor to choose the right chest. Desdemona’s decision to elope with a Moor has the end result of her being killed, an end result that English men of the time likely would have found appealing or at least fitting. The beauty of Portia, Desdemona, and Jessica is often noted by Shakespeare through the characters in the plays, such as Cassio in Othello when he states that Desdemona is â€Å"One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens†. While