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Awareness And Racism In Elizabethan England

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ASSIGNMENT THE THEME OF “OTHERNESS” AND RACISM IN THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO: THE MOOR OF VENICE SUB: ENGL-403 ELIZABETHAN DRAMA Submitted by: AFEEFA Reg.No:15356004 1 MA ENGLISH Submitted to: Dr.T.Marx Dept. of English …show more content…

Africans began to appear in England in late 16th century and it was not entirely uncommon for people of wealth to have black musicians or servants in their homes. Even Queen Elizabeth had black musicians in her service. However , in 1596 she tried to have them all expelled. Regardless , this period marks the beginning of the discourse of the colonized and the colonizer. They were obviously looked down as the “other” in England. Racism during that era was more common and brutal. The superior race often alienated out the West African immigrants for their unique style of dressing and varied customs. These people were referred to as “beasts” and “cannibals” by the 'elite ' Western culture. Black people were looked upon as “exotic creatures”. They were not even considered human by the other people 's description of them as “beasts”. They were brought to England as people without any rights. They were slaves and in the white man 's eye meant to do anything and everything on their will and

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