著者

杉山 克杖

出版者

プール学院大学

雑誌

プール学院大学研究紀要 (ISSN:13426028)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.45, pp.15-26, 2005-12

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Othello is called as one of the Shakespeare's`Four Great Tragedies', and they have been called`character tragedies'which means that the causes of these tragedies depend on their heroes'character. In the back of the tragedy, Othello, there exists the traditional view of the black moor which is seen in Iago's abuse against Othello and the Brabantio's view. The audience in Shakespeare's days must have shared the same prejudice with Iago, and at the same time they must have been perplexed by the heroic character of a black moor whom Desdemona loved, and whom Duke, most of the senators and Cassio praised as noble, valiant and great of heart. This paper discusses why Othello is so easily deceived by the words of his`ancient', Iago. Why didn't Othello believe his most beloved wife, Desdemona, but his subordinate,`ancient', Iago? The paper concludes that the true cause of the tragedy, Othello, is in the white people's consciousness of being white, not in Othello's inferiority complex of being black or his consciousness of being black.