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1. UMER HAYAT
Topic: Postmodern study of
Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’
CLASS: M.PHIL ENGLISH LITERATURE
ROLL NO: 068
Sir Amir Ch. Sahib

2. Postmodern literature
Postmodern literature is a form of literature that is characterized by the use
of metafiction, unreliable narration, self reflexivity, intertextuality, and which
often thematizes both historical and political issues. This style of experimental
literature emerged strongly in the United States in the 1960s through the
writings of authors such as Michelle Foucault, Kurt Vonnegut, Thomas
Pynchon, and John Barth. Postmodernists often challenge authorities, which
has been seen as a symptomatic of the fact that this style of literature first
emerged in the context of political tendencies in the 1960s.
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3. Term Postmodernism
The term "postmodernism" is used to discuss many different things
ranging from architecture, to historical theory, to philosophy and film.
Because of this fact, several people distinguish between several forms
of postmodernism and thus suggest that there are three forms of
postmodernism:
(1) Postmodernity is understood as a historical period from the mid-
1960s to the present, which is different from the
(2) theoretical postmodernism, which encompasses the theories
developed by thinkers such as Roland Barthes, Jacques
Derrida, Michel Foucault and others.
(3) The third category is the “cultural postmodernism,” which includes
film, literature, visual arts, etc. that feature postmodern elements.
Postmodern literature is, in this sense, part of cultural
postmodernism.
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4. 4
Title:
‘Othello’
Boldness
Smartness
Strong
Confidence
Skilled
Soldier

5. Shakespeare and 20th Century
The postmodernists explore the inter relationship
between Shakespeare and 20th century contemporary
culture by discovering postmodernist themes,
tendencies and attitudes within his literary works. The
topics of Race represent one of the most important
themes in postmodern literature which shape highly in
Shakespeare’s plays like Othello. The prejudice loaded
picture of Othello as “the Moor”, “the thick lips”, “an
old black ram” and “a Barbary horse” connect him with
immense less than human. Though Shakespeare
inherited an environment of cultural tensions and uses
racial stereotypes in his plays he often confronts racial
attitudes.
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6. Continue……
Though ‘Moors’ were regarded as savage and
barbarous, he has presented Othello as mild-
mannered and very ‘civilized’ as a general and
noble. Shakespeare has not become
superseded in the postmodern age; rather he
continues to flourish still by way of a rising
number of Shakespearean troupes and
festivals, the renewal of the Globe theatre, and
theater inventions.6

7. Michelle Foucault
According to Michelle Foucault, truth, morality, and
meaning are created through discourse. Every age
has a dominant group of discursive elements that
people live in unconsciously. In ‘Othello’,
Shakespeare represents society in many ways
basically different from his own, and rather than
minimizing these differences, he discovers them in
a politically artistic way. He portrays a strong
concept of Italian city-state instead of a feudal
kingdom or a renaissance court.
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8. Shakespeare’s Republicanism
As a whole, the play is an attractive example of
Shakespeare’s Republicanism. At this point two
cities Venice and Cyprus play a symbolic change
in the attitude and the broad atmosphere of the
play. This presentation is an effort to discuss this
dichotomy of postmodern, aesthetic and synthetic
paradigms of Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’.
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9. Society & Othello
Othello’s story transcends the color of his skin; it’s
the concept of the other that Shakespeare writes
about, the mistrust of difference that is present in all
societies. Desdemona’s as a wife loyalty and the
physical abuse she survives at the hand of her
jealous husband, are issues that structure today’s
information. And Iago’s envy and treachery still echo
in aggressive scenarios filled up in this play.
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10. Actually ‘Othelo’ is a black comedy in Act V, scene (17-30)
Iago: O murderous slave! O villain! (Stabs Roderigo)
Roderigo: O damn’d Iago! O inhuman dog!
Iago: Kill men I’ the dark! Where be these bloody thieves? How silent is this
town! Ho! Mueder! Murder!
What may you be? Are you of good or evil?
Loderigo: As you shall prove us, praise us. Iago Signior Lodovico?
Logerigo: He sir.
Iago: I cry you mercy. Here’s Cassio hurt by villains.
Gra. Cassio!
Iago: How is it brother?
Cassio: My leg is cut in two.
Iago: Marry, heaven forbid, Light, gentlemen; I’ll bind it with my shirt.
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11. Text Lines
These lines show funny statement. A murder took place, but it
pretends that it has not taken place. One of the foremost attention-
grabbing samples of power relationships in Othello is that between
Othello, Desdemona and Iago. The image of gender distinction and
the variation perception of them suggest a powerful gender-based
difference. Othello and Desdemona love one another for the
‘differences they perceive in one another. Desdemona recognizes as a
valiant warrior, and Othello recognizes Desdemona like a woman
with genuine feminine graze. These distinctions are distorted are
unclear by Iago, who cannot bear to see two lovers’ well twisted.
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12. Postmodern Element in ‘Othello’
In the postmodern era power and wealth play significant
role in culture and society. The element of power and
struggle is shown by the character Othelo. Cassio
selected as the lieutenant by Othelo and Iago does not
bear this ranking system. The power struggle is
exemplified through Iago's words at the top of Act three
Scene (III) 'I am your own forever'.
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13. Conclusion
Authority and power make this play tragic in the
post modern context. Othello's immature belief in
an “honest Iago” is the real problem not Iago's
deceit. Othelo love towards is pure and true and as
Iago’s grows not because of love but because of
leadership his promise to himself is the desire to
ruin Othello resulting is a fated marriage between
two lovers; is a true open form of realism. This
presentation concludes by the consequences of
postmodern context in ‘Othello’.
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14. THANK YOU
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