Literature can be seen as a manifestation of the context in which it is composed, while retaining universal elements such as human experience. Although human emotions such as jealousy remain universal despite context, attitudes and values ​​must be continually questioned for society to progress and evolve. This is reflected in Shakespeare's Othello and Tim Blake Nelson's "O", both of which share universal elements while indicating the progression of society. While retaining Shakespeare's reflection on the duality of human nature and the fallibilities one can succumb to when fueled by darker aspects of one's psyche, for example jealousy, Nelson shifts Shakespeare's views from the 16th century so to communicate to a contemporary audience by exploring modern views. concerning morality, hierarchy and gender. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why violent video games should not be banned'?Get the original essayDuring the Elizabethan era, a non-secular environment fostered blind trust in its authoritative figures, who were often involved in Church. Elizabethans valued clarity and believed in binary opposites, such as a distinct line between good and evil, while modern-day Americans valued truth or more accurately justice. There was little room for interpretation of criminal actions and, consequently, little interpretation of textual characters, such as Iago who is portrayed as the quintessential Machiavellian villain who is portrayed as relentless and inherently evil through his dialogue. Iago's plans are revealed to the public in the form of soliloquies and asides, where he is often in the shadows or participates in a clandestine meeting with Roderigo. Iago exclaims “Deity of Hell! When devils commit the blackest sins, they first suggest it with heavenly shows, as I do now. ", accompanying current religious imagery and proves that he is aware of its inherent darkness but does not seem to care about it. Shakespeare fuels the insular belief of the Elizabethans by creating overt villains with no motive for cruelty or desire for redemption. The explicit boundary between good and evil that is valued by Elizabethans is blurred in the modern American context, in which Nelson's antagonist Hugo provokes audience sympathy, unlike Shakespeare's purely villainous Iago who lacks plausible motivation for his actions. Nelson's actions allow the audience to sympathize with the villainous Hugo, when he provides a voice-over close-up of white pigeons in the opening scene that begins the sustained motif of birds during the film: " All my life I've always wanted to fly. I've always wanted to live like a hawk. I know you shouldn't be jealous of anything, but... take flight, soar above. everything and everyone, now that is living,” expressing his desire to be noticed and understood. Nelson humanizes the villain by painting a sad, broken picture of the typical American teenager, further fueling 21st century audiences' thirst and curiosity about the motivations for crime and the truth behind criminal acts. This provides insight into his character and captures the human emotion of jealousy that inevitably brings out savagery, especially in the most vulnerable, sympathetic people in a world that values ​​rational thinking over blind faith. Shakespeare accommodates his Elizabethan audience's belief in the Great Chain of Being, an archaic concept thatconsecutively promotes the superiority of whites over animals and ethnic minorities. Interracial marriage, like that of Othello and Desdemona, arouses controversy among the Venetian public, foreshadowing the impending fate of the two characters who disrupted the Great Chain of Being. Their class difference is illustrated by the recurring black and white imagery, which juxtaposes Othello and Desdemona and reinforces the idea that they are binary opposites and do not belong together. Despite the reputed "noble moor" status he achieved in Venetian society, it has been insinuated that his "blackness" was a sign of inferiority, as Othello is considered "much fairer than black". Othello's supposed racial inferiority is exploited by a villainous Iago who taints Othello's noble image with racial slurs such as "thick lips" and animal images like "black ram" in an attempt to establish Othello's place. Othello at the bottom of the hierarchy. This racial prejudice is ridiculed in O, when Odin and Desi exchange sexual comments: "you would let me dress you and play Black Buck free in the big house". which offers a cynical view of slavery decades earlier in America. Alongside the Elizabethan era, the modern American setting in which O takes place has its own racial hierarchy and prejudices. Odin, the Nelson equivalent of Shakespeare's Othello, is the only black student at a prestigious South Carolina academy. Along with Othello, Odin is also depicted as a respectable man who holds a lot of power, being the captain of the basketball team. Although O is set in a secular society where insular beliefs such as the Great Chain of Being have disappeared, there are lingering racial undercurrents in early 21st century American society. Odin is depicted as different in terms of appearance as well as mentality through the perspective of Hugo, who compares Odin to a lone hawk, while comparing the rest of the students to a flock of white pigeons. The bird imagery is sustained throughout the film with close-ups of the falcon juxtaposed with shots of Odin, attributing their similarity. Before Odin commits suicide, he gives a speech, similar to Othello's soliloquy: "I am no different from any of you all. My mother is not a drug addict. I was not a gang member…. "You Telling Them Where I'm From Didn't Make Me Do This" to acknowledge his awareness of the negative connotations surrounding black culture and as a final plea to the audience to understand that his inherent wildness was part of who he was. was, and is equally part of everyone and that it was not his culture that pushed him to act violently. Both texts, although set in different contexts, address hierarchy and status in their own contexts. While criticizing the blind prejudice and judgment of villains and sympathetic heroes, the message remains the same about humanity's capacity to achieve great things, but also to unleash its intrinsic barbarity when triggered by jealousy, leading to inevitable demise. Unlike the servant role expected of the Elizabethan woman. A housewife in a patriarchal society, Shakespeare creates two intellectual and slightly more outspoken, although still limited, female characters who do not naively follow the men in their lives. Desdemona challenges the Elizabethan feminine archetype by flatly denying Othello's accusations: "I never offended you in my life, I never loved Cassio without having the general guarantee of heaven that I could love." I never gave him a pledge,” but without questioning her husband’s masculinity. This contrasts with the characters of Desi and.