Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?
We have qualified writers to help you.
We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.
You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)
NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.
NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.
Introduction
Literature always reflects cultural and societal aspects prevailing at the time of its creation. The thesis selected for investigation on World Literature is to dig out facts on east-west aspects along with identification of discrimination on the grounds of race and culture . The writers view towards society and prevailing circumstances will create a background to his writings. The governmental as well as international affairs can influence those.
The medieval or modern literature exhibits those situations without fail. Therefore, analysis on various literatures produced at different times provides cultural and societal history exploration, which adds to beauty of human life in olden times. The facts and events bring about an effective comparison of ancient situation with status to dig out virtue and vice of both for betterment in current affairs of the society. Main objective is to identify Orientalism in literature under study. According to Edward Said, Orientalism is the product of circumstances that are fundamentally, indeed radically, fractious (Said, Edward (1977) Orientalism) which actually is the procedure of reflecting eastern values and aspects in western works.
The paper deals with comparison of east and west culture that prevailed during medieval age and 20th century. The east and west aspects depicted in both reflect the circumstances that prevailed during those times. A critical review on both accompanied by a comparison on both values are identified through this work, so that opportunities of cultural and societal expansion and modification become evident.
The ancestral studies of different groups of people are being given much importance during recent years and thus the relevance of the paper is clear. The literatures selected for the analysis are Season of migration to the north by Tayeb Salih and Othello by William Shakespeare; former is a medieval work while the latter reflects 20th century. Both gain significance due to the collaboration of east and west values in them along with exhibiting customs and culture of conservatism prevailed in medieval as well as recent years. The literatures were selected considering their popularity and acceptance worldwide even under the names of their authors who have rewritten their names in golden milestone of world literature.
East and west dialogue in Season of migration to north
The east west discussion on Season of migration to north has been given significance from the time of its publishing itself. Scholars consider this novel to be an important turning point in the development of travel narratives that focus on the encounter between East and West in the twentieth century (Boer 201). There has been a wide analytical discussions being carried out in both West and East areas in support as well as against.
Various detractors seeking out similarities between Saeed with those are comparing the character Saeed with characters from other English literatures. Two interesting examples are the comparisons that are drawn between Mustafa Saeed, the main character in the Season of Migration to the North, and Othello (Harlo 1979 and 1985), or between the former and Kurtz in Joseph Conrads Heart of darkness (Krishnan, Shaheen, Maalouf, and Caminero-Santangelo) (Boer 201).
Season of migration to north is a renowned literature work by Tayeb Salih, which represents typical postcolonial culture in depth. The work portrays mainly two characters in it, namely Mustafa Saeed and the narrator. It was a book written in Arabic, which was later translated to English as well. Published in the late 1960s, Season of Migration to the North was banned by Sudans Islamic regime in the 1990s because of its descriptions of a Sudanese intellectuals sexual experiences in Britain (Khartoum).
But, later popularity came up to a big glory for it as well as its author which was backed up when The Damascus-based Arab Literary Academy in 2001 declared the book the most important Arabic novel of the 20th century (Khartoum). This piece of work describes about two Sudanese youth educated at higher levels from England. Both had to return to hometown after studies. It seems to be a mystery out there for narrator regarding Mustafa Saeed that compelled to explore on Saeed.
Saeed living in his place with wife and two children was not ready to exhibit his actual possessions in education, but at a point of time, he had to reveal his studies and life in England. He describes himself as a prodigy from Sudan who goes to study first in Cairo and then in London, where he hunts women but eventually falls for one himself (Salih). In his journey through those worst performances on English women leading a few to suicide, he did not consider the situation and emotions of women he met.
He was married to an English subsequently killing Jean Morris due to which he was accused to imprisonment, and following it, he had to return to his hometown. After his revelation about the past, he left a letter to the narrator and vanished in Nile River. But, the story didnt end with his disappearance and request to narrator to take care of his children, just continued narrating how his wife Hosna Bint Mahmoud was tortured in the name of second marriage compelling her to stab Wad Rayes, her second husband, to death and committing suicide. Later, at Saeeds study, narrator seeks out Saeeds wish to go and live in England which he could not and even his love for English life.
The entire novel of Season of migration to north describes on attitudes of women at the age of post colonialism and African feel towards English as a whole. The discrimination on the grounds of race and colour was eminent during those times, which created a negative attitude in the minds of blacks. Words of Saeed saying The sensation that& I have bedded the goddess of Death and gazed out upon Hell from the aperture of her eyes its a feeling no man can imagine.
The taste of that night stays on in my mouth, preventing me from savouring anything else (Gagiano) can be seen as description of his pleasure in hurting and killing English women derived from his insanity of being discriminated as the black Englishman (Gagiano). The explanation for those murders by Saeed creates a devilish performers portrayal about his inhumane deeds. Through these, author tries to exhibit how circumstances of life define ones life and background. Coming to culture existing in Sudan and nearby areas showing a peculiar attitude towards women, Tayib succeeds in explaining on unsafe situation.
Women with their husbands dead are exploited in many forms by society against which no notions are available for them. Hosna Bint Mahmoud was a victim of this, who had to murder and commit suicide due to prevailing risky life of hers. The English and Sudanese cultures were entirely different as described in the novel. May be cultural outlook of inferiority for women in Sudan within Saeed accompanied by grudge against English might have made him to perform his dirty deeds in England.
Tayib describes that like a sharp knife, cutting with cold effectiveness (Gagiano) was so dangerous that it stabbed its last victim after its disappearance from scenario and signed off. As a whole, it represents the cultural as well as societal aspects of in east and west perspectives. This makes clear on the matter of the novels link with Othello, which is our topic of discussion.
East and west dialogue in Othello
The study on east and west dialogue in Othello poses a prerequisite for analysis of circumstances prevailing in England and other countries of the world. The popular unconscious during Shakespeares time (1564-1616), the Elizabethan Period, conflated black people with devils and the savage beings depicted in medieval legends, representing far-off, uncivilized worlds (Maurouard). The status of black and white as well as east and west were well defined with considerable gaps between them. Othello creates a major position for Moor General named Othello traversing through his feelings, emotions and problems.
Othello is stated as a tragedy play written by William Shakespeare in 1603. It is said that the play was written based on an Italian story named Un Capitano Moro written by Cinthio in the middle of 16th century. Othello is often entitled as Shakespeares famous play of love turned bad by unfounded jealousy (Othello Summary act I) due to the dependence of the story on the foul play of Iago just for his destination to become Lieutenant of Cyprus. Othello is placed in a personal environment and spotlights on the fervour and private values of living of the characters plotted through it. The work is described as a tragedy of personal affairs due to cheating interference of a trusted person common to all victims.
In Othello the title character, Moor holding the position of General in Venice marries Desdemona daughter of Brabantio, a senator in Venice. Roderigo was a fan of Desdemona who wished to marry her and kept Iago under bribe to give him information about her. But Iago, the main villain character of the play responsible for all tragic events due to his wicked deeds, was not at all loyal and just kept Roderigo for his financial profit.
By the time, Othello married Desdemona on which Iago was jealous, informed Roderigo after the marriage, and convinced him that this happened through witchy acts of Othello which news was conveyed to Desdemonas father who came against, but later was explained on real picture. Later, Cassio was entitled to the dream position of Iago, which made him enraged. He started to plot new plan to wipe out all his rivals in the path towards destiny. Through his cunning plans, he succeeded in expelling Cassio out of his position followed by tricky steps to bring about doubt for Desdemona-Cassio ill affair in the mind of Othello.
Again, Roderigo tried to kill Cassio but Iago had to kill him while Cassio was wounded. Later, Iago was entitled to his set destiny. In his mental agony of doubt, Othello killed Desdemona who was too loyal to him as a wife, refused to admit that her husband had done it to her. However, Emilia, wife of Iago and house cleaner to Desdemona, who knew all facts, revealed those to accused Othello and other governors, which made Othello much outraged and repented. He tries to kill Iago but leaves to suffer, while Iago kills his wife and was caught sooner. At the end of the play, Othello commits suicide and Iago is kept back for torturing and execution by law.
The play portrays how a black man in governance and keeping the hands of a high ranked senators daughter brings about problem to superior groups of the society. It is a play about war-a war between Venice and the Turks, not only over conquest of the Mediterranean basin or between religions East and West, but also on the other as foreigner who must be annihilated (Maurouard). Othello as a whole is conducting an exploration by a side on the matter of discrimination and superior-inferior feel existing in medieval period, which is evident from the words of Iago saying what a full fortune does the thick lips owe if he can carrys thus? (Maurouard).
The gap of East and West and religions of Islam and Christianity was seen in relationships portrayed in Othello, which was one among many reasons for doubt of conduct and culture. The gap identified has many other instances as well like entitlement of Othello with the Moor , the thick lips , an old black ram , the devil , a Barberry horse , a lascivious Moor (Bartels) and many other words of discrimination of blacks by Roderigo and Iago throughout the play. To be clear, Shakespeare succeeded in plotting East and West and racial discrimination that prevailed in medieval age.
Othello exhibits Turkish intimidation prevailed in Europe at that time which declares an opposition from Christian concepts against Islamic. Superimposed onto the conception of a world divided between them and us were the discourses of Orientalism and colonialism (Vaughan 4) which clearly displayed in Othello. Othello is a tragedy play, which shows cultural differences of East and West as well as their effects in the life of various characters of that play. Othello is described in terms of the characteristics popularly attributed to blacks during the sixteenth century: sexual potency, courage, pride, guilelessness, credulity, easily aroused passions (McDonald 805). Characterization of Othello in such an image figures out the eastern distinction from west.
Season of migration to the north vs. Othello
The comparison of Season of migration to the north with Othello first seeks out the different but renowned authors from east and west backgrounds respectively. Western Christian culture of William Shakespeare and Eastern Islamic culture of Tayib Salih are responsible for those works in respective manner. In addition, the time of creation is of great importance i.e. 20th century and medieval age respectively. In Othello, problems and degradation of Othello in Islamic Moor is portrayed while the evilness created and executed by Moor under his cultural and experience background is visualized in Season of migration to north.
There are many similarities that can be traced out from both works, as they rely on discrimination backgrounds though during different instances of history, which might have led to the idea that Tayeb Salih shows us an Othello without passion. (Tayeb Salih Migration to the North). The characters plotted in both works are from similar cultural background, but one is seeking pathetic emotional situation of a Moor (Othello) while the other represents wilderness produced within a Moor with a follow-up of discrimination.
One clear fact evident from both literature works is that an outside viewer pities on Moors like Shakespeare, while insiders have mixed feeling for themselves. Nevertheless, main contrast is related to reason of tragic end in both; in Othello, it is due to outside interference while in Season of migration to north it is Saeeds choice for life. The east west variations in culture and other qualities in both the literatures are identified by many of the literature forecasters. Complexities in the interplay of racial and sexual politics are more vividly and wrenchingly brought to life in another non-Western response to Shakespeares Othello, the Sudanese author Tayib Salihs novel, Season of Migration to the North (Hendricks and Parker 295).
The racism and its ugly background in history and literature are being plotted effectively in both works. In the comparative analysis of Season of migration to north and Othello , it requires the stating of words packed with colonial symbolism as well as an allusive trope of the signifier/signified dichotomy from Shakespeares Othello (Frank) which describes an existing link between both, but in an antagonistic approach of the author.
One tries to take revenge while other is fallen into the trap just finds himself a loser and murderer of his extremely loyal wife. The characters Saeed and Othello share a similar context in the case of Orientalism. The stereotype of Othello fits Mustafa; but as he states, he carries inside him the germs of the oldest disease, the germs of destruction (Boer 205). The quote above indicates the valuation of various analysts in the case of east west issues in Season of migration to the north and Othello. Many factors and aspects coincide in both pieces of literatures. The study as a whole makes apparent that something lies smeared with tragedy behind discriminated groups of world by West.
Conclusion
The values exhibited by medieval and modern literature are being sought from the critical reading of Othello and Season of migration to north. The former being a tragedy of cheating brings sympathy on Moor while the other became a consequence tragedy of wicked performance. Both works are excellent pieces of literature ever seen in World Literature sector. Othello exhibits the problems and discriminations faced by a black with eastern culture in higher positions of western cultured superior society.
There the victim could remain utilized and made to work on the words of treachery. Saeed in Season of migration to north exhibits multiple feelings and aggressiveness against superior groups through his under-dignified approach on English women. The comparative study on both is significant in the background of seeking east-west issues on world popular literature.
The selection of literatures was based on the popularity and acceptance of those works along with values of humanity and culture they exhibit in abundance. The human factors absent in discriminating and being discriminated on the grounds of beliefs and races are explained explicitly in both works. Shakespeare and Tayib integrate possible disaster on both sides of discrimination in two different tallies. The east-west analysis on literature has thus concluded on the fact that east-west discrimination and cultural problems are major negative aspects even prevailing in modern world with a start from ancient through medieval ages.
Works Cited
Bartels, Emily C. Othello and Africa: Postcolonialism Reconsidered. Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture. 1997. Web.
Boer, Inge E. After Orientalism: Critical Entanglements, Productive Looks. Rodopi. 2003. Web.
Frank, B. Lies of Our Own Making: A Book Review of Tayib Salihs Season of Migration to the North. Associated Content. 2007. Web.
Gagiano, Annie. Season of Migration to the North. African Library. Web.
Hendricks, Margo and Parker, Patricia A. Women, Race and Writing in the Early Modern Period. Routledge. 1994. Web.
Khartoum, Afp. Arab Novelist Tayeb Salih Dies in London. The Daily Star. 2009. Web.
Maurouard, Elvire. Shakespeares Othello and the Origins of the Black Man. Panafrican Cultural Festival. 2009. Web.
McDonald, Russ. Shakespeare: An Anthology of Criticism and Theory, 1945-2000. Wiley-Blackwell. 2004. Web.
Othello Summary. Absolute Shakespeare. 2005. Web.
Said, Edward (1977) Orientalism. London: Penguin. 2003. Web.
Salih, Al-Tayyib. Black Biography. Answers. 2010. Web.
Salih, Tayeb. Season of Migration to the North. 2006. Web.
Shakespeare, William. William Shakespeare. The Literature Network. 2009. Web.
Tayeb Salih Migration to the North. Attribution Non-commercial, Scribd. 2008. Web.
Vaughan, Virginia Mason. Othello: A Contextual History. Cambridge University Press. 1996. Web.
Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?
We have qualified writers to help you.
We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.
You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)
NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.
NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.