When comparing Othello to other works of literature that we have read throughout the semester I found it very easy to contrast it to the Epic of Gilgamesh. In that story you see how Gilgamesh is a well-respected individual because of his accomplishments on the battlefield. What I found interesting is that Othello is such a decorated General but the color of his skin cannot be overlooked by the Venetian society. Othello is ostracized and left as an outsider in this society because he is not from there. He has done such great work as a warrior to help defend the city of Venice but he cannot be accepted. “Valiant Othello, we must employ you against the general enenmy Ottoman.”(page 33, lines 56-57) You see that they have respect for Othello as a warrior by calling him valiant. But I can’t help but wonder if Othello were in Urik would the citizens accept him? I understand that Gilgamesh was the king but he could be accepted because his success in battle.

Gilgamesh is looked at as a leader because he is a well-respected warrior. Othello is a well-respected warrior but because he is black it overpowers the fact of his success in war. Brabantio and Iago see it as a problem if Desdemona marries someone of a different color. It is quite obvious through textual evidence that the people of Venice do not accept Othello. The whole play revolves around Othello being the Venetian moor that has married someone that is white. It always comes back to race in this play and it shows how blacks were looked at in this time period. You would think that based on our past readings that the people of Venice would overlook the fact that he is a moor for the fact that he has protected and saved this city from its enemies. You would think it would outweigh that small issue based on the patterns of our readings from earlier in the semester especially Gilgamesh. You see the differences in values across the world and it is clear that the color of your skin is valued more than the protection of your city.

Visual element-

It is interesting to see that Gilgamesh the King and a very great warrior while Othello is a great warrior as Gilgamesh but is ostracized in the Venetian society. Othello looks weak in his animated while Gilgamesh looks strong and collected.