Deception & Identity In Othello and The Talented Mr Ripley Anonymous 12th Grade

Identity is crucial in understanding our values and morals and is shaped by societal expectations and the choices we make. Thus, it is ultimately an individual’s choice to relinquish temptations of deception, in which often eventuates to the corruption of an individual’s moral framework. Identity and deception are interrelated concepts that are evident in Othello, composed by William Shakespeare, and The Talented Mr Ripley, directed by Anthony Minghella. Therefore, a deeper understanding of deception and identity emerges from considering the parallels between the texts.

The social concerns of a society can ultimately impact upon an individual’s identity. The principal social concern during the Elizabethan era was the introduction of ‘blacks’ into the predominantly white society. To convey these concerns, Shakespeare deliberately positions the protagonist as an outsider. Othello is a well-respected general with a strong identity; however, his success is constantly undermined through racial rejection. This is particularly evident in Iago’s racist and animal-based epithets about Othello, such as “the old black ram” in which creates imagery of the devil and creates the perception that Othello is in conflict with his own identity. “...