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Chapter 4 - Racist Humor and Shakespearean Comedy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 February 2021

By
Patricia Akhimie
Edited by
Ayanna Thompson
Ayanna Thompson
Affiliation:
Arizona State University
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Summary

This essay examines the pervasive use of racist humor in Shakespeare’s comedies through stereotypical characters, exoticism, scapegoating, and ethnic slurs. While we may consider the ways in which Shakespeare’s comedies at times question or critique racist attitudes, ultimately the essay encourages readers to acknowledge and to wrestle with the racist language of the plays. The essay offers readers tools with which to identify and analyze racist humor in Shakespeare’s comedies, and to understand the role of racist humor in the social construction of race and the production of stigmatized groups.

Keywords

racist humorcomediesracismstereotypeethnic slursexoticismscapegoatrace
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare and Race , pp. 47 - 61
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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