Stereotypical Green-Eyed Monster (p. 1119, Question 5)

Thus far, the main themes of Othello have been those of the effects of both jealousy and prejudgment. Iago is almost entirely consumed with jealousy of Cassio's promotion to the rankof lieutenant that Iago knows he is "worth no worse a place" (I.i.11). In addition, we learn that Iago is jealous of Othello, of whom he claims "that 'twixt my sheets/He's done my office" (I.iii.368-369)--that is, has slept with Iago's wife. This theme of jealous drives the majority of the play's action, as it is because of jealousy that Iago lays his plan for revenge.

At the same time, prejudgment is highly prevalent in the play. This theme in the form of racism is highly present in Iago's reference to Othello as a "horse" (I.i.111) and in Brabantio's assumption that Othello must have tricked Desdemona into marrying him (I.i.169-172). This idea of the effect of prejudgment is also displayed when Iago falsely tells Montano that Cassio is an alcoholic who would "watch the horologe a double set,/If drink rock not his cradle" (II.iii.111-112). This prejudgment of Cassio as a drunkard by Montano begins to set public opinion against Cassio; this notion is further supported by Cassio's drunken antics moments later. This theme, like the theme of jealousy, effectively encapsulates oft-present human vices and subtly hints at the serious consequences of such vices. These themes are what mold the story.

Hemingway's Cop Out ("I Don't Like Robert Cohn," La Deuxième Partie) (Stereotype)

“‘Oh, go to hell.’

He stood up from the table his face white, and stood there white and angry behind the little plates of hors d’œuvres. ‘Sit down,’ I said. Don’t be a fool.’

‘You’ve got to take that back.’

‘Oh, cut out the prep-school stuff.’

‘Take it back.’

‘Sure. Anything. I never heard of Brett Ashley. How’s that?’

‘No. Not that. About me going to hell.’

‘Oh, don’t go to hell,’ I said. ‘Stick around. We’re just starting lunch.’

Cohn smiled again and sat down. He seemed glad to sit down. What the hell would he have done if he hadn’t sat down? ‘You say such damned insulting things, Jake…. You’re really about the best friend I have, Jake.’

God help you, I thought.”

-The Sun Also Rises, p 47

In this passage, we see a glimpse of that “hard, Jewish, stubborn streak” (p 18) that Jake had already mentioned earlier. By writing Cohn like this, Hemingway places him within the stereotype that was held by mainstream America at the time concerning Jewish people. Cohn is depicted as extremely stubborn and rigid in ideals. He is also portrayed as increasingly short-tempered and testy. Yet Hemingway then proceeds to show that Cohn truly is not a fighter; in fact, it only takes a sarcastic apology from Jake to immediately put Cohn back at ease.

By giving Cohn such weak qualities and then repeatedly commenting on Cohn’s Judaism, Hemingway implies a stereotype that was prevalent at the time. Hemingway does nothing to refute the idea that Jews are stubbornly short-tempered, yet easy to please and, therefore, rather dim-witted. Considering how important Cohn seems to be to the plot, it almost seems like Hemingway is avoiding creating any sort of depth beside the expected depth of a Jew at the time.