Notes on Model Thesis Statement

Here are some notes on why the model thesis statement we considered in class is so exemplary.

THESIS:

Although Shakespeare originally presents Othello as a character that resists the racial stereotypes cast upon him by the supporting characters in the play, these other characters ultimately capitalize on Othello’s racial otherness to bring forth his downfall, forcing Othello to internalize the very stereotypes he avoided. Othello’s sudden shift in demeanor and openness to Iago’s machinations suggest a deep-seated, insurmountable, and internalized racism within Othello, thereby illustrating Shakespeare’s reinforcement of the racist stereotypes prevalent in Elizabethan society.

WHAT MAKES THIS GOOD:

This thesis is an ARGUABLE CLAIM. In other words, it makes an interpretive argument about Shakespeare’s Othello. Someone could potentially disagree with this thesis

(For example, someone could say that Othello’s fall is not due to internalized racism but is instead due to his fragile masculinity.)

Because someone could potentially disagree with this thesis, it requires that the author present textual evidence from the play and secondary resources and that the author analyze this material.

This thesis is also good because the author does not just offer an interpretation of Othello (that Othello negotiates a “deep-seated, insurmountable, and internalized racism within Othello, thereby illustrating Shakespeare’s reinforcement of the racist), but also makes an argument as to WHY this interpretation is significant: it helps us to better understand the racist stereotypes in circulation in Shakespeare’s society.

SO IN CONCLUSION:

A good thesis will include 1) a concrete and detailed interpretive argument of your chosen text (Passing or Othello) and 2) a statement as to why this interpretive argument is important (Does it offer us insight into the novel/play’s historical context? Does it offer a new way of thinking about gender norms? Does it offer a way of thinking about the novel/play that is not immediately apparent to readers?).