Authority is a legitimate or socially approved use of power which one person or a group

holds over another. The exploration of authority is evident in the Shakespearean play
Othello, Pauline Hansons Maiden Speech and the Nazi Propoganda Poster, “Es Lebe
Deutschland”. According to Othello, Pauline Hanson and Adolf Hitler, authority is the
right to give orders and make others obey. The reflection of authority is subdivided in the
texts through hierarchical and racial authority, including the authority over the emotions
of an individual.

The exploration of hierarchical authority is portrayed in Othello through the utilisation of

military rankings and in terms of social status characterised in both, men and women. A
factor of Othello’s authority is the deep held respect in society towards him due to the
experiences he has overcome as a person and as a general which is conveyed through
anecdotes ‘ From year to year-the battles, sieges, fortunes that I have passed…Of being
taken by insolent foe and sold to slavery….’ Othello’s past deeds as a slave and his
victories as general present an authoritarian and influential figure in society and is a
contributing factor to his place on the hierarchy as an influential figure which is evident
through the alliteration present in his elegant manner of speech ‘Let him do his spite, my
services which I have done the signiory shall out tongue his complaints’. The relationship
between Othello, Cassio and Iago presented by Shakespeare draw attention to the rank
and status of military officers and the effect their titles as soldiers has on their attitudes
towards one another. Through the hierarchy of the military rankings, Othello is placed at
the top, holding his position as general, maintaining great responsibility and supreme
authority due to his experience and post portrayed through his conversations with other
characters. Through the dialogues between Othello and his lower ranking officers, it is
evident that a hierarchical structure is maintained, as he is referred to only as ‘sir, and
general’. Likewise Cassio, the lieutenant is supreme to the ensign, Iago, in terms of
military rankings, which is evidently portrayed in their conversations ‘Sir, would she give
you so much of her lips..’ ‘Good lieutenant’. The characterisation of women based on
aesthetics and womanly virtues accentuates Desdemona as the supreme female.
Desdemona’s aesthetics are exemplified through imagery ‘my fair warrior’ and the quote
‘She is perfect mixture of womanly virtues’ portraying her as the dominant female hence
on top of the female hierarchy. The military value and virtues represented in the play are
reflectant of the 16th century and are constitutional to the hierarchy formed in Othello.

Likewise, Pauline Hanson’s Maiden speech is reflective of hierarchical authority

ultimately allowing Hanson to exercise power. Being a politician, a member for Oxley,
thereby a figure of supreme authority in the Oxley community. ‘How proud I am to be
here as the independent member for Oxley’. Through the use of anecdotes ‘My
experience as a mother of four children, sole parent, businesswoman…’ Hanson is able
to relate to the typical mainstream working class Australians placing her on top of the
hierarchy with experience similar to Othello. The repetition of commands evident in
Hanson’s speech emphasises her authority, ‘The government must do it all to help reduce
interest rates…’ ‘The government must be imaginative enough to become involved…’ as
Hanson is in a position to express her views on the government, including what they must
do. It is evident that through her experience, conforming with Australian society and
expressing her views in a commanding fashion, she is an influential figure maintaining
authority on the hierarchy.

Comparatively, ‘Es Lebe Deutchsland’ circa 1936 embraces hierarchical authority in

their efforts to control society. ‘Es Lebe Deutchsland’ illustrated an idealised image of
Adolf Hitler waving a Nazi Flag, supported by an infinite crowd of people in the
background, depicting the hierarchy in which Hitler is at the top. This poster clearly
depicts hierarchical authority which was perpetuated in both Hanson’s speech and
Othello. The eagle hovering against the ‘light of heaven’ over Hitler portrays him as a
god like figure to the germans, as a religious allusion to the dove descending on Christ
when he was baptised by John the Baptist. It is evident that Hitler is perceived as a god-
like figure with supreme authority allowing him to form a hierarchy which he is
maintaining.

Shakespeare characterised Othello, a black general to maintain predominant authority in

the play and in doing so was able to explore the aspect of racial authority. The white
skinned characters Iago and Roderigo refer to Othello using racial epithets ‘The Moor’
and animalistic imagery ‘Barbary Horse’ and sexual imagery ‘…old black ram tupping a
white ewe.’ The references used towards Othello used by other characters helps
exemplify the authority of race. The references to animals convey a sense of the laws of
nature which is imposed on all characters within the play. Iago is the spokeperson for the
dominant view point ‘hatred is only skin deep’ held by the white society of England, that
black people were considered sensual, lustful creatures more beast than human. Therefore
through Iago, Shakespeare is able to relate to his audience and represent the racial views
contemporary to its time. Through the use of religious allusions Iago describes Othello as
‘the devil’, Emilia refers to Othello as ‘The blacker devil’ and ‘Though art a devil’
reflectant of the representation fo balck people within society for centuries expecially
during the Elizabethan times. The play Othello represents the racial authority
comtemporary to its time, and the use of racial authority within the play aids the portrayal
of dominance possessed by the white skinned characters over the black Othello.

Comparatively Pauline Hanson’s speech explores racial authority to further express her
dominance. ‘The nation is being divided into black and white’, through the use of
metonymy Hanson stereotypes Australia into racial groups and differentiates black from
white. The use of rhetorics ‘I do not believe the colour of ones skin determines whether
they are disadvantaged’ is establishing the allusion ‘Multiculturalism wont work’. The
use of imagery ‘Abolishing the policy of multiculturalism…is paving the way to a strong,
united country’ represents an image of strength and unity which only the white skinned
population of Australia possess empowering them over immigrants/other descents. The
rhetorical question ‘Do we want or need any of these people?...... I am one red blooded
Australian who says no and who speaks for 90% of Australians’ and then providing the
audience with a supporting response shows her opinion and reflection of the society in
terms of racial views, and the authority they possess over no white skinned people.
Hanson is evident in the exploration of racial authority and is mainly used to further
express her dominance and power she possesses.
In Othello, human emotions have ultimate authority over individuals. Exert from Iago’s
soliloquoy ‘I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear, that she repeals him for her body’s’
portrays Iagos thorough knowledge of human emotions and the consequences if they are
tampered. Through the use of imagery, symbolism coupled with dramatic irony Iago is
able to incite jealousy, anger and fear into Othello. ‘In sleep I heard him say: Sweet
Desdemona let us be wary…. Kiss me hard…laid his leg over my thigh’ also ‘: ‘They met
so near with their lips that their breaths embraced together..’ Iago exploits false
romantic images and a deceitful dream to create a sense of doubt into Othello,
empowering Iago as Othello is prone to influence. Shakespeare exploits the use of
symbolism ‘Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief/ spotted with strawberries in
your wifes hand?’ The handkerchief symbolises Desdemona’s loyalty for Othello and is
an item of great emotional value, the loss of it, furthermore Cassio’s possession of it
ensnares jelousy and anger, making Othello susceptible to Iago’s influence, thereby the
gain of authority. The use of Dramatic Irony ‘Othello’s fit’ demonstrates the breakdown
of an individual due to jealousy, fear and anger making himself vulnerable to Iago’s
influence and authority whilst Othello’s authority is diminishing. It is evident that
through imagery and symbolism Iago has been able to plague Othellos mind and the
effects are represented through dramatic irony. Empowerment occurs as ones emotions
are distressed and tampered with, making them susceptible to influence, which is evident
in Othellos murder of Desdemona influenced by Iago.

Similarly Pauline Hanson’s speech explores the use of authority on emotions as a means
to gain empowerment. ‘In danger of being swamped by Asians’ and the ‘White
Australian Policy’. Allusions are used by Hanson to incite fear into the Australian
population, the linkage between danger and Asians present a fearful allusion to the white
population of Australia making them more susceptible to her influence and opinions.
‘Where the hell do I go?’ The use of this rhetorical question indicates fear and anger over
Aboriginal land rights. Hanson is trying to embed that fear and anger into the audience by
created a fearful atmosphere at which they are at stake of loosing homes and land to
aboriginals. ‘I should have the right to have a say on who comes into my country’, the use
of emotive language allows Hanson to interact with her audience at a much deeper level,
enabling her to rekindle with their emotions attempting to encourage agreement to her
views. Hanson and Iago share similar traits when it comes to means to gain authority and
it is shown in their attempts to control the emotions of their intended subjects.

Likewise, the Nazi Propoganda poster, “Es lebe Deutschland!” circa 1936, encompasses
the struggle for control over society’s ways of thinking through emotional authority. The
posters patriotic title ‘Long live Germany’ establishes support for the Nazi Party, by
conveying ideas of a prosperous future. Hence the clenched fist and determined glare of
the centralised figure of Adolf Hitler, sells an idea of hope which uplifts Germany’s
dampened spirits after WW1, enabling the Nazi’s the gain authority. Furthermore, the
individuals mind is bombarded with repetition of the Swastika embellished flag,
inevitably eliminating any doubt towards supporting the Nazi’s. By creating the innate
desire to conform through its representation of the almost identical crowd of people in the
background, the Nazi party further able to gain authority over a large portion of society
which is devoid of a sense of free thinking. The ‘Es lebe Deutschland’ depicts the ability
for supremacy achieved through psychological means.