Of the citie of God

Of the citie of God

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In City of God, Saint Augustine takes the pagan claim that Christianity was the cause of the fall of the Roman Empire and flips it around, blaming instead the pagan’s moral and spiritual corruption as the cause of the downfall of the most powerful empire ever seen at that point in history. According to Augustine in Book II Chapter III, the pagan gods caused the “various and repeated disasters” that plagued the prosperity of Rome “before ever Christ had come in the flesh”. By pointing out Rome’s troubles before the advent of Christianity, Augustine argues that it could not possibly have been a consequence of his faultless religion. Throughout the first half of the work, Augustine is defending the perfect ideal of Christianity by placing blame of Rome’s fall on the pagan’s, creating a very pro-Christian dynamic that is relevant in Othello’s Venice. By separating and demonizing the non-Christian members of Roman society in the book, Augustine contributes to the hateful atmosphere towards Othello and other seemingly non-Christians. Even though Othello’s religious beliefs do not play a significant role in the play, it can be assumed that because of his African roots he would have been categorized with non-Christians due to the stereotype of African religions as all being polytheistic or animistic. This would have led to an added aura of otherness when coupled with Othello’s race and foreignness.

St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo

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London : Printed by George Eld

1610

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With permission from the Rose Library

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English

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BR65 .A64 E5

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