Othello:Racism
JusthowseriousistheproblemofracialprejudiceinWilliamShakespeare'stragedyOthello?Isit pervasiveorincidental?Thisessayintendstoanswerquestionsonthissubject.
BlancheColesinShakespeare'sFourGiantsmaintainsthattheracialdiscriminationintheplaymay beoverstatedbycritics:
Inthefirstscene,RoderigohasreferredtoOthelloas"thicklips."Noothercharacterintheplay attributesanysuchnegroidfeaturestoOthello,anditshouldberememberedthatRoderigohasa half–insaneprejudiceagainstandhatredforOthelloBrabantioreferstohis"sootybosom,"butmay henothavemeanthishairychest?Someratherfairmenhaveblackhairontheirchests.Theword "sooty"showmorecontent
Arise,arise;
Awakethesnortingcitizenswiththebell,
Orelsethedevilwillmakeagrandsireofyou:
Arise,Isay.(1.1)
Thephraseoldblackramandtheworddevilbothmakereferenceinanoffensivemannertodark skincolor.TheallusiontowhiteewehastheeffectofputtingOthello'sdarknessintosharpcontrast. AfewlineslaterIagoonceagainturnshisinvectivefullyonOthellowiththreestingingracial epithets:
'Zounds,sir,youareoneofthosethatwillnot serveGod,ifthedevilbidyouBecausewecometo
doyouserviceandyouthinkweareruffians,you'll haveyourdaughtercoveredwithaBarbaryhorse;
you'llhaveyournephewsneightoyou;you'llhave coursersforcousinsandgennetsforgermans(11)
Thewordsdevil,Barbaryhorse,andgennet(adark–coloredSpanishhorse)alluseraceatthe expenseoftheheroofthedramaAndthenRoderigochimesin,statingthatDesdemonahasgone "TothegrossclaspsofalasciviousMoor"and"madeagrossrevolt."Therepeatedreferenceto Othelloas"theMoor"byIago,BrabantioandRoderigoisessentiallyastatementofhisracesince theMoorswere,asapeople,dark–skinned
WheninAct1,Scene2,IagoseekstofrightenOthellobytellinghimofBrabantio'sinfluenceasa senator,thegeneralanswersconfidently:"Lethimdohisspite:/MyserviceswhichIhavedonethe signiory/Shall
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Racismintheplay,Othello
Isaplaywrightbeingracistiftheywriteablackcharacterasatragichero?InWilliamShakespeare's play,TheTragedyofOthello,theMoorofVenice,themaincharacterOthelloisblackanda powerful,respectedleader.Tragically,Othelloregressestobecomeajealousmonsterwhomurders ownwifeShakespeareseemstobeambiguousaboutifheseesOthelloasvirtuousorevilIfone observesclosely,ShakespeareseemstobebothsympatheticandracisttowardOthellobydisplaying hisnobleandbasequalities.Atfirst,ShakespeareseemstobesympathetictowardOthello.By describingOthelloasawellrespectedgeneralinVenice,aneloquentspeakerandaprominent figure,ShakespeareshowshisrespectandsympathyforOthello.Neartheend,Othelloreminds them"Ihavedonethestatesomeservice,andtheyknow't"(5.2.339).Hehasobviouslyprovided assistancetoshowmorecontent
WeseethiswhenOthellorecognizesheisdifferent:"RudeamIinmyspeech,/Andlittleblessed withthesoftphraseofpeace"(1381–82)Asaneloquentspeaker,itisstrangethatheapologizes forbeinguncouth.WeseethatOthelloisawareandself–consciousthatpeoplehavenegative preconceptionsaboutblackpeople.Thefactheviewshimselfasanoutsidershowstherewas negativeprejudiceagainstblackpeopleduringthattime.Othellobothseemswillingtosubmittothe discriminationofsocietyandself–deprecationofhimself.Hisinsecuritiesabouthisraceseemto leadhimtohisdownfallWhenacceptsthatheisalientosocietybecauseofhisracialdifference,it seemstoleadhimtoeasilybelieveDesdemonawouldleavehim.Shakespeareappearstoberacist whenpresentingOthelloasanoutsiderasitinsinuatesblackpeoplearenotpartof
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Racismhasbeenaninfluenceonpeople'sactionsandlanguage.Racismhasmoldedandshaped society'sbeliefandactionsovertime.Iago'slanguageandactionsintheplayOthellorevealshis beliefthatbeingablackleaderandmarriedtoawhitewomanisunnatural.Iago'slanguagereveals hisracistpersona.AccordingtoWilliamShakespeare'splayOthello,inAct1Scene3Iagostated "hellandnightmustbringthismonstrousbirthtolight"ByreferringtoOthelloandDesdemona's relationshipas"monstrous"insteadofabeautifulthingillustrateIagobeliefthatinterracial marriagesareunnaturalandshouldn'toccur.InAct1Scene3ofShakespeare'splayOthello,Iago stated"Ihatetheshowmorecontent
IagohatchedupaplantoruinOthellobypretendingtobeloyalaswellasfalselyportraying Othello'swifetobefalse.AsstatedinShakespeare'splayOthello,IagostatedinAct1Scene3that heplannedto"abuseOthello'sear"thatcassiois"toofamiliarwithhiswife"whichwouldallow himtoframeCassioandportrayDesdemonatobefalse.ThisrevealthatIagohassuchhatredfor Othelloandinterracialrelationshipsthathewouldframeaninnocentmanandwomantoruin Othello.CruelIagousedDesdemona'shandkerchieftofalselyframeCassiowhichwouldmakeit appearthatDesdemonaiscommittingadulterywithCassio.ItwouldalsoappeartoOthelloasif DesdemonaiscommittingadulterywithCassiobecauseitismorenaturalandacceptableforherto bewithsomeoneofthesameracialclassandnatureasherown.Thiswouldbeevidentinruining Othellobecauseofhowmuchhecaresfor
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Shakespeare'sOthellodepictsthedownfallofahighlyrespectedwargeneralandexploresthemes suchasjealousy,gender,anddeception.Theexplorationofthesethemesevincestheracial,cultural, andsocialclimateofVenice.Theprimaryphilosophiesoftheseventeenthcenturyaboutracearea substantialpartofOthello'sdoubtandinsecurity,whichultimatelyleadtohistragicdemise.The encounterbetweenworldswithdifferingvaluesandideasplaysaconsiderableroleinthecontextof Othello.
TherewerepeopleinEuropewhowerenotChristians,butOthellotakesplaceduringatimewhen ChristianitywasthedominantreligionofEuropeChristianityitselfisnotaracistreligion;however, itcanbeusedtojustifyproblematic...showmorecontent...
Putsimply,theDukeissayingthateventhoughOthelloisblack,heisavirtuousman,soheis basicallywhite.TheDukemustbelievethatblackpeoplearesinfulandthatOthelloisanexception, oneofthe"goodones."ThiscommentismeanttoreassureBrabantio,butitrevealshowtheDuke trulyfeelsaboutblackpeopleBrabantioneedsthisreassurancefromtheDukebecauseheisnot fondofOthellomarryinghisdaughter.Hedoesnotthinkthatthereisanywaythatanolderblack mancouldwooayoungwhitewomanwithoutdefyingthelawsofnature.Hethinksitmustbe witchcraftandittakesatestimonyfromDesdemonatoprovethatitisnot.PerhapsBrabantio believesthatblacknessrepresentsevilandthatwhitesymbolizespurity.Black Jennings3absorbsanylight,soitispossiblethathethinkstheevilandcorruptOthellowillabsorb allofDesdemona'spurityandrighteousness,leavingherjustasdepravedasheis.Roderigo indicateshisdisdainforOthellothroughhisderogatorycomments.Roderigoismadlyinlovewith DesdemonaanddistraughtthatshehasmarriedOthello,whomhereferstoas"thick–lips"(II66) IagocatcheswindofRoderigo'sracismandinstigatestheentiresituation.HeandRoderigoaccost Brabantiotolethimknowaboutwhathashappened.RoderigocallsOthelloa"lasciviousMoor," playingintothestereotypeof
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RacisminWilliamShakespeare'sOthello
Theplay,Othello,iscertainly,inpart,thetragedyofracism.Examplesofracismarecommon throughoutthedialog.ThisracismisdirectedtowardOthello,abravesoldierfromAfricaand currentlysupremecommanderoftheVenetianarmyNearlyeverycharacterusesaracialslurto insultOthelloatonepointintheplay.EvenEmiliasinkstothelevelofinsultingOthellobasedon thecolorofhisskin.ThecharacterthatmostcommonlymakesracistremarksinOthelloisIago.Itis veryapparentthatIagousesracismasascapegoattohateandblameOthelloSocietalracismtakes itstollonitsvictims.TheeffectofracismonOthelloisquiteevidentandisoneofthemaincauses forshowmorecontent
Heturnsagainsthisfriend,Othello,andlabelshimasalesserpersonbecauseofhisrace.Iago'seasy provocationofanimportantVenetiansenatorbyusingOthello'sracialcharacteristicsshowshow prevalentracismisintheplay
RoderigoalsoplaysapartinthestereotypingofOthello.HeisextremelyupsetthatDesdemonahas elopedwithOthello,becausehehasbeenattemptingtocourtherforseveralmonthswithnoavail. Roderigo,likemanyothercharacters,thenbad–mouthsOthellowithracialslursinordertopainta pictureofOthellobeingalesserpersonthanhimselfRoderigo,withgreatdelight,says,"whatafull fortunedoesthethick–lipsowe,"(1,1,72–73)inordertoscapegoathim.
Emilia,whenshediscoverswhatOthellohasdonetoDesdemona,alsorevertsbacktoracial stereotyping.Ratherthansimplybeingenragedanddistraught,andperhapscriticizinghisactions, sheroarsathim,"O,themoreangelshe,andyoutheblackerdevil!"(5,2,161)Thissuddencry fromEmiliawhoseemedpreviouslyindifferenttoOthello'sraceperhapsbetrayssomeofthedeep–rootedstereotypesthatexistedin
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Intheplay,"Othello",ShakespeareexplainsthatOthellowasavictimofracism.Shakespeare supportshisfocusbynarratingOthellostate,"Iamblackandhavenotthesesoftpartsof conversationthatchamberershave,orforIamdeclinedintothevaleofyears–yetthatsnotmuch–She'sgone","HaditpleasedHeaventotrymewithaffliction,hadtheyrainedallkindsofsoresand shamesonmybarehead,steppedmeinpovertytotheverylips,giventocaptivityandmeandmy utmosthopes","YetI'llnotshedherblood,norscarthatwhiterskinofhersthansnow,andsmooth monumentalalabaster".TheauthorspurposeistoargueaboutOthelloinordertoknowhewasa victimofracismTheauthorwritesinaformalstyleforhisaudienceandothersinterestedinthe topicofprejudiceanditseffectsonrelationships.ShakespeareacknowledgesthatOthelloisavictim ofracism.Inthebook,Othellostates,"Iamblackandhavenotthesesoftpartsofconversationthat chamberershave,orforIamdeclinedintothevaleofyears–yetthatsnotmuch–She'sgone".In otherwords,heisdoubtinghimselfofbeingagoodenoughhusband.Othelloalsoremindsusifhes notcarefulshe'llfindanothermanandleavehimThereforethisquoteisdescribingwhyOthello thinkshesnotgoodenoughforDesdemona....showmorecontent...
Forinstance,whenOthellostatesthis,"HaditplacedinHeaventotrymewithaffliction,hadthey rainedallkindsofsoresandshamesonmybarehead,steppedmeinpovertytotheverylips,given tocaptivityandmeandmyutmosthopes."OthellothinkshewillbepunishedbyHeavenbecauseof hisraceandhimwantingtohaverevengeonDesdemonaHeinsiststhatHeavenwillstrikehim downwithafflictionandcaptivity.ThismattersbecauseOthelloisrealizingthatotherpeopleand thingshavemorepowerthanhimandhewillhavetoanswerforhis
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Throughouthistory,thosewhoexperiencedracismwereoftennotgivenproperrepresentationof theirstrugglesinliterature.However,duringtheElizabethanperiod,racismbegantobe acknowledgedinsocietymorefrequently.Shakespeare'splay,Othello,showsthestrugglesofan Africangeneral,Othello,ashefacesprejudicebyanenvioussoldier,Iago.Shakespeareoften focusedonthestereotypesinElizabethansocietytodepictthecharacterOthello,whilegivinghima personalitythatdidnotillustratepeople'sstereotypicalviewsonAfricansatthetime;providingthe audiencewithsympathytowardsacharacterastheplayprogressed.AlthoughOthellobeginsthe playasamodelgeneral,theracismprovidedbyIagofurtherenhanceshisinsecurityofhisrace, leadingOthellotosuccumbtotheracialslursintheclosingscenes.Shakespeare'sunderstandingof racismintheElizabethanperiodisevidentbythetragedyofOthelloasracismbecomesmore prevalent.TheracismthatOthelloisreceivesdatebeforetheElizabethanperiodandwereused countlesstimesinhistory.Forexample,religionssuchasChristianityviewedblackoftenas"the colourofsinanddeath,"theuseofreligiontojustifyracismmadenobreakinattemptingtostopthe prejudice.Also,RomeandGreeceviewedthecolorblackas"thecolourofillluck, death...malevolence"(Hunter250).Associationsbetweenthecolorblackremainedasstereotypes werethenusedtodefine'black–facedmen'as
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RaceplaysanimportantroleinWilliamShakespeare'sOthello:anintensetragedyofanadmired militarygeneral,whoisdriventokillhiswifeandhimselfoutofjealously.OthelloisofBlack Africandescent,whichseparateshimfrommanyinhisVenetianworld.Throughouttheplay, Othello'sraceisseenasanegativeaspectofhischaracter,whichisusedbytheantagonist,Iago,asa weakpointtoinitiatechaosTheplaydepictsracismandusestheinfluenceofradicalized perspectivetocreateatragedy.ShakespearecreatedOthellotobeagreatleader,apowerfuland nobleman,todefyVenetiansocietalviews.Hedidsoeffectivelythroughthedevelopmentofvaried interpersonalrelationships,andhowracismeffectseachofthem
WhenOthelloisfirstintroducedintotheplay,theaudienceknowsthatheisawell–respectedleader. Astheplaycontinues,racistandnon–racistviewsbecomequiteevident,whicheventuallyeffectthe actionsandwaysOthelloseeshimself.Othello'swife,Desdemona,isayoungCaucasianwoman, whorecognizesOthelloforhistrueself,nothisrace.Sheadmiresthe"dangersthat[he]hadpassed" (13193Shakespeare,WilliamOthello),andhisabilitiesasavaliantleaderDesdemonaknows thatherinter–racialmarriageisnotcommon,orwidelyapprovedof,yetshecontinuesto"trumpet totheworld"(1.3.285.Shakespeare,Othello)herloveforhim.HerunwaveringdevotiontoOthello isacriticaldetailbecauseshestaystruetoherfeelingsinaworldwheresheissurroundedby discriminationtowardsOthello.BeforeIagoapproachesDesdemona'sfather,Brabantio,abouttheir marriage,Othelloexpressesthat"[Desdemona's]fatherloved[him]"(13149Shakespeare, Othello),andofteninvitedhimintotheirhome(1.3.149.Shakespeare,Othello).Theseexamplesof charactersfromtheplayandtheirnon–racistviewsofOthelloprovethatOthelloisaplaythat illustratesracism,notaplaymeanttooffendandsegregateagainstpeopleofcolour ManycriticsofOthellohavesuggestedthatShakespearewrotearacistplay,andthatShakespeare himselfwantedtoconvinceothersthatevenablackmaninVenetiansocietywilleventuallyrevert tohisviolentandanimal–likeways
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Sincethemid–sixteenthcenturytherehasbeenapresenceofNativeWestAfricansinEngland, EldredJonesarguesthatby1601therewereenoughinEnglandforqueenElizabethtoexpressher dissatisfactionwiththegreatnumberof'blackmoors'.EldredJoneslaterputsforwardtheargument thatElizabethanEnglishmensawtheAfricanNativesasbeingbarbarousandtreacherous.These viewsarepresentinShakespeare'sOthellothroughthecharactersofIago,RodrigoandBrabantio However,theseopinionswerenotsharedbymostofthecharactersuntiltragedystrikesand darknessofjealousyconsumesOthello.
Shakespeareexpressestheracialprejudicethatisevidentinhisperiodthroughthecharactersof Iago,RoderigoandBrabantio.The...showmorecontent...
ItisatthispointthatOthello'sraceisusedagainsthim.Moreover,Brabantio'sdislikeforOthellois thefactthatthemarriagetohisdaughterflatustheloyaltysheIsmeanttohavetohim.Thelanguage Brabantiousesattheendofact1scene3hadconnotationsofgriefandangertowardsDesdemona's dishonesty("shehasdeceivedherfather,andmaythee")(Iiii289–290)
AlthoughthosethreecharactersareopenlyprejudicetowardsOthellonoteverybodyintheplaydoes sharethesamebigotedideas.Suchasthecourt,thecourtsmenignoretheblatantracismby Brabantio;theyhaveappointedOthellogeneralofthevenetianarmyandtheyrefertohimmany timesasthe"nobleMoor"whomis"sufficient"(IVi265)ThefactthatOthelloablackmanand non –venetianhasbeenputinapositionwithsomuchpowerjustamplifiestherespecttheyhaveforhim asaworrier,andthatthecolourofhisskinisnotconsideredwhenitcomesdowntohisintegrityIt isnotedthatsomecriticsarguethatthisrespectforOthelloisonlytherebecauseofthethreatofthe TurksandtheyneedOthelloontheirsideiftheyhaveanychanceofbeatingthem.However,the situationathanddoeshaveindicatethatmaythecouncilmedohaveahiddenagenda.Thelanguage usedbydoesnothinttothemhavingsharedracistideasasBrabantio.Whenthetruthofhow OthellowonDesdemona'shearttheDukeacknowledgesthefactthat"thistalewouldwinmy daughtertoo"
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OneofthemostnotablefeaturesofShakespeare'splay"Othello"isthenumerousreferencesto Othello'srace,notonlybyIago,butbyothercharactersaswell.Othelloisoneofthefirstblack heroesinEnglishliterature.Heisageneral,headvancedtoapositionofpowerandinfluence regardlessofhisraceandhisstatusasaforeignerinVenice.DespiteOthello'sroleinthearmyasa distinguishedsoldierandleader,heisnonethelessavictimofracismfromtheverybeginningofthe play.Theracismfocusesonhismarriagewithawhitewoman.Othelloisaplaythatportraysracism, butdoesnotinitselftakearacialviewpoint.TheVenetiansoftheplayworldseeOthelloasa violent,jealous,andfaithlessman,buttheactionsoftheplayprovethemtobewrong BrabantioshowshisracistattitudetowardOthelloinhishorroroverhisdaughter'smarriagetohim. BrabantiobelievedthatOthellohadusedwitchcraftonDesdemona,forbeingabletolurehis daughterintomarriage.Brabantioisstatingthatitimpossibleforhisdaughtertofallinlovewitha "thick–lips"Moor,unlessheemployedsomesortofincantation,ablackmancannotfulfillwhite woman,likeawhitemancanBrabantiowouldratherhavehisdaughterunmarriedthanbewitha blackman.Furtherintoactone,BrabantiowarnstheVenetianSenate,"Bond–slavesandpagans shallourstatesmenbe",Brabantioperceivesatoncethatthere'smuchmoreatstakeinhisdaughter's interracialunionthantheviolationofhishonourasDesdemona'sfather.Brabantiojustifieshimself ineffect,hefeelsthreatenedbytheunionofOthelloandDesdemona.Hebelievesthatifonewereto treatinferiorsasequals,thereisnothingtostopthebarbarianoutcastsofsocietyfromtakingone's placeandhavingpoweroverone.
ThecharacterthatmostcommonlymakesracistremarkstowardsOthelloisIago HeusesracismasascapegoattohateandruinOthello.HeclaimstobeangryatOthelloforhaving passedhimoverforthepositionoflieutenant."Anoldblackram/Istuppingyourwhiteewe",Iago associatescarnalityandanimalitywithOthello,believingthatblackmenareruledbylustand passionnotbyreason.IncallingOthellodegradingterms
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Inthemid1600s,Englandwentthroughatimecalled"ElizabethanEra."Duringthistime,racism wascommon.Peopleofcolorwerecalled"savage."However,inOthellobyWilliamShakespeare, hadissuesaboutrace.Throughouttheplay,weseeadifficultrelationbetweenOthello,ablackman, Desdemona,awhitewomanandtheeveryone.Theyweren'thappythatDesdemonaandOthello weretogetherThecrimethatwascommittedbyOthellowascalledapressuregroupbecausehewas pressuredbyIagowords.However,inordertounderstandtheracialissues,weshouldknowabout theElizabethanattitudetotheblackpeople.OthelloisaMoor.HemovedfromawhiteVenetian grouptoaterriblebreakdownOneofthemaincauseofhatredinEngland,showshowpeopleof colorweretreatedlikebackthen.Othermaincausewaswhatthewhitepeopletreatedotherrace like.Allmembersofeachracehavecharacteristics,talents,orassets.Itisdescribedas discriminationorprejudicethatisledagainstsomeonewhofitsinadifferentrace.Ifsomeone discriminatessomeonethatisbecauseoftheirethnicityandrace.Asweknowracismispresented throughouttheplayinWilliamShakespeare'sOthelloAccordingtoRudolphShaw,"aboutmid sixteenthcentury,theEnglishmetwithAfricans.TheNativeWestAfricansappearedfirstin London.BlackswereaverynoticeableinShakespeare'sLondon.EuropeansconsideredthatAfrican menarebarbaric,illiterate,andpromiscuousandtheyaregood
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Attheendofthe16thcenturypeopleburnedcatsforsport,huntedwitches,andtheleachwasthe pinnacleofmedicaltechnology.However,theydidgetonethingright.16thcenturyenglishmenhad viewsoninterracialmarriagethatwerearguablymoresophisticatedthanthoseoftheAmerican Southuntilasrecentlyas2009.Shakespeare'sOthelloillustratesthiswithhowtheVenetianstreat theprotagonist,OthelloHeistreatedasnotonlyequalbutinmanycasessuperiorandsenior RacisminOthelloisremarkable,becauseofitsabsence,yetwefinditchallengingtohear shakespeare'swordswithoutprojectingourexperienceofracismontothem.Shakespeare'sOthellois remarkablytolerantofracialdifferencesthatwouldsooncometoshamethewesternworldOthello, "themoor"isheldinhighesteem.HismarriagetoDesdemonaisalmostimmediatelyacceptedby Venetiansociety.Othelloisaplayaboutavirtuousmarriagethatmeetsatragicendbroughtabout byjealousyanddeceit.
ThereisgreatoppositiontotheannouncementofOthello'smarriagetoDesdemona.Attheheartof racistthinkingisoppositiontosuchinterracialmarriagesAninterracialmarriagein17oftheUnited StatescouldresultinaprisonsentenceuntilLovingvsVirginiain1967whichsetlovefreeof racismbystatute.ThefirstsuggestionthatDesdemonahasbeencompromisedandstolenfrom BrabantiobyaclandestinemarriagetoOthelloismetwithsimilarthoughtsofcrimeand punishment.However,Shakespeareconfusesthecrimebyexplicitlycharacterizingitaswitchcraft. Brabantiosays,"Thatwithsomemixturespowerfulo'ertheblood,/Orwithsomedramconjuredto thiseffect,/Hewroughtuponher"(1.3.123–24).Witchcrafttousisnotacredibleaccusation,butat theendofthe16thcentury,itmostassuredlywaslife–threatening.Theaudiencemustinterpretif Brabantio'sfurystemsfromthelossofhisdaughtertoanunacceptablemarriagewithablackmanor fromthebetrayalofhispositionbythefactthathislovingdaughterkepttheknowledgeofthe courtshipfromhim.Shakespeareisclearthatoppositiontothemarriagefallsawayoncetheprocess Othellousedtowinherheartismadeclear.Othellohimself
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IntheplayOthello,WilliamShakespearediscussessomeconversationsthatcanberatherracist.For example,inActIIISceneIII,Othelloadds,"Farewell,farewell!Ifmorethoudostperceive,letme knowmore.Setonthywifetoobserve.Leaveme,Iago."AnotherexampleisusedinActIVScene III,Desdemonasays,"MymotherhadamaidcalledBarbary.Shewasinlove;andhesheloved provedmadanddidforsakeherShehasasongof"Willow";"LastexampleusedisinActVScene II."AndsaybesidesthatinAleppoonce,whereamalignantandaturbanedTurk,beataVenetian andtraducedthestate,Itookbyth'throatthecircumciseddog,andsmothim–thus"Asexplained above,theplay,Othello,usesmanyformsofracismShakespeare
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InShakespeare'splayOthelloareoccurringthemeisracism.Othellobeingasoliderwaswell known;hebecamethesupremecommanderofthearmy.Othelloisablackmanwhomanycalla moorbymanyinthisplay.AmoorreferstodarkskinnedmaleusuallyfromtheMuslimculturethat descendsfromAfrica.InthisplayOthellofallsinlovewithDesdemonaandthengetelopeswithher withoutherfatherspermissionManydidnotapproveofthismarriageespeciallyIago,Roderigo, andBrabandio.
IagoistheantagonistofOthello;heisthepersonwhostartedalltheconflictandledsOthellotohis demise.Iagoistomeoneofthemostracistcharacterofthemall.Hehasneversaidanyofhisracist remarkstoOthellobecausehismainplanistobefriendhimenoughthathecouldgetinsidehishead andcloudhisjudgment.Iagohatredstemsfromtwothings;onebeingthatwhenOthellopickedhis lieutenant,itwasCassiowhowaschoseninsteadofIago.WhatmadeIagoirritatedwasthefactthat CassiohadnoexperienceinwarwhenhedidandCassiowaschoseninsteadofhimThesecondis thatOthellowasamoorandduringthattimeracismwasanacceptedpartofsociety;peopleofcolor werethoughtofassavage.AnexampleofIagoprejudiceiswhenhesays"Evennow,now,very now,anoldblackramisshowmorecontent
DonotbelieveThat,fromthesenseofallcivility,Ithuswouldplayandtriflewithyourreverence: Yourdaughter,ifyouhavenotgivenherleave,Isayagain,hathmadeagrossrevolt;Tyingher duty,beauty,witandfortunesInanextravagantandwheelingstrangerOfhereandeverywhere. Straightsatisfyyourself:Ifshebeinherchamberoryourhouse,Letlooseonmethejusticeofthe stateForthusdeludingyou
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Shakespeare'sOthello,analysestheideaofracisminrelationships.Racismisexploredthroughthe charactersofIagoandBrabantio,whereweseeracialdialogthroughouttheplay.Thisracismis aimeddirectlyatOthello;abravemoorgeneralandsupremecommanderoftheVenetianarmy.Iago usesracismtotargetOthellowithracialinsultsandusesittomanipulateothers.Whitepeople duringtheElizabethanErabelievedthattheyarethesuperiorracebutinreality,theyarenot;all racesareequalandeveryoneisequaltooneanother.Humansarenotbornracist,racismisathing thatapersondevelopsandisabsorbedundertheinfluenceofsociety.Shakespeareexpressesracism asanegativethinganddemonstratesthisbyshowinghowshowmorecontent BrabantiorejectsDesdemona'slovetowardsOthellobecauseduringtheElizabethanEra,Venice waslargelyoccupiedbywhitepeopleandthereforeblackpeoplewereunacceptedthroughoutthe society.IagoknewthatBrabantiowasracisttowardsthe"Moor"andusedBrabantio'sattitude towardstheideaofaninterracialmarriagetomanipulateBrabantioandrilehismenagainstOthello. "Awake!Brabantio!Thieves,thieves!Looktoyourhouse,yourdaughterandyourbags!Thieves, thieves!"(Act1,Scene1).IagorefersOthelloasathiefandaccuseshimofstealingBrabantio's daughter.Brabantiowouldnotacceptthathisdaughter;DesdemonahavefalleninlovewithOthello. BrabantiothenfalselyaccusesOthelloofusingmagictopossesshisdaughterDesdemona."Damned asyouare,you'veputaspellonher!"(Act1,Scene1)WilliamShakespeareusesthesettingin VenicetoemphasizetheinequalitytowardstheMoorsEveryoneisdifferentbutnoonedeservesto betreated
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TheroleofracismisevidentthroughoutOthello,however,inthisdramaitisclearthatotherissues collidewiththeaspectofracism.Thepositionoflove,lust,andhateplaysanenormouscomponent inOthello.Rightoffthebatthereader'sdiscoverthatOthelloandDesdemonaaresecretlymarried. Iagocharacterizesthisloveas"unnatural"becausenowhitewomancouldeverloveablackman unlesswitchcraftwasinvolvedAlso,BrabantiopraisesOthelloforbeingaheroicgeneral,but despisestheideaofhisdaughter,Desdemona,marryingablackman.Inthisdrama,thecontrastof appearanceandrealityisanevidentintersectionwithracism.Withinthedrama'sentirety,Iagoisthe mostracistagainstOthelloBehindhisbackIagolabeled
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RacisminWilliamShakespeare'sOthello
InWilliamShakespeare'stragicplayOthelloracismisfeaturedthroughout,notonlybyIagoinhis despicableanimalisticremarksaboutOthello'smarriage,butalsobyothercharacters.Letusinthis essayanalyzetheracialreferencesandtheirdegreesofimplicitracism
Racismpersistsfromtheopeningscenetilltheclosingsceneinthisplay.In"HistoricalDifferences: MisogynyandOthello"ValerieWaynecommentsontheracisminherentinthefinalactofthe drama:
WhenOthellofinallykillshimselfandsaysheiskillingthe'turbanedTurk'who'beataVenetian andtraducedthestate'(V,ii,349–50),heiskillingthemonsterhebecamethroughIago'smental poison,butheisshowmorecontent
TheallegedsupersexualityofAfricansalsofiguresintheplay:IagocallsOthellothe"lustyMoor," describinghimwithimagesofanimalsexuality.Othercharactersreflectsimilarprejudice.(128)
Perhapsthechargesofracismintheplayareexaggerated.LouisB.WrightandVirginiaA.LaMar in"TheEngagingQualitiesofOthello"commentontheElizabethanpointofview:
MuchinkhasbeenspilledinthedebateoverthecolorofOthelloandwhatphysicalcharacteristics Shakespeareattributedtoa"Moor"Actorswhohaveportrayedtheparthavealsoshownmuch concernovertheirmake–up.ThereislittletoindicatethatShakespeareofhiscontemporarieswould haveinterpretedtheunionofOthelloandDesdemonaasaprobleminmixedmarriageorwouldhave regardedtheracialdifferencesasofvitalinterest.TotheElizabethans,Othellowasanexotic,and suchinterestasalwaysattachestoexoticsattachedtohim.(129)
Intheopeningscene,whileIagoisexpressinghisdislike,orratherhatred,forthegeneralOthello forhishavingchosenMichaelCassioforthelieutenancy,hecontrivesaplantopartiallyavenge himself("Ifollowhimtoservemyturnuponhim"),withRoderigo'sassistance,byalerting Desdemona'sfather,Brabantio,tothefactofhisdaughter'selopementwithOthello.Roderigoshares Iago'sprejudicedattitudetowardOthello:"Whatafullfortunedoesthethicklipsowe/Ifhecan
carry'tthus!"
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HaveyoueverthoughtabouthowmuchOthello'sraceandtheracismaroundhimaffectedhislife? Othellostruggledalotduringtheplaybecauseofhisdarkskincolor.Hewascalledseveralracist nameslike"theMoor,""oldblackram,""Barbaryhorse,"and"thicklips"(Shakespeare1.1.40; 1.1.88;1.1.111;1.1.66).Theterm"racism"hasbeenaroundforseveralyears;itstartedinthe twentiethcentury(Bartels433)BythewaytheElizabethaneraviewedblackpeoplewassimilarto howracismistodaywithalloftheracialcomments,andstereotypes.Beingablackpersonina mostlywhiteethnicityareaatthattimehadtobechallengingbasedonOthello'sexperience.Othello wastheblacksheepcrowdedaroundaherdofwhitesheep,heshowmorecontent HecouldnotbelievethatshewouldwanttobewithsomeonelikeOthello.Othellowasavictimof racistcommentsinAct1ofOthello.Brabantio,specifically,seeshisdaughter'slustforOthelloas oddandwasamazedthatshewould"fallinlovewithwhatshefear'dtolookon"(Shakespeare 1.1.98).HesaidthatOthellomusthaveusedsometypeofmagictogetDesdemonatofallinlove withhim(Shakespeare1262–81)Atthattimeithadtobeamiracleforablackpersontobewitha whiteperson;itwasunheardof.WhenhefoundOthello,hestartedcallinghima"Moor"tohisface andorderedhisguardstogethim."TheMoor"isareferencetohisblackskincolor,features,and representsthepeoplefromNorthAfrica(Bartels434).Mostofthecharacters,includingDesdemona calledOthelloa"Moor".ItisobviousthatmostlyeverycharacterinOthellowasracist.Ifthecolor ofOthello'sskinwaswhite,OthelloandDesdemonawouldhavelivedhappilyeverafter Othello'srace,hismarriagewithDesdemona,andthemurderofDesdemonaareallimportant structuralelementsofOthelloandareallinterrelated(Little306).Thesethreeelementsare interrelatedbecauseifOthello'sracewaswhite,theirmarriagewouldhavelasted,andDesdemona wouldnothavebeenmurdered."ThemeaningofOthello'smurderingDesdemonadependsontheir marriageandtheirmarriage'smeaningis
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WhyWouldYouThinkThat?Withoutadoubt,OthelloisoneofShakespeare'smostconfrontational piecesofliterature.Theplayhashadatremendousimpactonliteratureformanyyears.Itwas writteninatimewheretherewasracialsegregation,whichmanypeoplecan'tbelievethattherewas asuccessfulblackleader.Othello,isaveryhighrankingofficialintheArmy(apowerfulgeneral) andismarriedtoayoung,whitegirlnamedDesdemonaKnowingwhenthisplaywaswrittenit's nothardtofigurethatthereweremajorconflictsthroughouttheplay.Forsomereason,thereare manypeoplethatfindthisracist.Evan...showmorecontent...
Helivedinthelate1800'stothe1900'scenturyHetranslatedmanyotherofShakespeare'splays, forexample,"ShowthatNobleandValorlikedepravityandcowardiceandnottheMonopolyof anycolor".HerespondedtotheplaymorereliablythanthewhiterulingofSouthAfrica.Intheplay hesuggeststhateveryonewillunderstanditdifferently,dependingonyourrace.Healsoaddssome backgroundinformationonthehistorythattheEnglishhavewiththeAfricans,aswellasdiscussing theElizabethancultureHestressedabouttheculturespecificallytoshowit'sconcernforneedingto haveexternalselfdisciplinesofallpeople.Thefirstproofheshowsabouttheplaybeingracistisin Act1sceneIIwhenOthelloentersandheisnotmentionedbyhisname.Hewasreferredtoas"the Moor","thethick–lips",and"aBarbaryhorse"whichallrepresenthisskincolor.Hetalksabout howIagoandBrabantioweretalking,andIagosays"anoldblackram/istuppingyourwhitecalf". ThisisonehundredpercentaboutOthelloandDesdemonaItdescribesOthellobeingtheblackman andDesdemonabeingtheyoungerwhitefemale.Roderigousesthe"racialinsult"toOthellocalling him"ThickLips".ThosearehisfirsttwosolidpiecesofevidencethatmaketheplayseemRacist. HisnextkeypointiswhenhestartstalkingabouthowSouthAfricancriticsavoidOthelloIfthey dotalkaboutittheydefinitelytalkaboutcolor.Theyseethe
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Theprotagonistoftheplay,Othello,becomesthemonsterdrivenbyracialprejudicethatVenetians depicthimtobe.Theword"moor'isanindicatorofthedividebetweenOthello,aMorrocanwith darkerskin,andtheVenetiansofItaly,withfairskin.EventhosewhorespectOthellousetheword "moor"toreplacehisname.Bytheendoftheplay,hebecomesthecruelcharacterIagowantedhim tobe
Thesis:Thesolecharacterwithdarkskin,Othello,isisolatedbycasualdiscriminationthatindicates underlyingracisminnotonlyOthello'ssociety,butalsoShakespeare's.
Body1:Theword"moor"
Topicsentence:Throughoutthebook,whitecharactersusetheword"moor"inreplacementfor "Othello,"andit'sracist.
Thewordoriginatesfromtheword"blackamoor,"anameusedtodescribetheservantsandslavesof theEuropeansItcouldbearguedthat"moor"isnotbeingusedracistlyintheplay,butthetradition andhistoryofthewordrefutethis.Theunfortunateorigincreatedaracistmeaningforthenamethe whiteVenetiansoftheplayrefertoOthelloby.Themostclearexamplesoftheracistconnotation comefromIago.Fromthefirstscene,IagohasahatredforOthellofueledbythefacthechose CassiotobelieutenantandthatOthelloisblack.Iagosays,"andI,(God)blessthemark,his moorship'sancient,"(1135)IagoreferstoOthello'spositioninpowerashis"moorship,"acrude playonwordsofthephrase"hisworship."Bysayingthis,heisdisrespectingOthello'sleadership andhisrace.Consistently,IagoexpresseshishatredtowardsOthello.Withthisconsistency,it becomesincreasinglyclearthatatleastsomeofIago'shatredtowardsOthelloisdrivenbyraceHe doesn'tstandaloneinhishatredeither.WhenDesdemonaelopeswithOthello,Iagoinsightsangerin BrabantiobyproducingimagesofOthelloandDesdemonahavingsex.Iagosays,"yourdaughterand theMoorare(now)makingthebeastwithtwobacks,"(1.1.129–131).Heusestheword"moor"and impliesOthellohasthecharacteristicsofananimal,specificallyabeast.ThiscastsOthelloinanevil light,justbecausethecolorofhisskinInAct1,scene3Iagorepeatsthephrase"IhatetheMoor" twice.Hischoiceofthe
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