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Examples Of Racism In Othello

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The play, Othello, is certainly, in part, the tragedy of racism because he is a black man married to a white woman, which causes jealousy with the other characters in the play. It is racism that serves as Iago's primary cause in his destruction of Othello, examples of racism are common throughout the dialog. This racism is directed toward Othello, a brave soldier and a supreme commander of the Venetian army. Throughout the duration of Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello there is a steady stream of racism. It is originating from not one, but rather several characters in the play. The main characters that have racist attitudes are Iago, Brabantio, Roderigo and Emilia, with the hatred of Othello as the basis for their racist actions and comments towards him. Iago is the most racist character in the play as he has it in for Othello right from the start. What sparks off Iago's hate, which is seen in the play, clearly is the racial discrimination he shows towards him, it’s the fact that when Othello chose his lieutenant, it was Cassio who was chosen instead of Iago. What made Iago angry was the fact that Cassio had no experience in war when he did and Cassio was chosen instead of him. He never says anything racist to Othello's face because in his plot he had to be his best friend, so as not to make him suspicious that Iago was causing all the trouble …show more content…

Brabantio is so mad he sends out his guards to catch Othello and put him in prison. Brabantio views Othello as a foul and dirty no good black, this racist view of his is because he's angry when he finds out that his daughter has been seeing this "moor". Unlike Iago and Roderigo, Brabantio openly makes racist comments about Othello to his face such as, "lascivious moor", "Wheeling stranger". Brabantio can do this because he is the Senator of Venice and is higher in rank than

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In William Shakespeare's play "Othello," racism and ignorance emerge as prevailing themes, delving into the complexities of societal prejudice and the devastating consequences they impose on individuals. This essay examines the role of race in the play, contextualizes racial prejudice in the Elizabethan Era, and analyzes how specific characters and their interactions highlight racial belittlement. Through the effective use of textual evidence, vivid description techniques, and the exploration of Geoffrey Sax's cinematic adaptation, the essay explores institutionalized racism, film techniques intensifying racial injustice, and the presence of racist ideologies through the character of Iago. By comparing and contrasting the film adaptation with

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white have created conflict between the members of the play. Since the 16th century dictates that black people, or Moors, are inferior to white people, Othello is stuck in the darkness as an outsider; thus suggesting that interlopers are alone, not part of a community. Within these contrasting worlds, outsiders, like Othello, try to integrate into society, but can’t. For instance, this ingrained mindset portraying the inferiority of black people is further shown when Othello exclaims, “Her name, that was as fresh as Dian’s visage, is now begrimed and black / As mine own face.”

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Othello is the General of the Cyprus army with honest Iago by his side. During this time racism was happening and Othello was a part of it. Othello tried his best for everybody to like him; people would talk behind his back, call him names, and would eventually ruin his life. Iago was an ensign in the army, and his “good” friend, who would put lies into Othello's head, which eventually, he took control of Othello. In this essay Othello will display cultural criticism and how it displays him as a person in the story.

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In “Othello, Racism, and Despair”( 2008), Patrick C. Hogan claims that Racism motivates Othello to murder Desdemona, a female character in the play, and to commit suicide. Its different forms and masks include enmity, disdain, friendship, admiration, and love. Hogan shows The main character's and Desdemona constant racism towards Othello's because of his race and constant derogatory names like the Moor help Iago convince Othello that somebody like Desdemona whose white can't naturally love somebody like Othello whose black and soon she will snap back to her natural taste in Italian men one day. Hogan expands on the harsh racism in Othello and devastating effects of racism and racial despair. He does this by stating that if we were to imagine

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Today you see Hispanic culture everywhere; from the taco trucks to the blabbing of Donald Trump’s offensive comments to Hispanics, we are everywhere. Every ethnicity has its stereotypes, Hispanics are no exception. If you think really hard about it, Othello relates to stereotypical generalisations just like any other race. In Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, the title character is a 16th century Moorish general of the Venetian army who, because of the cultural and historical background of the play’s setting, the playwright, and the original intended audience, is portrayed as both well-respected for his military prowess and disparaged for his race.

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These characters stayed true to the racist tendencies of white citizens in the Elizabethan era, and gave insight to how Europeans viewed Moors and other cultural minorities. In William Shakespeare’s play Othello, Othello was often stereotyped by others because of his race, and this negatively affected his perception of himself. From Iago’s perspective, Othello fits under the “villainous black Moor” category, and before Othello even enters they play, Iago profiles him countless times because of his ethnic status. Othello is compared to “an old black ram”, and is even referred to as “thick-lips,” (Shakespeare 1.1.97,72).

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In Cohen’s elucidation of Othello, he comments on the strong and prominent theme of white supremacy. Othello has pushed aside most, if not all, of his cultural characteristics in favor of adopting Venetian traits. He does this as a way to earn back some respect that he lost because of his skin color. Throughout the whole play, Othello is the victim of racial slurs that would demand serious punishment if they were directed at a white man. Cohen contradicts himself in this article when he says that Othello’s suicide “proclaims the triumph of the white civilization”(325) while demeaning himself, but then comments on how Othello reasserts his value with a simple statement.

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While the first act does not offer Shakespeare’s view into the racial issue, which would have been much more subtle and unimportant at the time, he clearly sets an ethnic dynamic between the upper class Europeans, and the slave soldiers. In the first scene, where we see Iago and Roderigo plotting their revenge against Othello, they only ever refer to him as “him” and “he”. If not these pronouns, then they use derogatory terms such as “thick-lips” and “The Moor”. This sets a very clear line between the main characters. He is the moor, and they are the gentlemen.

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When people of one race believe themselves to be superior to those of another, only catastrophe can result. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, racism was extremely prevalent, and white supremacy was much more pronounced. In William Shakespeare’s play Othello, both covert and overt racism, assimilation, and jealous dispositions all foreshadow the untimely death of Desdemona and Othello. Most characters in Othello display both covert racism and overt racism towards Othello.

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Being a Moor is a strong contribution of Iago’s scheme to ruin Othello. One way Iago tries to get Othello in trouble is by snitching on his marriage with Brabantio’s daughter. Iago comments “... An old black ram is tupping your white ewe,” and “... the devil will make a grandsire of you,” when informing Brabantio of the marriage situation between Othello and Desdemona. The negative stereotype of Othello being sexually permissive comes from the society in Venice which sees Black males to have a strong need to be sexually

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This is because in the first article, “Othello: the role that entices and engages actors of all skin colours,” Quarshie previously black actors should not play Othello, but over time, he decided that black actors should “address some of the racist traditions and assumptions that the play is based on” (Dickson). Quarshie basically says that the black actor who plays Othello can break the racial conflicts the play is based on. Quarshie also states that there will be a black Iago joining him on stage, but questions if Iago can still be black, but still racist towards Othello. Clearly, this article shows the controversy behind different races playing characters not of their heritage, but also reveals that it would be beneficial for a black person to play Othello, and other roles, as it will diversify and address some racial tensions within the play and society. Similarly, the article, “Aladdin: putting a white character in Disney’s live-action remake is offensive,” by Hannah Flint, protests the issue of whitewashing modern stories and movies in a more aggressive manner.

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Throughout history, societies have succumbed to the toxic concepts of racism, causing an unthinkable amount of chaos and devastation. While racism on its own can lead to many societal evils, racism coupled with jealousy can create a truly catastrophic force that can only lead to pure destruction. When someone of a different race and culture is placed in this kind of society, this destruction will only naturally follow. In the play Othello, William Shakespeare focuses on the tragic outcomes of Othello, a Venetian general and black Turkish Moor, and Desdemona, his white Venetian wife. Throughout the play, both covert and overt racism, assimilation, and jealous dispositions all foreshadow the untimely death of Desdemona and Othello.

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Manipulation of the African Race in Othello In William Shakespeare’s Othello, racism is a principal theme that drives the plot of the entire play. An outlier in Venice, Othello the moor or African, is targeted by his ensign Iago because Cassio who seems to be unqualified, was promoted to a lieutenant before he was. Iago is driven by envy and jealousy and creates a confusing and elaborate plan to deprive Cassio of his position. Iago also shares these envious motives with Roderigo, a man lusting over Othello’s wife.

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