ipl-logo

Examples Of Racism In Othello

648 Words3 Pages

The use of racial slurs and other racial remarks can greatly affect the development of any story or work. When racism is used, the work will be viewed in a new light, thus a different viewpoint could be taken. Racism will affect the overall tone and mood of the work. In Othello, William Shakespeare uses racism blatantly. It brings to light the attitude of the old European society towards those of different color, language, and race. In Europe, people of white complexion were in the mass and all the other races were made to be inferior. Therefore, Iago has a racist opinion of Othello as well as jealousy towards his successes throughout the entirety of the play.
Several characters throughout the play showcase a racist mentality. These characters include Emilia, Brabantio, and Roderigo. Iago was by far most racist for he made his intentions clear as day by stating several times his hatred of the Moor. Throughout the play, Iago proclaims a number of reasons for his hatred, …show more content…

It is a judgment maimed and most imperfect that will confess perfection so could err against all rules of nature”. It appears that Iago perfectly plays Brabantio. Iago knew that Brabantio was racist and he used Brabantio’s attitude toward the idea of a mixed marriage in order to rile the man against Othello.
Iago uses animal imagery in his racist rant against Othello, which is grounded in the idea that black men are inhuman. Here, Brabantio reples Iago’s argument by saying his house is not a “grange,” as he claims that Desdemona is having sex with a “barbary horse”(1.1.119; 123-127). Iago retorts with “I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the moor are now making the beast with two backs” (1.1.119;

Show More
Related
780 Words | 4 Pages

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

Read More
439 Words | 2 Pages

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.

Read More
695 Words | 3 Pages

Explain: I find this compelling because Iago thinks it is extremely important that Brabantio has to know at that very moment that his daughter is in love with a black man. Especially since Brabantio has formed sort of a relationship with Othello. Obviously, many characters are racist in this play but by the looks of it, Brabantio and Othello had a fine relationship

Read More
528 Words | 3 Pages

In the play, Othello, by William Shakespeare, the use of different sorts of animal motifs are used to differentiate between characters on or off the screen and to show mood.. To reference Othello, the use of beasts or gross animals are used to show the prejudice and racism throughout the play. In the beginning when Iago and Roderigo are talking to Brabantio they exclaim, "Because we come to do you service and you think we are ruffians, you'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse" (I.i.123-125). He references Othello as a Barbary horse, immediately telling the audience who they are talking about without them even having to see them.

Read More
757 Words | 4 Pages

Iago’s constant animalistic language shows that he views others as animals rather than people, thus, Iago dehumanizing the other characters. In Act One, scene one, Iago describes Othello as an “old black ram” (Shakespeare 1276). This description of Othello is comparing him to a ram, and such animalistic references show that Iago does not view Othello an equal. In his view of Othello as unhumanistic, Iago is most likely willing to treat him as an animal. The audience sees this treatment through his constant manipulations of Othello’s mind, planting seeds of jealousy.

Read More
1029 Words | 5 Pages

By Iago’s own admission “I play the villain” (Shakespeare, 1310), and his internal feelings of evil are well founded as shown through his destruction of the lives of nearly everyone in the play, but he has his reasoning. Iago has grown up as a privileged white Christian male in a society that favors white Christian males and, notably, has the favor of at least three senators who would have been quite influential in Venetian society (Kiernan, Print). The catalyst for all this is the admission of Cassio to the position of second in command, which Iago had too been vying for. Iago believes this is taken from him by a Black, possibly Muslim, man, Othello. Thereby allowing Iago to use what influence and power he has retained to ruin Othello’s life and power dynamic.

Read More
923 Words | 4 Pages

Iago uses very clever methods of persuasion and manipulation aimed to use Othello’s hamartia against him, pointing out that “ “She (Desdemona) did deceive her father, marrying you,” so much so that Brabantio “thought ’twas witchcraft”. Through this, Iago is subtly raising the issues of Othello’s cultural differences with Desdemona; a root cause behind Othello’s insecurities with his wife – along with inadequacy due to race, degree of sophistication and age. As Iago prompts Othello to think the worst, his utterances are short and uneasy, revealing the beginning to his downfall, whilst Iago’s dialogue is at length highlighting his growing power of

Read More
1097 Words | 5 Pages

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.

Read More
664 Words | 3 Pages

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

Read More
1344 Words | 6 Pages

(III.iii.230-234). Thus he reminded Othello that possibly he was not considered suitable for her love. Knowing that his blackness placed him in society as an outsider, Othello began to suspect that his personality and accomplishments could never overcome his inferior background. He questioned his confidence in the reputation and social standing he thought he had gained, and he failed to notice the presence of evil and dishonesty in others. Iago’s appearance, as a

Read More
750 Words | 3 Pages

In the opening act of the play, Iago and Roderigo wake Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, from his sleep, informing him of his daughter’s marriage to the Moor, Othello. Knowing of Brabantio’s prejudice towards Othello because of his race, Iago says, “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe.” (1.1.94-95). Iago feeds anger into Brabantio’s mind using

Read More
1437 Words | 6 Pages

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.

Read More
1501 Words | 7 Pages

Throughout the play, Iago, Roderigo, and Brabantio display covert or overt racism towards Othello. At the beginning of the play, Iago, Othello’s ensign, and Roderigo, a wealthy man in love with Desdemona, discuss Othello’s marriage and their hatred for Othello. During their dialogue, the first references made of Othello are “his Moorship” and “the Moor,” which is how most of the characters refer to Othello (Shakespeare 687). Rather than referring to Othello nominally, they refer to him by his ethnicity, showing their inherent racism.

Read More
1225 Words | 5 Pages

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.

Read More
773 Words | 4 Pages

Even a father thinks women act one way and are not what they seem. Then Brabantio, still enraged about the new marriage, continues to say, “Keep an eye on her, Moor. She lied to me, and she may lie to you”(1.3.5-6). This shows that Brabantio believes that Desdemona will continue to be deceiving. He suggests that women have to earn their trust and that they do not deserve trust from their significant others.

Read More

More about Examples Of Racism In Othello

Related Topics

Open Document