He skillfully exploits society's racial biases, planting seeds of doubt and jealousy in Othello's mind, leading to his ultimate downfall. Iago's manipulative actions and the use of editing techniques and pacing in Sax's adaptation can intensify the portrayal of racial injustice and the destructive consequences of ignorance. This amplification of Iago's manipulations through film techniques enhances the themes of racism and the dangers of prejudice, similar to how Shakespeare's text emphasizes the impact of Iago's racist manipulations on
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.
(Walder, n.d) To explain more, Iago, Brabantio, and Roderigo, on the surface, and the venetian people as a whole, the intended to prejudge Othello according to his skin color: he is black, as a result he possesses a big penis, so, he is portrayed as a lust animal. Also, his black skin revealed for them that he is a devil. Taking a backward step, Iago’s jealousy portrayed the jealousy of all the venetian. It is unnatural that Othello occupy a higher position, for he is black. He is seen as inadequate comparing to venetians white skin people.
Racist undertones are commonly evident in works of literature that have been written during all eras. In William Shakespeare’s Othello, many of the characters are prejudice towards Othello, and it comes through in the way they speak to and talk about him throughout the play. Shakespeare uses diction, imagery, and various figures of speech to reinforce the theme of racism in Elizabethan society. The words used to describe the character of Othello are mostly negative, degrading, and insensitive, save for a few exceptions.
Act 1 Iago hated Othello because instead of him to get promoted to the next rank of Lieutenant Othello promoted Cassio. Iago is planning his revenge, he and Roderigo went to Brabantio’s house and told him that “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” which means that Othello is sleeping with Desdemona his daughter. When Brabantio told Iago and Roderigo “my daughter is not for thee” is because Roderigo was courting Desdemona before and he did not win her heart.
Othello is often subjected to discrimination since he is in a predominantly white society. As he gets treated this way he sets himself to believe what others think of him as if he is satisfied with it because that is how they all treat him. Iago puts the most input and talks down to Othello in such a way he is jealous of him. Overall, Othello’s position as an outsider is the result\of the racism he has faced and his isolation.
As time progressed going to Act 3, Iago was able to make Othello insecure of Desdemona loving him because Iago said he viewed the handkerchief that Othello relinquished to Desdemona was now in Cassio's hand and Cassio wiped his own beard with it. Iago was able to upgrade Othello's anger by saying he “does not have the manners of a courtier.” This offended Othello because he is a Moor who are native to Africa, while Desdemona is white. During this time racism was a serious problem as used in Act 1 when Iago said to Brabantio “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe. Arise,
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.
Through this, the audience gains their own opinion of developing characters and clearly know who to sympathize. From the very beginning of the play, Iago was introduced as a racist man. He referred to Othello as a “lust driven animal” that is abusing “the innocent Desdemona”. For example, he calls Othello, “an old black ram”
The presence of racial discrimination and stereotypes throughout Othello is used to illustrate how individuals’ attitudes towards race contribute to the tragic events that unfold by dictating their behaviour. Iago’s immediate racial biases hastily present race as a prominent theme that influences how the characters treat and think about one another. In act 1 scene 1 while expressing his resentment towards Othello for promoting Cassio, Iago says to Rodrigo, “Michael Cassio, a Florentine,” as well as repeatedly referring to Othello as “the Moor”, a term commonly used in Elizabethan times relating to people originating from North Africa. The stress placed on Cassio’s foreignness and Othello’s dark skin, suggests that Iago’s anger towards Othello is not limited to being denied the promotion, but is more firmly rooted in his racial identity. This is then confirmed In Act 1, Scene 3 when Iago reveals his true feelings about Othello, expressing, "I hate the Moor /
Othello is painfully conscious of his outsider position as a black man in a world where white people predominate. The remarks and attitudes of people around him serve as continuous reminders of his peculiarity. Othello confesses his racial vulnerability in Act I, Scene II, calling himself a "old black ram" and referring to himself as such. Due to his insecurities, Iago may exploit Othello's dread of being rejected and shunned as a tool to manipulate him into turning on his wife and closest supporters. Another way in which Othello's perceived shortcomings are linked to his race is through his jealousy.
During the opening scene he informs Brabantio that his daughter is in love with Othello the moor. Iago expresses his distaste for this nuptial by referring to Othello as an “old black ram” (1.1 66) and “barbary horse”. He essentially is trying to convince Brabantio that Othello is comparable to a savage beast. Iago offers a prejudiced initial description of Othello and would go on to persistently uses racial slurs to describe him. The frequency of these racial insults would shape the audience's view of Othello that negatively portrayed him.
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.
In William Shakespeare’s play Othello, an African general named Othello is tricked by one of his officers, Iago, into thinking that his wife, Desdemona, is cheating on him with his lieutenant, Cassio. Iago continues to insert jealous and distrustful thoughts about Desdemona in Othello’s mind, ultimately leading to Othello murdering his wife. Because blacks during Shakespeare’s time were viewed as being quick to anger and jealous, many people believe that Othello’s somewhat sudden acceptance of Iago’s claims and jealousy towards Desdemona and Cassio was due to Shakespeare making Othello a stereotypical black man. Michael Hays, in his article Othello is Not About Race, argues that race does not play any major role in Othello’s demise; instead, he argues that the courtly love system made Othello suspicious of Cassio.
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.
