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Othello Race Analysis

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Shakespeare introduces race in his play Othello. Jealousy, envy, inter-racial marriage are just a few of the ways Shakespeare uses race as one of its themes in this tragic and extraordinary play. I will explore how the Venetian people view Othello’s race, how Brabanzio 's views of Othello change from trusted friend, to accusing Othello to using witchery to marry his daughter, and how Iago manipulates Othello into thinking that perhaps the color of his skin has been working against him, and how Iago uses Othello’s race against him. Othello is a general of the Venice Army, a physically powerful man, and is well respected by those around him. Othello had successfully moved up the military ranks, despite his African heritage. Upon Othello 's arrival to Venice from war, he manages to make a few enemies that include Iago, Brabranzio, Roderigo and Cassio. Iago is Othello 's ensign, who has been passed up as a lieutenant, a position that Othello gave to Cassio. Angered by Othello’s decision, Iago sets out on a master plan to ruin Othello. Iago uses Brabranzio, Roderigo and Cassio to carry out his revenge on Othello. Brabranzio, a …show more content…

Throughout the play, Othello is unaware of any racism or hatred toward him. Othello says "my parts my title, and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly." (Act 1; Scene 2; Line 31-32). Othello believes he has good qualities, he is a good husband, and because he is innocent, he will be protected. Later in the play Lodovico, a messenger and a kinsmen to Brabanzio, comes to Othello to announce that Othello has been replaced by Cassio. "Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuates, nor set down aught in malice. Then must you speak of one that loved not wisely, but too well; of one not easily jealous,….where a malignant and a turbaned Turk beat a Venetian and traduced the state, I took by th ' throat the circumcised dog and smote him – thus". (Act V, Scene 2:342-356). Lodovico wants to take Othello away because he has been acting

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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 had a few friends, but the worst of them was Iago. Iago was an ensign in the army, eventually becoming the lieutenant thru misfortunes, lies. Iago was jealous that Cassio became the lieutenant and not himself. He was angry with Othello because he had heard rumors of him sleeping with Iago’s wife, and also heard rumors of Cassio sleeping with his wife too.

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Othello is preoccupied with his race but still manages to take advantage of Iago’s class. Iago preoccupied with his class, still manages to take advantage of Othello’s race. Despite doing no harm to Othello and Iago directly, Cassio destroys both of the men’s marriages and in turn

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Despite the play's racist society, Brabantio's prejudice is validated and reinforced by Iago's early sexualizing and racializing characterization of Othello. Iago's relationship to the world he conjures up is discussed in the article's conclusion since the play itself appears to come from Iago's wounded "I." He is an expert at dividing people in two and luring them into his realm of self-alienation. Lago's character shows how Racism is a psychological problem that affects not only its victims but also its

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Othello IO Tinatin Kakabadze Period F 9/1/15 Word Count: 1222 “Race” in the context of Elizabethan England Race, in Elizabethan Era, which was from 1485 to 1603 and was known as the Golden Age of England, was usually ignored. People with dark skin were thought of as exotic and bizarre, though they had no rights as they were forced into England despite many protests. Due to the way North/West Africans clothed themselves, many people in Elizabethan England would call them ‘devils’ and other obscene things. Though, they soon grew a few rights and weren't ridiculed as much, but were still thought of as a lower race.

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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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Race effects Othello’s relationship with his wife in many ways. First he knows that he is not good enough for Desdemona just for having darker skin. This effects his relationship by showing that he has a lack of self-confidence. This drop in trust for the relationship is cause by Othello finding the handkerchief and accusing her of sleeping with Cassio. This relates to racism in the play because the handkerchief is a symbol of African provenance, “The handkerchief ’s role as substitute for Othello is reinforced by its African provenance, established by the Egyptian who gave it first to his mother; transmitted to the son, it was then passed to the wife, Desdemona being the only non-African in the sequence.

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Racism is seen throughout Shakespeare's play Othello, characters in the play held views on the main character. Racism racism is used in Shakespeare's play Othello through Iago’s abusive language towards Othello and to control Othello and his wife Desdemona’s interracial marriage. Iago’s abusive language shows racism because he degrades Othello as a black man, as a man with power as well as a married man. Discrimination, prejudice, directed against are all forms of racism and Iago states “Have your daughter covered with a barbary horse, you’ll have your nephews neigh to you”( lines 125-126). This illustrates racism because Iago is referring to Othello as a horse, but he’s also associating to savagery, his remarks are comparing him to

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Iago is the mastermind behind all of the mayhem in this play, and it all starts in act one when Othello made Michael Cassio the lieutenant over him. This left Iago flabbergasted saying Cassio "never set a squadron in the field" (I.i.22) and he sarcastically says " And I-God bless the mark! His Moorship 's ancient" (I.i.33). Iago was more qualified than Cassio, in experience and also, as Iago thinks, ability.

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Othello’s Complexity In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, the main protagonist Othello may not be as simple of a character as you might think. This notion stems from two different ideas that create an aura of complexity around Othello’s character. The first idea is that even though Othello is a black man living in Venice during the sixteenth century (a predominantly white and racist city during that time) he is able to obtain a high status in society. The second idea is how drastically different Othello’s personality is at the beginning of the play compared to the end of the play.

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2014 Words | 9 Pages

However, this relationship clashes by a lot of challenges because of racial prejudice and prepare Othello`s to accept this racist view. In fact, these perceptions of racism destroy him psychologically. This play was written in 1604 by Shakespeare. So was the fact that in that period in Venice, which is a center of European civilization in that period. In fact , this was a civilization is not equal among the people.

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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.

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1960 Words | 8 Pages

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713 Words | 3 Pages

The play Othello is written by William Shakespeare, author of many great stories. In the play, it includes many examples of racism. This prejudice is centered around Othello, a Moor from Africa and incomparable authority of the Venetian armed force. Many of the characters use racial slurs against Othello at one point in the play. Characters including his wife, his father in law, and even himself.

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1225 Words | 5 Pages

The exploitation of Othello’s race leads to the manipulation Roderigo, Cassio, Brabantio, the Venetians, and the audience to see Othello as inferior although, the only difference between him and the Venetians is his lineage. In the first act of the play, Iago and Roderigo go to Brabantio’s house to rile him out of his sleep. This is seen as the first step of defaming Othello’s character. The two

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