ipl-logo

Othello Racist Quotes

695 Words3 Pages

Act 1: Include at least 2 quotes that you find compelling and explain why
Quote 1: (IAGO)
Zounds, sir, you’re robbed! For shame, put on your gown.
Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul.
Even now, now, very now, an old black ram
Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise,
Awake the snorting citizens with the bell
Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you.
Arise, I say!
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 …show more content…

Come, how wouldst thou praise me?
IAGO
I am about it, but indeed my invention
Comes from my pate as birdlime does from frieze,
It plucks out brains and all. But my Muse labors
And thus she is delivered:
If she be fair and wise, fairness and wit,
The one’s for use, the other useth it.
Explain: Evidently, Iago is trying to make Desdemona angry which I think is because he wants Cassio to comfort her since when Desdemona asks for Cassios opinion, he takes her side. This is all part of Iago’s plan to destroy Cassio’s reputation. I think that Iago is being intentionally annoying which he is in the play and to the audience. Or he could just be like that in reality. He reminds me of Donald Trump for some reason. I looked up character traits of Iago and what popped up was; evil, manipulative, jealous, and dishonest. Sounds about right! :)
Quote 2: IAGO
(aside) He takes her by the palm. Ay, well said, whisper! With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do, I will gyve thee in thine own courtship.
You say true, 'Tis so, indeed.If such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kissed your three fingers

Show More
Related
1681 Words | 7 Pages

In the beginning of this play the readers are at first kept in the dark about Iago's motives and from the envy he faces, but it becomes very clear when he is talking to Rogrigo, “One Michael Cassio, a Florentine/… That never set a squadron in the field, /… And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof/... Must beleed and calmed. ”(I.i.21-32). This quote is the earliest example of Iago’s jealousy towards Cassio receiving the influential position Iago considers rightfully his. This trait is demonstrated again in Act 5 when Iago declares, “If Cassio does remain, He hath a daily beauty in his life// That makes me ugly.

Read More
546 Words | 3 Pages

(Act 3, Scene 3) Iago uses his manipulative skills to create doubt and suspicion in Othello's mind, leading him to become jealous and ultimately kill Desdemona. In conclusion, Iago's cunning and lies are the main cause of Desdemona's tragic fate, making him the most to blame for her

Read More
1388 Words | 6 Pages

The start of this scenario begins with Emilia stating that “I will bestow you where you shall have time / To speak your bosom freely” when speaking to Cassio, allowing him to wait to speak to Desdemona (Shakespeare 3.1.62-63). This is followed by Desdemona meeting up with Cassio and explaining that “Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do / All my abilities in thy behalf” in order to show that she cares about his well-being and wants to help him out of his situation (Shakespeare 3.3.1-2). However, Iago utilizes this conversation as a way to deceive Othello by planting multiple seeds of doubt in his head, such as when he states “I did not think he had been acquainted with her” when referring to Cassio and Desdemona’s prior relationship, in order to make Othello nervous and possibly jealous (Shakespeare 3.3.110). Following this, Iago states that “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! /

Read More
889 Words | 4 Pages

Iago does not know for certain what he is accusing Othello of yet he vows to act as if they are facts. While one could attribute Iago’s disdain for Othello to many things, namely, feelings of envy towards Cassio, sexual interest towards Othello, or simple racism; the mere fact that there is no clear motivation for Iago’s actions is a clear indication that Iago cares very little for his relationships and does not wince at the thought of treachery and the vicious backstabbing of those closest to

Read More
679 Words | 3 Pages

Iago’s evilness is shown when he says, “I’ll pour pestilence into his ear” (2.3.38). In this quote, the beginnings of Iago’s destructive plan involving Cassio and Desdemona are shown. Iago informs Cassio that he should consider speaking with Desdemona about gaining his spot as lieutenant again. In reality, Iago desires to destroy Cassio’s chances of gaining his spot; by “destroy”, I mean ruin his chances. The antagonist also tells Cassio to speak with Desdemona, setting him up to be seen as too close with Desdemona.

Read More
1277 Words | 6 Pages

In the same incident, after Iago finishes ranting about his hatred for Othello to Roderigo, himself and Roderigo arrive at the house of Brabantio, Desdemona’s father. There Iago enacts his revenge by getting Brabantio’s attention, getting him to come to his balcony, and telling him, explicitly, how Othello and Desdemona were together. “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise; Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, or else the devil will make a grandsire of you: Arise, I say.” (1.1.97-101)

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
895 Words | 4 Pages

(2.1.310-316) Iago is saying that even though he cannot stand Othello, he must admit that he is reliable and a loving man and he probably could be a good husband to Desdemona. Iago also says that he loves her too, but not for the right reasons, he only loves her to feed his revenge. In this quote, not only can we see Iago praise Othello for all that he is good for, but we also see him say “Now, I do love her too..” Here, Iago is saying this not because he loves Desdemona, but because he loves what Othello has.

Read More
901 Words | 4 Pages

Iago tells Roderigo to pack up all his things and go to Cyprus because Desdemona will son lose feelings for Othello and she will go to Roderigo, he says “i could never better stead thee than now. Put money in thy purse. Follow thou the wars, defeat thy favor with an usurped beard. I say, put money in thy purse.

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
497 Words | 2 Pages

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

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

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

Read More

More about Othello Racist Quotes

Related Topics

Open Document