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Prejudice And Racism Exposed In Shakespeare's Othello

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Do you ever realize how exhausting it is to be black in America (USAToday)?In the world we live in today it is hard being of African descent or just being black period. With all of the bigotry, systemic oppression, and other injustices of the world, is it going to get any better for people who go through daily trials of racism in the world we live in today? If Othello was a real person I often wonder how he would view the world from his eyes just by being judged by the color of his skin. I am sure that racism was more prevalent during the time that Shakespeare wrote this story; this story gives some insight on how even well-liked black people were treated. For the duration of this paper, the character of Othello will be discussed
Othello was a black man who was noble, had high social status in the …show more content…

One would think that Shakespeare had something against Othello. Interracial marriages at this time were unheard of, in the year 1664, the state of Maryland passed the first the first British colonial law that prohibited the marriage between whites and slaves (Thoughtco). If a white woman married a negro slave during this time then she would be subjected to slavery as well and so would her children (Thoughtco). It is safe to say that there were a lot of accomplishments that a black man uncommonly gained during this story. Through Othello’s insecurity, he was made to believe that he was not good enough to be with Desdemona because he was black, a creature, and ugly. After hearing this so many times these words only strengthened Othello’s insecurities about himself as well as his marriage to Desdemona. These types of insecurities cause relationships to dissolve. The death of Desdemona caused by Othello’s hands is a prime example. This could also further the reason why black and white people should not involve themselves with one

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780 Words | 4 Pages

Brabantio, Desdemona's father, exemplifies overt racism as he openly refers to Othello as a "moor" and employs derogatory terms such as "sooty bosom" to demean him (Shakespeare 1.2.88-89). These racially charged comments shed light on the deeply ingrained prejudice within society, where skin color dictates social hierarchy and denies equal opportunities. In Geoffrey Sax's cinematic adaptation, the film techniques of lighting and costume design can further accentuate the racial prejudice depicted in the play, similar to how Shakespeare's text emphasizes the racial discrimination experienced by

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312 Words | 2 Pages

Since Othello utters that since he is with Desdemona, her reputation “is now begrimed and black,” it presents how a black man can tarnish the “fresh” identity of a white women. Since Othello is accepted and praised as a war hero, but not accepted as lover, love becomes a barrier that leads to a tragedy. Societal expectations push people to the point where they try to surpass society’s norms. Though, when they reach this tipping point, tragedy will

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439 Words | 2 Pages

Othello had fallen in love with Desdemona, daughter of Brabantio who is the Venetian senator. Brabantio is upset that Othello has run off with his daughter and got married in secret. He did not like that his daughter was marrying a black man. Desdemona loved him very much, and did not care that he was black.

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2577 Words | 11 Pages

Whiteness traditionally symbolizes purity while blackness evil, Shakespeare complicates these associations. The once noble Othello is increasingly blackened morally, while Desdemona's white purity is called into question, demonstrating that the dichotomy between good and evil are not as apparent as they first appear. In Othello, Shakespeare uses the motif of black and white to represent the dynamics of and the relationship between good and evil, this is seen when Othello says, "Haply for I am black and have not those soft parts of conversation that chamberers have" (3.3.304-6), In this moment, Othello recognizes that his blackness could pose obstacles, however, he remains resilient in the face of prejudice, staying true to his character and judgment. His black identity is a source of hardship, yet not one that compromises his integrity or intelligence. Othello believes that as a black man, he lacks the cunning charm and polished eloquence of white chamberers.

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318 Words | 2 Pages

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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932 Words | 4 Pages

Othello was self conscious of his race and often felt inferior to his peers, even though he held a prestigious position in the military. When speaking to the Duke and Brabantio, Othello described himself as “rude...in [his] speech,” (Shakespeare 1.3.96). This is an example of how Othello viewed himself as a lesser being, and overestimated his faults, even though he is fairly eloquent and was able to charm Desdemona by his stories alone. Moreover, Othello refers to Desdemona’s tarnished reputation as “begrimed and

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1024 Words | 5 Pages

ASSIGNMENT THE THEME OF “OTHERNESS” AND RACISM IN THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO: THE MOOR OF VENICE SUB: ENGL-403 ELIZABETHAN DRAMA Submitted by: AFEEFA Reg. No:15356004 1 MA ENGLISH Submitted to: Dr.T.Marx Dept. of English

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506 Words | 3 Pages

A man with color living in the Elizabethan era subjects in extreme racism from other citizens. William Shakespeare creates his first great black protagonist, Othello, to exhibit the hardships of interracial marriage and social acceptance. Othello’s status was quite complex being the General of Venice. He was greatly admired as a well serving General, however, was not accepted as Desdemona’s husband, particularly by her father, Brabantio. Othello’s “trustworthy” companion Iago manipulates him into believing his wife had a current affair with Lieutenant Cassio leading to Othello’s flaws throughout the play.

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1801 Words | 8 Pages

In fact, Shakespeare establishes the taboo of interracial relationships in the first scene of the play when Iago tells Brabantio that Desdemona has been “stolen” by Othello: “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram / Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise!” (Shakespeare I. i. 97-98). By referring to Othello as a black beast, and to Desdemona as a pure, white and innocent creature, Shakespeare establishes the definitive binary between the two races. Shakespeare’s society of Venice in the late sixteenth century is no outlier in wanting to prevent interracial relationships, as a majority of the contemporary United States does as well.

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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.

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527 Words | 3 Pages

The play is set in a time when black people were not well-regarded in society, and this is reflected in the way the characters treat Othello. He is subjected to racist taunts and derogatory comments, even from those who are supposed to be his friends. For example, when Othello is accused of using magic to woo Desdemona, Brabantio accuses him of using "spells and medicines bought of mountebanks" (Act I, Scene 3). This statement shows that Brabantio believes that Othello is not capable of winning Desdemona's love through his own merits and that he must have used some underhanded

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986 Words | 4 Pages

Fast forward to the 21st century, where phrases like, “thick lipped” and “sooty bosom”, become derogatory phrases with hundreds of years of African dehumanization, slavery, and oppression. As a result, the reader will look further into the way characters in Othello describe Othello than Shakespeare intended. To keep racial tension at Bay, while still keeping Othello as an outsider, the origin of his character should be changed. Unfortunately, the connotation of words that describe African people are negative, and even without these terms there's no way to get around the history that comes with a Othello being a black man. However if everything the stayed same, it would add to the tesnsions between Othello's character and the other characters, and the complexity of the

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1636 Words | 7 Pages

We find both racial attitudes towards Othello even though he is a man that works hard to get what he wants. The racial attitude is only because of the era that they live in, the Elizabethan era in

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1501 Words | 7 Pages

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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1225 Words | 5 Pages

These two villains slander Othello to the point of eradicating any pity the audience could have developed towards Othello. The Venetians also have a hidden fascination for Othello and his foreign qualities but, they mask feelings with negative slurs. The audience also affected by the portrayal of Othello, and are persuaded to feel pity for him because of his circumstances; being betrayed by his ensign and being looked down upon because of his Moorish descent. Shakespeare also uses racism as a creative apparatus to generate a metaphor between Desdemona and Othello.

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