Role Of Race In Othello

Othello is a play primarily about race. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

William Shakespeare's Othello is a play primarily about race, as it drives the plot by influencing the characters' actions, their relationships with others, and their sense of identity. Race is an integral concept to Othello’s central conflicts and ultimately leads to the tragedy that unfolds. Othello's racial insecurity, along with other characters’ racial prejudices, contribute greatly to the play's central conflicts, as it causes them to believe, speak or act a certain way, guiding the plot with these racially charged decisions.

Othello’s perception of himself and his identity skewed by his racial status and his insecurity around this plays a crucial

“Haply for I am black,” in the assertion of his identity in act 3 scene 3, whilst attempting to rationalise Desdemona’s supposed infidelity, Othello refers back to his skin colour, indicating at once Othello’s belief that his race signifies him. In this monologue, Othello continues to convince himself that Desdemona’s infidelity is a consequence of his race. “And have not those soft parts of conversation / That chamberers have, or for I am declined / Into the vale of years – yet that's not much – / She's gone.", Illustrates Othello’s belief that his race is a disadvantage to his marriage, making him unable to provide his wife with the companionship and conversation she desires. This heightened insecurity around his race fuels Othello’s paranoia in turn consuming him with jealousy and pushing him to make decisions resulting in his

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 / And it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets / He's done my office." Iago views Othello as inferior due to the colour of his skin, these racial prejudices only fuel his already existing negative feelings towards Othello. Iago's envy towards Othello's marriage