Imagery In Othello Research Paper

Imagery in the play Othello In the play Othello, Shakespeare uses imagery to illustrate the theme of racism. Shakespeare uses three different forms of imagery, each with a different purpose. Religious and colour imagery is used to suggest racist stereotypes and the idea that black races suffer from poor circumstance. In addition, Shakespeare uses animal imagery to express Othello’s position in the chain of being. All of this to show, that racism is unacceptable and cannot prevent the love of anyone, no matter what race they are. Firstly, in the play Othello, Shakespeare uses animal imagery to suggest Othello is lower in the chain of being. “Even now, now, very now an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise; Awake the snorting
“O the more angel she, And you the blacker devil!” (V.II. 130-131). Emilia describes Othello as “the blacker devil” just after he killed Desdemona. Shakespeare’s description “blacker” means Othello is a grander sinner than Desdemona, who he is accusing, and “devil” is used as a strong expression of hate used by Emilia. The irony is that the prejudice people had toward Othello was unjust and biased, but by the end of the play, Othello became what he was accused of being. This can also be seen as foreshadowing. The devil imagery used at the end of the play differs than earlier imagery said by people who respected and admired Othello. For examples, when Othello was arriving late in Cyprus because of a storm Cassio said “/O let the heavens Give him defence against the elements, For I have lost us him on a dangerous sea” (II.I. 44-46). “Heavens” is a straight difference to “devil” and those words prove Cassio’s love for Othello, and give the impression Othello is a good man and is not uncontrollably violent and lustful. Therefore, religious imagery is another way Shakespeare expresses the racism towards Othello and suggesting he followed the racial stereotype and became “the