Theme Of Racism In Othello
In Othello, Shakespeare creates a setting, tone of racism in Act I, scene i of Othello. Racism is defined as a fear or dislike of a race other than one’s own, or the doctrine that some races are inferior to others (The Winston Canadian Dictionary). Shakespeare uses racism strategically to bring meaning to character, theme, and plot throughout the scene.
The first racist quotation in Act I, scene I of Othello is, “And I, God bless the mark, his Moorship’s ancient” (Othello: I:i:33). During the time of this quotation, Iago, Othello’s ensign, is talking about Othello, the general, in the streets of Venice. Othello assigned Michael Cassio, a Florentine, as lieutenant, instead of Iago who has loyally fought for him at Rhodes and Cyprus. Iago …show more content…
When Roderigo, a Venetian gentleman who is in love with Desdemona, says this quotation, he is talking about Othello. Roderigo is frustrated and brokenhearted when Iago tells him of Othello and Desdemona’s marriage. Roderigo has been paying Iago to help him win Desdemona, and now feels as though Iago has failed him. Iago and Roderigo are still roaming the streets of Venice when Iago admits that he only pretends to be loyal to Othello in order to benefit himself. Iago does not want to deprive himself from opportunity; therefore he fakes devotion to Othello in order stay in his good books. Roderigo thinks this is preposterous, and says that if he were in Iago’s position, he would not follow Othello. Both of the gentlemen are aggravated with Othello, which results in Roderigo uttering a racial slur. In this quotation, Roderigo refers to Othello as having thick-lips. By doing this, he is generalizing a race, and discriminating purely based on Othello’s physical attributes. One of the main aspects of racism is generalizing a race based on physical appearance and therefore considering them inferior (Shah). When Roderigo speaks of Othello having thick lips, he is not addressing Othello as a whole, but instead, only one of his characteristics. Roderigo is using Othello’s characteristics against him and is discriminating based on a generalization, continuing with the theme of racism throughout Act I, scene
The first racist quotation in Act I, scene I of Othello is, “And I, God bless the mark, his Moorship’s ancient” (Othello: I:i:33). During the time of this quotation, Iago, Othello’s ensign, is talking about Othello, the general, in the streets of Venice. Othello assigned Michael Cassio, a Florentine, as lieutenant, instead of Iago who has loyally fought for him at Rhodes and Cyprus. Iago …show more content…
When Roderigo, a Venetian gentleman who is in love with Desdemona, says this quotation, he is talking about Othello. Roderigo is frustrated and brokenhearted when Iago tells him of Othello and Desdemona’s marriage. Roderigo has been paying Iago to help him win Desdemona, and now feels as though Iago has failed him. Iago and Roderigo are still roaming the streets of Venice when Iago admits that he only pretends to be loyal to Othello in order to benefit himself. Iago does not want to deprive himself from opportunity; therefore he fakes devotion to Othello in order stay in his good books. Roderigo thinks this is preposterous, and says that if he were in Iago’s position, he would not follow Othello. Both of the gentlemen are aggravated with Othello, which results in Roderigo uttering a racial slur. In this quotation, Roderigo refers to Othello as having thick-lips. By doing this, he is generalizing a race, and discriminating purely based on Othello’s physical attributes. One of the main aspects of racism is generalizing a race based on physical appearance and therefore considering them inferior (Shah). When Roderigo speaks of Othello having thick lips, he is not addressing Othello as a whole, but instead, only one of his characteristics. Roderigo is using Othello’s characteristics against him and is discriminating based on a generalization, continuing with the theme of racism throughout Act I, scene