When reading the play Othello, a modern day reader cannot help but wonder if the play is racist. After all, there are several places found throughout the story that reference derogatory terms towards people of African descent. Comments such as, “Blacker devil”(5.2. 131), “an old black ram” (1.1.9), and, “Moor are now making the beast with two backs” (1.1.7), may leads the reader to believe that story is racist towards black people. However, this may not be true for a number of reasons, one being that these terms are only used out of spite or anger towards Othello. These types of comments aren’t seen too often during the story and are never used because the character generally has a racist view of Othello. Only when these characters are angered is when these racial slurs come about. In addition, Othello was written with the main protagonist to be a black man, and the antagonist to be white people. Therefore, this story can be interpreted in multiple ways with regards to racism.…
You may be asking, how is a play set in a world of exploration and conquest still significant to a world of flaccid morals and technological advancements? The works of Shakespeare prove ongoing relevance over time through the utilisation of key ideas, characters and language. Through characterisation and the exploration of the notions of jealousy and racism in “Othello”, the guests at the national Shakespeare convention can gain insight on how the works of Shakespeare are as significant now as they ever have been.…
| While old, black, and ram have bad connotations, white ewe has an innocent and sweet connotation. Iago uses these specific words to make Othello seem very unappealing compared to Desdemona. Old exaggerates Othello and Desdemona’s age difference, black gives a harsh racist statement, and ram makes Othello look aggressive and unfit for the innocent Desdemona.…
Race is very important in the play. Othello was a moor. In simplest terms he was a man of color. His race is what set him apart from the other characters. Also Othello is the only character of color which automatically set him inside. Being that he is a military general (a position not offered to black men) a lot of the characters don’t like him, and a lot of characters described him negatively because to them he was just a moor. But others respect and admire him because of his accomplishments. Iago was not his biggest fan so of coarse he said things that were not meant to be nice. “Iago: 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 if you arise I say!” (Act 1, Scene 1) Here Iago is upset that a moor is with a white woman. So he tells Desdemona’s father about the relationship. But all throughout what he is saying he is making racial slurs. In response to this Desdemona’s father says “BRABANTIO: She, in spite of nature, Of years, of country, credit, every thing, To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on! It is a judgment maim'd and most imperfect That will confess perfection so could err Against all rules of nature.” (Act 1, Scene 3) which means he feels that Desdemona’s feelings for Othello is wrong. It is unnatural since he is black and she is white. Even Othello himself describes his color as being something bad at one point. “Othello: All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven. 'Tis gone. Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell! (Act 3, Scene 3) Throughout the play there are many comments as to Othello’s race. I personally think the whole play is based around two things his race in comparison to everyone else’s, and his race with Desdemona’s race because he is a “moor” and every one else is not. Well race and jealousy anyway but race is what stands out more.…
Ideas of discrimination and racism have also been reflected within the play through the characterisation of Othello. Described as having “thick lips” and a darker skin tone, the protagonist experiences a sense of isolation from society due to his evident difference in physical appearance.. By demonstrating ideas of separation in the play, the reader is poised to read it as a text that incorporates strong ideas of discrimination, both evident during Shakespeare’s time and our current society. This discriminating prejudice leads to the deterioration of Othello’s confidence, where he states ‘for I am black’and ‘unworthy of love’. Ideas of discrimination and racism becomes particularly apparent when Iago constantly addresses Othello as ‘The Moor’…
Shakespeare positions us to view the marginalisation and dehumanisation of Othello, from various perspectives, initially through physical features, the notion of racial contempt is conveyed via Rodrigo’s, “Thick Lips”, Iago’s “Old Black Ram”, and Brabantio’s “fall in love with what she fear’d to look on”. This vilification, based on physical appearance reinforces traditional Elizabethan views, and to an extent, views held by groups in society today. Though, Othello’s physical appearance was just one factor. Othello was named “devil” by Iago, from a spiritual perspective, stereotyping those of African descent who were associated with witchcraft, this metaphor reinforces stereotypical racism, causing the reader to question, what has initiated such hatred from Iago to Othello, this allows the reader to a connect on an emotional level with Othello, as it generates empathy. Furthermore the readers perspective of Othello is conflicted due to other members of Venetian society, “your son…
The Elizabethan portrait of the dark-skinned “other” clearly established him as a bestial force, dangerous because of their sexuality, temper and magical powers. Generally, a moor represented in plays before Othello confirmed these stereotypes. Shakespeare incorporates these racial stereotypes and uses Iago to depict them, for example Iago calls Othello a ‘barbary horse’, and claims that Desdemona will have children who will ‘neigh’.…
Othello is the general of the Venice army and also mentions that he comes from a royal family which makes him as noble as Desdemona. Additionally, he says that “I love the gentle Desdemona”; despite all this the only person that is able to see the caring, strong and valuable side of Othello is Desdemona. Therefore, the visual essay compares the true side of Othello with the Othello that characters like Iago, Roderigo and Brabanito perceives. The play Othello also addresses many real life racial problems. For example, during the Shakespearean era readers of the play found the racial relationship between Othello and Desdemona very interesting. However, many were disturbed by what they saw during the play even though the actor playing Othello was most likely a white actor wearing black face paint. The legal map also demonstrates how little progression there has been since the Shakespearean era until only few decades…
In Shakespeare’s Othello, the protagonist adopts an identity that conforms to Venetian society and defies racial expectations brought forth by his Venetian peers. His simplistic perception of himself as a Venetian man, unconcerned with racial stereotypes, conveys his noble virtues to be greater than that of his white Venetian counterparts’. However, Othello’s internalization of the racial prejudice, as instigated by Iago, is his ultimate demise. In the beginning of the play, Othello demonstrates an effective resistance against the racial stereotypes expressed by Brabantio. His use of poetic language and honorable military status greatly contrasts the black stereotypes that Brabantio thrusts at him. For instance, when Brabantio accuses Othello of stealing…
The theme of racism was shown through the way Iago and Roderigo talked about Othello. In the very first scene, Roderigo and Iago mock Othello in explicitly racial terms referring to him as “Barbary horse” and “thick-lips.” In nearly every case, the prejudiced characters use terms that describe Othello as an animal or beast. Othello said “an old balck ram is tupping your white ewe”…
When Brabantio learns of Othello and Desdemona's relationship, he suggests that Othello must have “enchanted” her with “foul charms” and magic. Brabantio believes that if it wasn’t for those factors Desdemona would’ve never fall in love “to the sooty bosom” of Othello. In addition to this, Othello’s marriage to Desdemona leads to Othello being referred to as the “devil”, “thick-lips, and the “old black ram” that taints white women, such as Desdemona. Despite being an outsider, Othello is praised for his skills as a soldier is valuable to the state. He is in great demand by the Duke and the senate, as Cassio once stated that the senate “sent about three several quests” in search for Othello. In addition to this, the Duke sent for Othello because he wanted to “straight employ [him] against the general enemy Ottoman” despite already having someone in Cyprus. In addition to this, when Iago warns Othello of Brabantio impending wrath, Othello tells him he’s not worried about Brabantio’s insults because he knows that “[his] services...shall out-tongue his complaints.” Othello pushes all of the hate aside as he confidently knows that “[his] title and...perfect soul shall manifest [him] rightly.” However, Othello isn’t the only one who sees his worth: when Barbatio rushes Othello to the court the Duke address the “ valiant Othello” to “employ [him]... against the general enemy Ottoman” and ignores the fact that…
We see Othello being portrayed negatively in some instances – “valiant moor” (47). This shows Othello’s race being compared with the word valiant; Being ‘Valiant’ is a positive thing but he is not calling Othello’s identity directly Valiant. The duke then greets him as “Valiant Othello” (48). The Duke, who is supposed to be the representation of justice, does the opposite of the ‘first senator’ and call’s Othello Valiant for who he is, and not what he is. Brabantio on the other hand fears Othello and accuses him of “witchcraft” (64). Brabantio compares Othello to the ‘supernatural’ and the ‘unnatural’ he thinks that Othello could never have gotten Desdemona on his own because that would be unnatural, because he is unnatural (being black). Also Brabantio never calls Othello by his name, always calling him “moor”(71). This shows that Brabantio will never experience the true Othello because he will always be blinded by Othello’s race. His love, Desdemona says Othello’s Character is honorable and brave – “And to his honors and his valiant parts did I my soul and fortunes consecrate” (252). The Duke see’s what others cannot see in Othello; he see’s goodness and justice in him – “your son-in-law is far more fair than black” (290). Iago see’s something different again in Othello. Through Iago we see Othello’s flaw. Iago plans to convince Othello that Desdemona…
In this above statements of Iago ,he stereotype the Othello as a “sooty bosom” , saying that magic must be involved or Desdemona, “a fair” or white woman, never would have chosen a dark man, a “sooty bosom,” to marry. The black and white images placed in Brabantio's mind influence his views on Othello, or he would not have pointed out Othello's “sooty bosom. Iago uses Othello's color as a weapon against him. He causes Othello to think about his skin color and the differences between him and Desdemona. Othello picks up on the stereotypes of his race that because he is black, he is tough and hard, and does not have “those soft parts” that others have to woo women. Othello's adoption of the black color imagery shows that he is falling into Iago's trap, which causes him to believe that Desdemona is unfaithful.The black imagery is also used to portray the sins and vengeance. Othello, uses color imagery as a metaphor to describe his changing feelings for Desdamona as he said…
• Using grotesque animal imagery, Iago voices an explicitly stereotypical view of Othello, as a “Barbary horse,” depicting him as an animalistic outsider. Through the image of conflict in black and white, Iago emphasises on the racial demarcation between Othello and Desdemona, that “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe,” associating Othello with uncontrolled animalistic sexuality. Iago’s overt and vicious racism becomes representative of the reigning stereotype of the African on the Elizabethan stage…
In the opening act we immediately see the racism towards Othello. Iago proclaims to Desdemona’s father Brabantio “even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe”. Brabantio is outraged by this proclamation and doesn’t believe his daughter would be capable of such betrayal. Iago adds “You’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse; you’ll have nephews neigh to you” and the final comment that pushes Brabantio to go in search of Othello “your daughter and the Moor are now making the beasts with two backs”. I have…