Animal Imagery In Othello Essay

Animal Imagery in Othello

In the book Othello, Shakespeare used animal imagery to illustrate Iago’s manipulation and his control over the other characters in the book. There are three specific examples that support my argument. Firstly, Iago refers to Othello as a “black ram”. Secondly, Iago refers to Othello as a “Barbary horse” and lastly, Iago’s usage of animal imagery transmits to the other characters as they develop and being to use animal imagery in a derogatory manner. In the beginning of the book you notice Iago uses animal imagery to belittle the other characters and later on in the book it is apparent that the other characters have developed this calculating behaviour.

Firstly, in Act 1 Scene 1, Iago says to Brabantio “even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” in the attempt to provoke Brabantio’s anger towards Othello. Shakespeare used the terms “black ram” and “white ewe” to represent a black man

(Othello) copulating with a white woman (Desdemona). By using animal imagery, he delivered the idea that Othello is black and dangerous such as a black ram is considered and Desdemona is white and innocent similar to a white ewe. Iago used that adjective to illustrate how small Othello is compared to Desdemona. He also exemplifies the immorality of an older black man fornicating with a younger white woman during that time period. Therefore, this quote supports my argument that animal imagery is used by Shakespeare to build Iago’s characteristics of being a liar and a manipulator as these two specific animals foreshadow Othello and Desdemona’s relationship and the speculation surrounding Othello and Desdemona’s personalities.
Secondly, in Act 1 Scene 1, Iago says to Brabantio “Because we come to do you service and you think we are ruffians, you’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse…” to represent that Brabantio believes Iago is a hooligan and his daughter is pure and guiltless but in reality Desdemona is a white woman deceiving her father by having sex with an older black man. Iago used the term “Barbary horse” in a racial manner which is essentially referring to Othello as a black barbarian and a beast. Iago uses this derogatory term to exemplify the immoral act of Desdemona and Othello’s relationship and to insinuate that Desdemona should be with someone worthier than Othello. By repeatedly referring to Othello as an animal, Brabantio forms an opinion about Othello based on Iago’s defamation. Therefore, this quote supports my argument that Shakespeare uses animal imagery to develop Iago’s manipulation and superiority and to demonstrate Desdemona and Othello’s relationship.
Lastly, Iago has used so much animal imagery towards Othello that now Othello refers to himself using animal imagery.

This supports the idea that Iago manipulated Othello so much that the other characters learned the same behaviour. In Act 3 Scene 3, Othello says “I had rather be a road, and live upon the vapour of a dungeon, than keep a corned in the thing I love for other’s use.” Othello says this to express he would rather be a toad in a dungeon than to have only a part of someone he loves, sharing the rest of her with others, which represents Othello’s belief of Desdemona’s infidelity. This illustrates how the characters have developed throughout the book as now Othello uses animal imagery in an offensive way just as Iago has throughout the book. Therefore, this supports my argument that Iago was so successful in manipulating the characters by using animal imagery that it transformed Othello into someone else. It is due to Iago’s manipulation that Othello believes his loving wife was unfaithful and ultimately murders

her.
In conclusion, Shakespeare used animal imagery develop Iago’s character as a manipulator among many other qualities. Shakespeare recurrently used the imagery of dark coloured animals in the attempt to racially insult Othello and portray the corruption in a white woman having a relationship with a black man. Shakespeare not only used dark coloured animals but used other animals to represent Othello and Desdemona’s relationship in order for Iago to cloud Brabantio’s judgement towards Othello in hopes of ending their relationship. Iago’s wickedness is represented throughout the book which had nothing but negative influences on everyone else. The use of animal imagery is consistent throughout the book with all the characters but continuously traces back to Iago who initiated the use of animal imagery.