Racism In Othello Analysis

Analyzing Racism in Othello Many are familiar with the story of Othello, the tale of a once great General who was lead to sorrow, temporary madness and even suicide. Betrayed by Iago the man Othello trusted most, Iago had launched a plan to ruin Othello’s life by convincing him his wife Desdemona was having an affair with Michael Cassio, Othello’s lieutenant. Iago’s plan ultimately ends up a semi-success as he does indeed ruin Othello’s life when Othello succumbs to a blind rage at the thought of his wife’s infidelity and smothers her with a pillow as she lay in bed. Many put the brunt of the blame on the shoulders of Othello and his lack of self-control as well as his general lack of awareness while others blame Iago for being a sneaky little

Iago is quoted as saying “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 of you. Arise, I say!” Right from the first few lines of the story we are shown blatant racism as Iago notifies Brabanzio that his “white ewe” is being tupped by a “black ram”. There seems to be a notion that black men have some perceived hyper sexuality as why else would one use such animal like terms to describe the sex of a newlywed couple? The end of the quote also speaks volumes on their cultural views towards interracial children as “or else the devil will make a grandsire of you” shows that it would be a shame for Brabanzio to have black grandchildren. Iago then carries on his tirade even further by saying “you'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse, you'll have your nephews neigh to you, you'll have coursers for cousins and jennets for germans.” Again Iago compares Othello to an animal by saying Desdemona is having sex with a Barbary horse and if it continues Brabanzio will have relatives that “neigh” to him. Once again implying that should Othello and Desdemona have children that they will be no more than animals. There is already two solid examples of blatant racism in the story and we

Here the Duke defends Othello against the accusations saying that Othello is fair and would never do such a thing as use magic to make a woman fall for him. Although the quote is used to defend Othello it is also questionable because it implies that blackness is surrounded by negative connotations. As Othello tells the real story of how he got Desdemona to fall in love with him he mentions how Brabanzio once loved him: ”Her father loved me, oft invited me, Still questioned me the story of my life From year to year—the battles, sieges, fortunes, That I have passed.” This spoke volumes to me as it showed how Brabanzio, a racist could tolerate and even love Othello as long as Othello was staying in his place. However as soon as Othello falls for Desdemona and she in return falls for him Othello suddenly becomes this untrustworthy black magic using terrible man. Perhaps more sad than the racist ideologies of those surrounding Othello is Othello’s views on himself and his own