Racism In Shakespeare's Othello

Othello We see racism very presently in today’s society, but were it still evident during the Elizabethan era? Was racism the same as it is today? In the course of Shakespeare’s play, Othello is the only colored character, but a military hero as well; something that did not commonly occur during this time period. Though his ethnicity isn’t the only factor, it sure leads the pack of subjects leading to his fall. While he is not a typical tragic hero often found in other Shakespeare plays, he is a unique character that makes the play so interesting and sheds information on an idea of the views of colored people from the time period. The reader knows his race from various other characters stereotypical comments towards him, mainly from those

Brabantio takes Iago’s bait and searches for Othello in anger that a black man has stolen his daughter. Brabantio feels that his daughter would not turn down handsome white men just to sneak away with the “sooty bosom of such a thing as thou” (Shakespeare 1.2.73-74). This is an obvious case of racial prejudice. Brabontio does not think that his daughter would purposely choose a black man to marry, therefore he believes that Othello must of used “drugs or minerals” or “magic” to steal her (Shakespeare 1.2.68-77). Brabantio does not believe Othello’s testament claiming “And she, in spite of nature,/ Of years, of country, credit, everything,/ To fall in love with what she feared to look on?/ It is a judgment maimed and most imperfect/ That will confess perfection so could err./ Against all rules of nature, and must be driven/ To find out practices of cunning hell”(Shakespeare 1.3.99-106). This would be seen as a normal reaction for a sixteenth century upper-class political father of a white daughter secretly marrying a black man. It is only when Desdemona proclaims her love for Othello that Brabantio finally withdraws his accusations. Although Othello is proclaimed innocent, Brabantio still does not feel that Desdemona has picked a man he would see worthy of

Iago proposed to Othello, “As to be bold with you, not to affect many proposed matches of her own clime, complexion, and degree, whereto we see in all things nature tends- Foh! One may smell in such a will most rank, foul disproportions, thoughts unnatural”(Shakespeare 3.3.234-239). Iago drilled the idea that Desdemona would never be happy with a black man in a white society and that it was only inevitable for her to follow her true nature. It is only when Othello gives in to these twisted lies that he plays into the racial stereotype that he is a