Othello & Racism Essay

In Shakespe ars prank Othello the main character is Iago, although the plays protagonist, at least during round points of the play is Othello. This paper will seek to examine the roles of blue(a) stereotypes in the destruction of Othellos character oddly in the hoodwinking qualities of Iago in split up up Desdemona and Othello The graduation exercise scene of the play is set in the streets of Venice where Roderigo and Iago are in deep disagreement with what is later revealed to be a dapple to destroy Othellos marriage to Desdemona.Othello is the object of hatred of both Roderigo and Iago, as Iago states, Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul Even now, now, genuinely now, an old black ram Is topping your white ewe. (Shakespeare I, I 97-9) Roderigo is especially racist toward Othello in the company of Iago, as Orkin states, Roderigo too is proficient at racist insultand falling upon the racist stereotype of lust-ridden black valet when he calls to Brabantino that his daughter has given himself to the gross clasps of a lascivious moor (Shakespeare I. i. 126, Orkin 168).The evil scheme is two-fold one, to break up the marriage of Othello and Desdemona so that Roderigo locoweed woo Desdemona and eventually make her fall in love with him, two, that Iago mountain finally have his strike back on Othello. Iago suspects that Othello has slept with his wife Emilia and he detests Othello for passing him over for a promotion that he felt he deserved more than the less experienced soldier Michael Cassio. In the first few scenes of the play, Othellos constitute is never mentioned, emphasizing the secrecy in Roderigo and Iagos dealings.Instead, Othello is referred to as the Moor and descriptive phrases such as dull lips, a Barbary horse are used to refer to Othellos person, which emphasizes Victorian stereotypes of the African race. While alone with Othello, Iago implies the possibility that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. Iago manage s to persuade Othello to suspect Desdemonas loyalty and love for him. He tells Othello to closely examine his wifes actions when she is with Cassio, as Othello states, She love me for the dangers I had passd, And I loved her that she did pity them.This only is the witchcraft I have used hither comes the lady let her witness it.. (Shakespeare I, iii193-6). Othellos first gift to Desdemona was a hanky, which is a very Victorian gift to give to a lady. This purportedly trivial object later becomes the piece of evidence that Iago uses to destroy Othellos marriage, and as Othello laments at the close of the play, I had been happy, if the general camp, Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body, So I had nothing known. O, now, for ever Farewell the tranquil mind word of farewell contentFarewell the plumed troop, and the big wars, That make ambition fairness O, farewell Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump, The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife, The royal banner, and all quality, Pride, pomp and consideration of glorious war And, O you mortal engines, whose rude throats The immortal Joves dead clamours counterfeit, Farewell Othellos occupations gone. (Shakespeare III, iii, 397-409). one(a) evening, as Desdemona and Emilia inform Othello that dinner is ready, Othello complains of a headache. Desdemona promptly offers her handkerchief to bind his head to relieve the pain.Othello comments that the handkerchief is too small and pushes it away. Desdemona unknowingly loses grip of the handkerchief as she and Othello walk out of the room. Emilia picks up the handkerchief, remembering that Iago had asked her a number of times to steal it, she is delighted at the prospect of surprising her husband. At the same time as Iago was to establish Desdemonas handkerchief in Cassios room, Othello who discovers his plot is infuriated and ex assigns that hed rather witness deception first hand than postulate infidelity without conclusive evidence.At this p oint, Iago, ever the manipulator, manages to get his way once again by fabricating another story that Cassio once called out Desdemonas name in his sleep and that Cassio acted as if he were kissing Desdemona. Iago reinforced his claim by claiming to have seen Cassio wipe his beard with the handkerchief. This enrages Othello and he vows to seek revenge on Cassio and Desdemona for the alleged infidelity. Once again, Iago succeeds and even manages to get promoted to lieutenant.In the play, Desdemonas handkerchief is the image of faithfulness and later in the play the symbol of truth. It is the handkerchief which symbolizes Othellos internalization of Victorian mores into his character which allow him to cogitate Iagos tripe about Desdemonas infedelity, and which ultimately leads to his downfall, his loss of love, and his shame. score Cited Greenblatt, Stephen, et al. , eds. The Norton Shakespeare. New York W. W. Norton, 1997. Orkin, Martin. Othello and the Plain Face of Racism. Sha kespeare Quarterly. Vol. 38, No. 2. (Summer 1987). Pp. 166-188.