Othello: Racism Essay examples -- Othello essays

Othello Racism Just how life-threatening is the problem of racial prejudice in William Shakespeares tragedy Othello? Is it permeative or incidental? This essay intends to answer questions on this subject. Blanche Coles in Shakespeares iv Giants maintains that the racial discrimination in the play may be overstated by critics In the first scene, Roderigo has referred to Othello as thick lips. No other character in the play attributes any such black features to Othello, and it should be remembered that Roderigo has a half-insane prejudice against and hatred for Othello. Brabantio refers to his sooty bosom, but may he not have meant his hairy chest? Some quite an fair men have black hair on their chests. The intelligence agency sooty seems to apply more aptly to this interpretation than it does to a virtuous black body. All other characters refer to Othello respectfully as the tie up or the valiant Moor. (80) In the opening scene, while Iago is expressing his dislike, or qui te a hatred, for the general Othello for his having chosen Michael Cassio for the lieutenancy, he contrives a plan to partially revenge himself (I follow him to serve my turn upon him), with Roderigos assistance, by warning signal Desdemonas father, Brabantio, to the fact of his daughters elopement with Othello. Roderigo shares Iagos prejudiced spatial relation toward Othello What a full fortune does the thicklips owe / If he can carryt hence The word thicklips is a disparaging reference to a facial property of many members of the dark-skinned race. When, by loud shouting, Brabantio is awakened, Iago commences with a series of racial epithets Zounds, sir, youre robbd for shame, put on your gown Your heart is burst, you have lo... ...e. EMILIA. Thou dost neutralize her, and thou art a devil (5.2) Following Iagos bump off of Emilia, he is captured Lodovico addresses Othello, who is so dejected at having been deceived by his ancient O thou Othello, thou wert once so good, Falln in the practise of a damned slave, What shall be said to thee? (5.2) Needless to say, damned slave has racial overtones. Shortly thereafter, the hero, in remorse for the tragic mistake he has made, stabs himself and dies on the bed next to his wife, his sorrow being as deep as his love. WORKS CITED Shakespeare, William. Othello. In The Electric Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http//www.eiu.edu/multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No line nos. Coles, Blanche. Shakespeares Four Giants. Rindge, New Hampshire Richard Smith Publisher, 1957.