A Malevolent Villain Essay

Another term frequently used to describe Othello,“Moor,” (or “the Moor,” “his Moorship,” etc.) derived from the race of the general, is a label that clearly sets Othello apart from the white Venetians he keeps company with. Although some use it and mean no harm, when said by the likes of Iago and Brabantio, “the Moor,” turns into a racist slur, deliberately used to undermine and ostracize Othello from society. Likewise, depictions such a

• Using grotesque animal imagery, Iago voices an explicitly stereotypical view of Othello, as a “Barbary horse,” depicting him as an animalistic outsider. Through the image of conflict in black and white, Iago emphasises on the racial demarcation between Othello and Desdemona, that “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe,” associating Othello with uncontrolled animalistic sexuality. Iago’s overt and vicious racism becomes representative of the reigning stereotype of the African on the

Even Brabantio, Othello’s own father-in-law, displays disdain toward Othello for marrying his daughter, in his calling him a “lascivious moor.”  Also there is a particularly strong conversation between Iago and Barbarantio, in which Iago states “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.” This statement shows a great deal of hatred toward the marriage of Othello and Desdemona. Iago is saying that if Desdemona were to have sex with Othello, “an old black ram”, it would defile Desdemona’s pure nature, “white ewe” (ewe being a lamb). This is not so much the act of the two people sleeping with each other as it is the fact that Othello is of African descent. Why else would Iago refer Desdemona as the “white ewe” and not just and ewe. The white part seems to display purity in Iago’s eyes. Also there is the part about the devil making a grandsire out of you. This is talking of how Desdemona and Othello’s children would be of a mixed race, of which Barbarantio would be the grandfather. Another racist comment Iago makes to Barbarantio of the interracial marriage of Desdemona and Othello is, “…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 gennets for germans.” This refers to Othello as a Barbarian, or African, horse who will climb

There are many instances where Othello is respected for his position within the Venetian military, but is often spoken about negatively behind his back. This is most apparent through the conflict of the play involving Iago and Othello. Iago goes about telling lies about Othello as a result of his frustration from not being promoted. He goes along spreading false news that Desdemona is being unfaithful and keeping things from Othello. While Othello slowly falls into a spiral of rage and jealousy from these lies. Iago slowly turns Othello from the noble Moor into the jealous beast that the Elizabethans would be afraid of. One can infer that the white man, Iago is believed because much of the other society is white as well. However, when Othello makes his plea and searches for truth, no one hears him because he is a Moor, which ultimately leads to his downfall. Even in the earlier parts of the play, Iago berates Othello by calling him an old black ram bewitch a white ewe (Desdemona). The dichotomy between black and white is apparent here and Othello’s military ranking does not allow him to evade this racial remark. His color is more recognizable than his rank and that does not save him from the prejudices of Iago and the rest of the other characters aside from Desdemona. In further instances, Iago tells Brabantio that Othello is like a barbary horse that will corrupt his pure daughter. Iago says

Othello: The Moor of Venice is probably Shakespeare's most controversial play. Throughout this work, there is a clear theme of racism, a racism that has become commonplace in Venetian society which rejects the marriage of Othello and Desdemona as anathema. The text expresses racism throughout the play within the language transaction of the dialogue to question the societal ethos established by Othello, thereby making him nothing less than a cultural "other." Furthermore, the character of Desdemona is displayed as mad, or out of her wits, for marrying such an "other," and the audience sees her slip from an angelic state of purity to that of a tainted character. Also, the menacing Iago, a

Othello is very prejudice. In the first scene, Iago and Rodrigo belittle Othello by calling him different racial terms, calling him, “Barbary horse” and “thick lips” In every case, the prejudiced characters use terms that describe Othello as an animal or beast. They use racial slang to describe Othello and also as an outsider to the white community. Comparing him to an animal and dehumanizing him they show a lack of respect. The same theme of disrespect is shown throughout the entire play with the betrayal of his closest friends. Another example of Othello being compared to an animal is when Iago says “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram

This quote by Iago puts into Othello's mind that Desdemona may be cheating on him with Cassio. Othello then begins to question whether he was right to marry or not and although without proof, he believes in Iago's words. This is shown in his statement, “why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds”(Shakespeare 1324), indicates that he quickly turns to doubting his love Desdemona and takes Iago as being credible and true. It also causes him to become jealous and angered with only a simple touch of trickery by Iago. This marks his first sign to a down hill plunge in moral.

Othello or The Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare is a tragedy of race. Shakespeare creates a hero who does not fall under a racist stereotype, Othello is a nobleman, a decorated soldier, very well respected by his men (with the exception of Iago). One of the few characteristics that harms, rather than helps him, is that he is dark-skinned in a society utterly dominated by men prejudiced against those with dark skin. At the start of the play, he appears confident that, "My parts, my title, and my perfect soul / Shall manifest me rightly." (Shakespeare, 1, 2, 36-37) But Iago makes sure to use Othello's race against him as much as possible. As a brave soldier from Africa and recently instated supreme commander of the Venetian army, Shakespeare still allows Othello to succumb to the subtle racism that surrounds him. Most of it comes forward through the dialog, and is directed toward Othello. Shakespeare makes no effort to hide this colorful language, nearly every character uses a racial slur to insult Othello at some point in the play. Even Emilia, who doesn’t trust her own husband, sinks to the level of insulting Othello based on the color of his skin. Though the main character to make racist remarks in Othello is Iago, making him a representation of white supremacy. The effect of racism on Othello is quite evident and is one of the main causes of his insecurity about his marriage. These black stereotypes show up in the play and lead to the problem with trying to produce

One of the major issues in Shakespeare's Othello is the impact of the race of the main character, Othello. His skin color is non-white, usually portrayed as African although some productions portray him as an Arabian. Othello is referred to by his name only seventeen times in the play. He is referred to as "The Moor" fifty-eight times. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) states that a Moor is "Any individual of the swarthy races of Africa or Asia which have adopted the Mohammedan religion. In Spanish history the terms Moo, Saracens, and Arabs are synonymous." This indicates that Othello is constantly being degraded and set up as an evil person throughout the play. What this really means is that

Iago wakens Brabantio (Desdemona’s father), “Even now. Now… an old black ram…white ewe…” Iago wakens Brabantio (Desdemona’s father) of news that his daughter has eloped with Othello. He uses racial slurs (white ewe, old black ram), Iago’s imagery of animals also makes reference to Othello’s supposed untameable sexual urges and bestiality which were common beliefs about ‘moors’ or ‘blacks’ during the Elizabethan era. Brabantio’s mind is shaken as Iago manipulates his (Brabantio’s) fears of inter-racial marriage/sex. Iago also refers to Othello as the devil (which is ironic due to Iago being more likely to be likened as such, with his ‘motiveless malignity’ and Machiavellian schemes.) which plays on the Elizabethan notion that black men were evil and the devil often took the shape and form-factor of a black man. Brabantio later accuses Othello of using Black Magic to win Desdemona’s hand, which may be in reference to said notion. The Duke of Venice, in defence of Othello says,“ And, noble signor, ... far more fair than black” , Not all Venetians see Othello in the same light as Brabantio, The Duke and the senators are obviously filled with veneration for the great military leader. Shakespeare plays with light and dark imagery here, although the Duke speaks of Othello in a highly virtuous and courteous manner, he still treats the notion of ‘blackness’ as an undesirable feature, or bearing negative connotations. Rather

Othello is presented initially as a dangerous beast by Iago, before he reveals himself to be of noble, human, status, only to degenerate later to the condition of a bloodthirsty and irrational animal. He is the hero of the play and this is achieved by his last speech(V. ii. 340-356) where he rights himself at the end of the play. "I kissed thee ere I killed thee: no way but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss" (V. ii. 359). By showing us these contrasting images of the moor, Shakespeare is revealing the two different attitudes to race. The one of acceptance, as shown through characters such as

In act four and scene two, Iago tells Roderigo the lie that Othello plans on going to Mauritania despite the fact he plans on returning to Venice (Butcher 245). According to Philip Butcher, he wrote that Othello was for that region located “...northern Africa corresponding to modern Morocco and Algeria, which was supposed to be the land of the Moors” (Butcher 243). And the term Moors was created by the Spanish serverd to be applied on “Arabs, Berbers, Syrians, and Negroes without regard for their wide racial difference” (Butcher 243). And as a result, people like Iago and Roderigo insult Othello and identity him as an object. For example, Othello is referred as “a Barbary horse” and the “old black ram” during the first act and scene of the play so Iago could easily insult him because of his skin color.

That if she lied to her father then why wouldn’t she lie to him? Iago uses this quote to tell Othello that she will deceive him and doesn’t love him like she used to. Soon after in this same scene Iago says this, “Men should be what they seem; Or those that be not would they might seem none!” (Shakespeare iii, III, 130). This is ironic since Iago isn’t at all what he seems and he doesn’t look like the evil that he is. Here Iago uses irony to use reverse phycology on Othello. He says this to make Othello question the man Desdemona is “having an affair with”. This line also influences Othello into thinking that Iago is his friend manipulating him into thinking Iago is saying things in Othello’s best

To begin, Iago’s encouragement of prejudice leads to Othello’s manifestation of darkness. For instance, when Iago unveils to Rodrigo that he has a plan to attain Desdemona’s affection for him, he in contrast dehumanizes Othello he reveals that “If I the Moor I would not be Iago. In following him I follow but myself; Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, but seeming so for my peculiar end. For when my outward action doth demonstrate” (I.i.57–65). This illustrates, Iago’s true nature that he holds prejudice and hatred for Othello by referring to him as a Moor, it proves that he only views him as substandard. Iago will pretend to serve him, but in reality he is only loyal to himself. This foreshadows that Iago will use negative connotations of race to manipulate Othello into thinking he is worthless. Thus, planting in Othello’s mind thoughts of adultery and hypocrisy. Later, resulting in the uprising of jealousy and darkness of Othello’s character. So Rodrigo, can obtain Desdemona’s love. Promotion of racial bias is also, evident when Iago tries to insinuate that Desdemona is unfaithful. He argues that “not to affect many proposed matches of her own clime, complexion, and degree, Where to we see in all things nature tends—Foh! One may smell in such a will most rank, Foul disproportions,

In Shakespeare’s play Othello a reoccurring theme is racism. Othello being a solider was well known; he became the supreme commander of the army. Othello is a black man who many call a moor by many in this play. A moor refers to dark skinned male usually from the Muslim culture that descends from Africa. In this play Othello falls in love with Desdemona and then get elopes with her without her fathers permission.