Analysis Of Othello By William Shakespeare

Set in 16th century Venice, Othello, by William Shakespeare, explores the idea of an outsider from the very beginning of the play. Shakespeare uses Othello, a black army general, to explore the relationship of an outsider in high Venetian society using a variety of approaches. The reader sees characters consistently referring to Othello in derogatory and demeaning terms, as well as frequent implications that Othello is scarcely human. Further exploration of an outsider in society comes from Othello himself, as he outlines a few of the major differences that set him and the community apart.

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

Haply, for I am black/ And have not those soft parts of conversation/ That chamberers have, or for I am declin’d/ Into the vale of years (yet that’s not much) She’s gone. I am abus’d: and my relief/ Must be to loathe her” (III.III. 304-309). As the emanation of social interaction among various races appear within English literature, the vault of new beginnings and change takes hold. William Shakespeare’s Othello, is most notably recognized for the character, Othello. Through various texts of literature, the idea of racial construct and discrimination was never an easy topic to come by. Since the play was written in Europe during the 1600s, the emergence of slave trades in this area further divided races. The play itself follows the tragedy for Othello, and the transition from a military general to a tragic hero. The limitation of power plays a huge role in Othello’s ability to withstand the manipulation of multiple characters. Although he is Moorish general in the Venetian army, he is still indeed a Moor, a socially lower class, muslim man. From this, cultural collision of ethnicity influences how Othello is treated and the disadvantages he faces because of his color. Through the mere jealousy in which Iago, Othello’s standard-bearer, has for Othello’s life, he proposes the idea to manipulate his life by using the one difference between all men, race. When Iago awakes Brabantio, the father of Desdemona, he hopes to initiate his plan to take down Othello. His description

Shakespeare’s culture consisted of a homogenous pool of residents who all very likely looked like one another, so seeing someone like Othello, whose appearance is quite different from theirs, was a novelty to them. It is important to note that when Shakespeare wrote this play (between 1600 and 1605) he was living in an era before the transatlantic slave trade when the modern obsession with the biological classification of people was absent. This early obsession with categorizing human beings based on physical features and appearance eventually paved the way for the enduring race constructs that exists today. Othello is casts as a black because his character is part of Shakespeare goal as a writer to further explore topics of identity, but in doing so he provided a platform for racism to eventually grow on.

Racism is a theme that is prominently evident throughout Shakespeare's Othello. Through this theme, there are several perceptions of an individual's race which are exhibited to establish the

    Othello is the Cultural Other in Venetian society, and while he is very learned, it is probable that

Othello defends himself, saying “My services which I have done the signatory shall out-tongue his complaints. ’ Tis yet to know— Which, when i know that boasting is an honor, i shall promulgate, I fetch my life from men of royal siege” (Act 1, Sc 2, Ln 17). This shows that Othello was comfortable with his past and truly believed that it should speak for itself. He did not allow racial stereotypes to define himself. Othello was perceived as a warrior and leader, which was not the case in Venice.

In William Shakespeare’s Othello, both racism and misogyny were normal and common, along with many other forms of oppression. These societal norms of ancient Italy are still alive and prevalent in our present. Oppressing people on the basis of sex, race, and religion are still tolerated in both our government and our population, similar to that of Othello. It may not be as severe or put into law like it was then, but both white supremacy and misogyny specifically are still ingrained into our children even today. These behaviors are still used casually and often, but in different, more subtle ways.

Shakespeare creates an obvious contrast with Othello and the other characters by making Othello black and everyone else white. “Within Othello, black is used with five explicit denotations, and white or fair is posed in each instance, either explicitly or by suggestion, as the opposite quality” (Adler). Othello’s physique is black but he has adopted the culture and traditions associated with his white Venetian counterparts: Christianity, loyalty to the Duke, and a white spouse. Shakespeare may be even making the argument that Othello has adopted civilization by intermixing with Venetian society and that he is only alienated by his skin color and inherent African traits. Those who plot against Othello see him as having inherent traits that liken him to a wild and uncivilized beast.

In his production of Othello for BBC television (1981), Jonathan Miller asserted that Othello's race does not greatly impact his downfall in the play.  He maintains that while Shakespeare touches upon the issue of race, the cause of Othello's demise lies elsewhere.1  However, the implications of race in the play directly lead to its tragic ending; it is this issue that impels the characters to set the tragedy in motion.  Brabantio would never revolt against the union of Othello and Desdemona if it were not for Othello's blackness.  Roderigo could never be motivated to pursue Desdemona were it not for his belief that their relationship is unnatural.  By far the most significant racism is Othello's own,

It shows the difficult situation of many migrants in sensitive or narrow mind societies. In fact, this play shows the human nature strictly. Shakespeare sets the tragedy of Othello in type of feudal environment to enable an audience to understand the injustice and striving that a person like Othello would have to manage with in real life. Actually, Othello`s sadness reflects the racial prejudice in a great clarity in small minded societies. Therefore, these societies deal with migrants in a kind of superiority and importance. As a result they can`t welcome strangers as they are. Besides, these small minded societies try to preserve on the differences of class to keep their level from the normal people. In spite of Othello`s services to venetian society they still see him as stranger. He says in lines” (5.2.350-

As a writer, William Shakespeare possessed an uncanny ability to address topics that were, for the most part, unnoticed in society. Every one of his characters feels realistic because they are so complex and based on psychological motivations. When Shakespeare’s Othello was first written, there was undoubtedly a complicated relationship between white English citizens and so called “foreigners”. However, society’s inability to understand or accept different cultures created even more strain among the English people. Othello addresses the systematic issue of racism, and also shows how that prejudiced ideology led Othello- as well as other characters- to their downfall. Even though some characters admire and respect Othello as a military leader and a person, he still wrestles with his inner demons of being an outcast. Othello does everything in his power to avoid negative stereotypes, yet he still falls victim to Iago’s manipulation and his own tragic flaws. However, it is this element of believability within Shakespeare’s writing that makes his work significant to literature and human psychology.

In Shakespeare’s Othello, Othello is a highly acclaimed general and as a result of his many achievements and war victories he has transcended negative stereotypes projected upon Moors in Venetian society. Its Othello’s self-consciousness about the Venetian men not viewing him as an equal that becomes the catalyst for his downfall. Othello is well aware of “the racial fear and revulsion” the Venetians have towards him (Neill 311). His differences from white Venetians ultimately makes him paranoid about his identity and results in his inner struggle. Although Desdemona's infidelity is a deception, her affair is considered to be the root cause of Othello’s downfall and violent demise. As a result of Desdemona’s affair, Othello becomes jealous which drives him to madness and leads him to murder Desdemona. However, its Othello’s fueled anxieties towards the racist nature engrained in Venetian society that eventually results in him in first believing and then projecting the discriminations towards him upon his self-identity. Although Othello is an authoritative and respectable general in Venice, his tragic flaw is his insecurities towards his racial and cultural differences from society. His vulnerability towards his weaknesses, such as, his constant need for knowing the absolute truth, his impulsiveness, and the decline of his sense of identity is what leads to Othello not only victimizing

Shakespeare begins the play, Othello, in Venice. The Venetians’ are at war with the Turkish Ottomans to gain control of the Persian Gulf. To many Venetian soldiers they are fighting for land, but soon religion and race becomes a major contributor in the war. To them it is the Christian, Venetians against the Muslim, Turks. As the war progresses, the Venetians begin to hate the Muslims, and any associated with the religion. They begin to stereotype all people with dark skin as Muslims, placing them into a category of “Moors”. Othello was born in North Africa and raised as a Muslim, therefore, the Venetians referred to him as “Othello the Moor”.

Othello is an untouchable who is shrewd and sure about military issues however socially uncertain. He drives a serious life, swinging amongst triumph and fear. He is not the same as everyone around him, because of his roots and his life history, however he shares their religion, qualities, and patriotism to Venice. All the more critically, he is obviously unique because of the shade of his skin, so he lives continually among, yet isolated from, other individuals. At whatever point they