preview

Analysis Of ' Othello ' By William Shakespeare

Decent Essays

Paper #2 (Option 2*)
Disloyalty, Discrimination, and Departure
Have you ever felt discriminated against due to your race? In Othello by William Shakespeare the theme of race is evident through out the play and is a very critical aspect towards the plot. Since Othello has a strong sense of self he is able to counter-balance the overt racism he is faced with in the beginning because he is respected and has high stature as a war general. Him and his wife lived happily without worrying what others thought of their bi-racial marriage. But, when Othello hears rumors of his wife’s possible infidelity he is soon over-whelmed with feelings of self-consciousness. These substandard feelings due to his race alter Othello’s usual self into a resentful, rage-filled, monster.
People who have once respected Othello soon display racial attitudes towards him for one reason or another. Othello is first presented with racial judgment from his wife’s father Brabantio who accuses Othello of using sorcery to cast a spell on Desdemona to make her fall in love with him. Brabantio gets this idea from Iago and Roderigo who tells him that they are sleeping together “sir, you’re robbed. For shame, put on your gown! ... an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe” (I.i.88-91). Also, Iago easily gets Roderigo to take his side against Othello because Roderigo thinks Iago is going to help him win over his love Desdemona. Roderigo displays racism towards Othello because he is jealous that a man of color was

Get Access