Othello & Racism Essay

In Shakespe bes play Othello the main character is Iago, although the plays protagonist, at least during some points of the play is Othello. This authorship will seek to examine the roles of victorian stereotypes in the destruction of Othellos character especially in the hoodwinking qualities of Iago in splitting up Desdemona and Othello The first 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 plot to destroy Othellos marriage to Desdemona.Othello is the disapprove of hatred of both Roderigo and Iago, as Iago states, Your heart is burst, you wee lost half your soul Even now, now, real now, an old discolor ram Is topping your white ewe. (Shakespeare I, I 97-9) Roderigo is especially racist toward Othello in the telephoner of Iago, as Orkin states, Roderigo too is proficient at racist insultand falling upon the racist stereotype of lust-ridden black man when he calls to Brabantino that his d aughter has given himself to the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor (Shakespeare I. i. 126, Orkin 168).The evil proposal is two-fold one, to break up the marriage of Othello and Desdemona so that Roderigo can woo Desdemona and eventually make her fall in love with him, two, that Iago can finally have his revenge on Othello. Iago suspects that Othello has slept with his wife Emilia and he detests Othello for red him over for a promotion that he felt he deserved more than the less go through soldier Michael Cassio. In the first few scenes of the play, Othellos name is never mentioned, emphasizing the secrecy in Roderigo and Iagos dealings.Instead, Othello is referred to as the Moor and descriptive phrases such as thick 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 manages to expect Othello to doubt D esdemonas loyalty and love for him. He tells Othello to closely examine his wifes actions when she is with Cassio, as Othello states, She loved me for the dangers I had passd, And I loved her that she did pity them.This only is the witchcraft I have used Here comes the lady let her looker it.. (Shakespeare I, iii193-6). Othellos first gift to Desdemona was a hankey, which is a very Victorian gift to give to a lady. This supposedly trivial object later becomes the atom 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 good-by the tranquil mind farewell contentFarewell the tufted troop, and the big wars, That make ambition virtue 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, vaunting and circumst ance 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 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 a representation. Desdemona unknowingly loses bobby pin 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 go under Desdemonas handkerchief in Cassios room, Othello who discovers his plot is infuriated and exclaims that hed rather witness deception first hand than assume infidelity without conclusive evidence.At this point, Iago, ever the manipulator, ma nages to get his way again by fabricating another story that Cassio once called out Desdemonas name in his catnap 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 symbol 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 believe Iagos tripe about Desdemonas infedelity, and which ultimately leads to his downfall, his loss of love, and his shame. mould Cited Greenblatt, Stephen, et al. , eds. The Norton Shakespeare. New York W. W. Norton, 1997. Orkin, Martin. Othello and the Plain Face of Racism. Shakespeare Quarterly. Vol. 38, No. 2. (Summe r 1987). Pp. 166-188.