Different Attitudes Towards Othello's Ethnicity Essay

How do the ideas and the language of these speeches help to reveal the different attitudes we observe in the play to Othellos blackness?

Racism is a massive theme throughout this play. Particularly with Brabantio, who thinks the only way to solve his problems with Othello is to be nothing other than racist and rude. However, the use of language throughout this play proves that its the way in which someone says something that gives it a different effect, and we are learning that as the play progresses.

Brabantio had an extremely racist attitude towards Othello. He was so astounded and horrified that his fair Desdemona had even considered eloping with a coloured man. Brabantio refuses to believe that his daughter would have done this off her own accord. In fact he is convinced that Othello conjured some sort of magic and witchcraft and used it on his daughter. Brabantio made a very long speech about this and protested heavily that Desdemona had nothing to do with falling in love with the Moor. Brabantio says to the Duke during their exchange: She is abused, stolen from me, and corrupted by spells and medicines bought of montebanks. Here Brabantio refers to Othello using spells and medicines to entice his daughter to marry the likes of him. Brabantio then starts to talk about witchcraft. He was saying that he has also used witchcraft to encourage and persuade his daughter. Sans witchcraft. Hes referring to a very famous French witchcraft. Brabantio is here inferring that not even Sans witchcraft could conjure up this sort of magic.

Othello gave the audience a massive element of surprise with his responses and argument to Brabantio. From his previous descriptions made by Iago, we were all expecting an explosion to Brabantios accusations, however we received something completely out of the blue. Othello has portrayed himself as level-headed and reasonable, and this made Brabantio look immoral and somewhat unreasonable. Othellos language was simple, soft and sensible. Everything he said made sense and was completely fair enough. The soft, gentle language showed that the love Othello held for Desdemona was sincere and genuine. He didnt fake his love for her to cause a scene and drama. He truly wants to be with Desdemona and is prepared to fight against all odds to be with her. Upsetting a fine figure within the community is a risky move. Othello said during one of his speeches: I have aten away this old mans daughter, It is most true; true I have married her. Othello is very truthful throughout the duration of his speeches. He holds no concerns for confessing what the situation is and this shows the sincerity within him. We also see a side to Othello that makes us think that hes serious. Othello, being a general is usually very quick to fire the bullets and he usually does so without any prompters or hesitation. However, he controlled this side of him and tried to sort it out civilly for Desdemona.

I personally think that the way Brabantio spoke about and to Othello was appalling. There was no reason for Brabantio to use the disgusting language he used to describe someone else. For someone who is very well-educated he is portraying himself as very ill-educated. Hes showing himself off as someone who cant think of anything else to say but to insult him excessively. I think other people may have varied reactions. Some may say that Brabantio was in every position to bad mouth Othello as he had taken his daughter without asking his permission and some people may have the same reaction as myself, in which they do not believe that two make a right and also the appearance of someone should not be discriminated under any circumstance. I think the language Brabantio used made him sound bitter and twisted, and as a nobleman within the community, he should have acted more responsibly and set more of an example.

After analysing the ideas and language throughout the speeches, we are seeing that Othello is being wrongly discriminated, and that its not fair for him to be treated the way he is being treated. Even if Othello did elope with his daughter - Desdemona - its still not fair to degrade him on his appearance, as this is something that Othello did himself.