Racism in Othello Essay

By comparing Othellos speeches, Is Othello a racist play?

Throughout Othello by William Shakespeare, many of the characters, especially Iago have sworn at Othello by using racial terms an old black ram. These slurs indicate the ignorance of the characters in the play because they lived in a time when there werent that many black people around. It has been said that Othello is a racist play however some other can argue that it is not a play which its theme is based on racism. This can be argued by looking at Othellos two speeches in the book.

In act 1 scene 3 an angry Brabantio went to confront Othello about marrying his daughter. Othello is subjected to a lot of racism in this scene however he gives a speech to Brabantio explaining his actions. Throughout the speech Othello is shown as being a very calm, peaceful, noble and respectful man, My very noble and approved good masters. If Othello was a racist play then Othello would have been portayed very differently, more violent and rude, however he is shown as being much more respectful and calmer than the other men around him as illustrated in the quote, approved good masters.

He then continues on to admit that he has indeed planned to marry Brabantios daughter, it is most true; true that I have married her. It was a stereotype in those days that black people were very sly and lied a lot, however the stereotype seemed to have been very wrongful in this case because Othello very bravely admitted to his actions and also says that that is the only offense that he has commited, The very head and front of my offending hath this extent, no more. A Shakespearian audience would normally expect a black man to be portayed as a very uneducated, sly and devilish character however these qualities are shown in Brabantio instead of Othello.

Othello then talks about how he is a fighter, nothing more, and all his life since he was seven he was has been involved in many battles and battle is all he knows however he wants the chance to explain to Brabantio how he won over his knows, And little of this great world can I speak more than pertains to feats of broil and battle; and therefore little shall I grace my cause in speaking for myself. This quote highlights all the good that he has done for his land, It also counters the way that black people are thought of in them times, cowardly and scared because Othello is portayed to be the finest warrior in the land throughout the book. If Othello was a racist play then Shakespeare would not have portayed him in this way.

The fact that Othello is standing up to Brabantio and admitting that he has indeed married Desdemona shows how Shakespeare has portrayed him to be a respectful and noble character.

However in Act 4 scene 1 Othello os portrayed very differently how is in act 1 scene 3. In this speech Othello has just heard from Iago about how his wife, Desdemona is cheating on Othello with his trustworthy lieutenant, Cassio. The speech shows his descent into madness and how he has lost control of his normal respectful self and is now perhaps showing his true colours as being easily deceived and prone to insanity. We can see how he starts to drift into insanity when he begins to question the definition of lie. Lie with her? Lie on her? We say lie on her when they belie her. This shows how he refuses to believe that Desdemona could do such a thing to him because she supposedly loves him so much. Othellos continuous repetition of the word lie shows that he is in a state of shock and does not know what else to say.

This is very different to the Othello that was saw in act 1 scene 3 because he is much less noble and brave. This is also seen as a typical reaction of a black man back in those days, cowardly, scared and childish.

Othello is seen to be a very level-headed earlier in the book however his speech in act 4 scene 1 can be seen as him showing his true colours. Black people were seen as liars and frauds in the Elizabethan times and this can indicate how Othello may have been just putting on his brave and nobleness at the beginning of the play, however at times of great desperation and sadness, he does not know what to do and starts to panic, I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such a shadowing passion without some instruction. This shows how when the truth is revealed to him, he does not know how to react. It also shows how easily he is deceived, It is not words that shake me thus.

Finally, at the end of Othellos speech, he just begins to blabber random words in schock and horror. He is not in control of what he says as he is trying to get his thoughts together, Noses, ears, and lips! Ist possible? Confess? Handkerchief?.

This continues the stereotype that black people are uneducated and are unable to cope in tense situations. It also shows again shows how he may be a fraud because after he says this, he falls down in a trance because of all the pressure that has been placed on him.

To summarise my points, in my opinion, I do not think that Othello is a racist play because it is not one of the main themes of the play. Racism is also not central issue in the play, his descent into madness is and how Iago wants to ruin him. However I do think that racism plays a large part in the play because if shows the hatred and ignorance of the people towards Othello.