Have you ever considered if Othello was racist or if the play criticized racist people? In Othello written by William Shakespeare, treating people badly or unfairly because of their race is the main theme and a big focus in the play. The behavior facing sexual differences complicates Othello’s racial appearance and causes/starts (anger) (related to a group of people with the same race, culture, religion, etc.) problems. The effect of (treating people badly or unfairly because of their race) on Othello is pretty seen/obvious which leads to one of the main causes for his (sources of worry and stress) about marriage. Anyway, Othello is not mainly the terrible event of (treating people badly or unfairly because of their race). (treating people badly or unfairly because of their race) plays a large part in this problem but it definitely does not (good or well enough) explain the whole play.
Othello dealt with a lot throughout the play due to his skin color. He was called maine racist names like “old black ram”, “the Moor”, “thick lips”, and “Barbary horse”. The idea of “(treating people badly or unfairly because of their race)” has been known for many many years. Being a black person in a mainly white community at that time had to be a challenge as seen with Othello’s experience. Othello was the ugly duckling crowded around a group of animals of swans, he was a (person who is disliked and ignored). Racist comments were made by many of the characters like Iago, Roderigo, Brabantio, and Emilia. (treating people badly or unfairly because of their race) affected (a lot) Othello. He was criticized by the color of his skin without anyone getting to know what was on the other side of his skin. The treating people badly or unfairly because of their race) Othello went though and the problems caused by his race affected his life; it ruined his marriage with Desdemona, abandoned/irritated him from everybody in Venice, and made him an easy target to be controlled/moved around/misled by Iago. When Brabantio angrily faces/stands up to Othello with the Duke after finding out he married his daughter, Brabantio says, “She is abused, stol’n from me, and corrupted By spells and medicines bought of the mountebanks; For nature so preposterously to err Being not deficient, blind or lame of sense Sans witchcraft could not” (I.iii.68-72). Brabantio would rather to believe his daughter was haunted/impressed than to believe she had willingly married a black man. His belief in such possibilities hints to a prejudiced mental picture that people of color are splashed/wetted in dark magic. Treating people badly or unfairly because of their race is targeted at a brave soldier from Africa and the most powerful/better than anyone or anything else commander of the Venetian army.
The racism around Othello and the race he was ruined his marriage with Desdemona. Othello and Desdemona made a good couple. But it’s sad to say many know, all good things must come to an end. Almost everybody in Othello had a problem with Othello and Desdemona relationship. In that time, interracial relationships wasn’t something that was allowed. While Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, was sleeping, Iago and Roderigo woke him up telling him that Othello was having sex with his daughter Desdemona. Brabantio didn’t believe them until he realized they were telling the truth and his daughter was with “The Moor”, Othello. He was not happy at all about it. He couldn’t believe she wanted to be with someone like Othello. Brabantio sees his daughter’s lust for Othello as “odd” and was very surprised that she would “fall in love with what she feared to look on”. Brabantio said that Othello must have used some type of magic to get Desdemona to fall in love with him. When he saw Othello, he called him a “Moor” to his face and ordered his guards to get him. “The Moor” is a reference to his black skin color, his features, and represents the people from North Africa. A lot of the characters, including Desdemona (his wife) calls Othello a “Moor”. It is clear that almost all characters in Othello were racist. If Othello’s skin was white, Othello and Desdemona would easily lived happily ever after. But no due to the color of his skin they’re marriage had to be picked and poked. When Iago is talking to Brabantio he says, “Zounds, sir, you’re robb’d; for shame, put on your gown; Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul; Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you: Arise, I say” (I.i.88-94). Iago refers to Othello as an animal calling him an “old black ram.” This is humiliating to Othello and shows he that he has no respect for Othello’s culture. He says that Othello is sleeping with his white daughter and infers that this is sullying her.
Othello’s race and the racism towards him, made him an easy target to be targeted by Iago. Othello’s name wasn’t used much in play, which is a sign that Othello was different. Not saying his name much and separating him from society definitely makes someone feel different. It seemed the other characters were avoiding the idea of using his name. It seemed the more racist a character seemed, the less Othello’s name was said. Iago said Othello’s name about five times but called him “the Moor” more than twenty times. Brabantio and Emilia never used Othello’s name. Othello’s racial characteristics and Moorish features made him feel alone. Othello felt like the world was against him and he was on his own planet. Iago’s racism started from his envy of Othello’s position and achievements. By insulting Othello’s race, Iago recognizes that he has a way to control Othello’s life and steal his spot by manipulating him. Iago knew exactly what to do and had a plan to make sure he succeeded. Iago knew that Othello’s race was his weakness. Othello’s insecurities is seen when he regrets his blackness in: “Haply, for I am black And have not those soft parts of conversation That chamberers have, or for I am declined Into the vale of years,—yet that’s not much—She’s gone” (III.iii.294-298). Othello indicates that his racial status is what may cause him to lose Desdemona. His insecurities makes him distrust her which leads them to tragedy in the end. If Othello had truly loved her, he wouldn’t have doubted her love for him and let his insecurities ruin what they had. Iago uses Othello’s skin color to make a plan to break Othello down. He inserted racist beliefs into Othello’s mind and Othello believed it. He used Othello’s race and skin color to get other characters to turn against him. The racism broke Othello down. It made him weak and insecure and soon enough he was messing up his own life due to the thought Iago put inside his head.
Race affected Othello’s mind in a lot of ways. It made him feel different and disconnected from everyone. His race pointed out his differentness. It made him feel more responsible and believe that Desdemona may have been cheating on him. He starts to get weak and helpless against the schemes of Iago. Iago tried to manipulate him and after that he is left to deal with his issues alone while not having anyone he could trust and express his feeling and emotions to. Othello’s race and the racism highly affected his life. Othello is one of Shakespeare’s most relatable and known plays because of how accurate and honest it is to people. Many actions that happened in Othello, still occur to this day like stereotyping, racism, jealousy, and manipulation.