#OTHELLO CHARACTER SKIN#

Othello is still not aware of the discrimination he is starting to receive because of his marriage to Desdemona, he still sees the good in everyone and is unaware of what is others have planned for him.

#OTHELLO CHARACTER SKIN#

Everyone comes to OthelloвЂ™s rescue saying he did not bewitch Desdemona, the Duke says to Brabantio, вЂњIf virtue no delighted beauty lack, Your son in law is far more fair than black (1.3.330-331) indicating that Brabantio should not focus on OthelloвЂ™s skin color but rather the goodness in his heart. (1.3.149-150) showing that Brabantio in the past did not harbor any racial resentment towards Othello until Iago manipulated him into thinking that having a black man as your son-in-law is not a good look for a senator. Othello points out that Barbantio once вЂњloved me, oft invited me, Still questioned me the story of my life. Brabantio, who is afraid of his reputation as the senator, accuses Othello of kidnapping Desdemona, in a desperate attempt to keep his power. Iago is not the only character in the play that uses race to his advantage. The stereotypes of black men continue to be prevalent in the way characters act towards Othello. This is also another one of IagoвЂ™s schemes to manipulate Brabantio into thinking that interracial marriages only end up in disaster, and his only daughter getting hurt. Arise! Arise! (1.1.97-98) Iago means that black men have animalistic tendencies which is going to taint the innocence of the beautiful ewe (Desdemona). Saying, вЂњEven now, now, very, now an old black ram is tupping your white ewe. IagoвЂ™s racist views towards Othello is evident through his dialogues, he uses racial slurs when waking up Brabantio in Act 1 with the news that Othello and Desdemona (his daughter) have eloped. Through this, Iago makes Othello thinks that regardless of all his courage and hard work in becoming general he cannot be loved by anyone because of the color of his skin. He makes Othello believes that Desdemona does not love him as much as he loves her but rather, she is in love with Cassio, a man who is fairer than Othello. Iago would have found it difficult to manipulate Othello if he was a white man. While there is no blatant racism in the play, Othello is considered an outsider because of his skin color. Othello believing that racism exists not only brings about his downfall but give others the reason to condemn his unstable behavior. Iago uses race to manipulate Othello by convincing him that people harbor racist sentiments against him although this is untrue. Even though Shakespeare did not make race the main theme in the play it is a huge factor in decisions Othello and other characters make. Throughout this play, there are slurs that have been used to describe Othello, вЂњMoor, is an example of one.

Othello being African already makes him an outsider and highlights racism in Venice. He is a well-respected African general in the Venice army and is happily married to Desdemona, a white woman. Othello is the main character in the play Othello by William Shakespeare.

Othello character