essay about racism in othello

Discuss the role that race plays in Shakespeare’s portrayal of Othello. How do the other characters react to Othello’s skin color or to the fact that he is a Moor? How does Othello see himself? Othello incurs resentment for many reasons.

This essay will explore the prevalent theme of racism in Othello, examining the historical context of racism in the play, the racist characters, Othello's experience with racism, the use of language to convey racism, and the impact of racism on Othello's relationship with Desdemona.

In Othello, how does racism influence Othello's relationships with Desdemona, Roderigo, and Iago? Is Iago compared to a devil in Act 1, Scene 1 of Othello?

This essay discusses the play Othello by William Shakespeare. Characters such as Desdemona, Brabantio, and Othello are analyzed in terms of racism and ignorance. Besides, the paper expounds on racism, discrimination, and attitude towards black skin in Europe during the era of this play.

However, the exploration of racism, sexism, and deception also is essential to the play. In this article, our writers elaborate on all the key themes of Othello and explain why Shakespeare included them. Every theme is illustrated by the quotes from the play.

The extract presents a sustained attack by Coleridge on Shakespeare for his lack of realism in the 'monstrous' depiction of a marriage between a 'beautiful Venetian girl,' and a 'veritable negro,' in Othello.

The most prominent form of prejudice on display in Othello is racial prejudice. In the very first scene, Roderigo and Iago disparage Othello in explicitly racial terms, calling him, among other things, "Barbary horse" and "thick lips."

Through the juxtaposition of Othello with racist characters, Shakespeare shows that one’s personality and values are not defined by race. Therefore, Othello can be considered one of the earliest examples of anti-racist literature in Western culture.

How does Shakespeare’s portrayal of racism in Othello reflect the societal attitudes and biases of the time in which the play was written, and what insights does it offer into the broader issue of racism?

Racism is the tool used in Othello by Iago to destroy the lives of two visually different types of people. However, as Davison explains, Othello is not 'about' race, or colour, or even jealousy. It dramatises the way actions are directed by attitudes, fears, and delusions that rule the subconscious than by evident facts.