Tenzing

Racism in Othello. __In William Shakespeare’s Othello, racism is seen as a stereotypical aspect towards Moor; Iago is one character that uses Othello’s race as an infrastructure to build up his plan __. Othello, the main character is affected by his race as a Moor. The term Moor described a person who was inhuman. Even though Othello has a high position as the General of the Venetian Army his race is the reason why he gets looked down upon. As a general, Othello is seen as someone who has power but as a Moor he is given no respect. Thus, the people in the play call Othello by the name the Moor rather than by his name. Most characters that call Othello “the Moor” are usually the ones that have hatred or anger towards Othello. Iago told Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, that Desdemona could have never married Othello. And the reason why she married Othello was because Othello was using spells on her. In Act 1 Scene 1 Iago states, “I am one, sir that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are {now} making the beast with two backs.” Iago notifies Brabantio that Desdemona eloped with Othello. Iago doesn’t seem to call Othello by his name but rather the name Moor. When Iago is talking about Othello and Desdemona to Brabantio he talks with disgust that the Moor is making love with a white woman. Iago is one of the main characters that have hatred against Othello. Iago takes the fact that Othello is a Moor and uses it to his advantage by creating a strategic plan. The reason why Iago hates Othello is because Othello gave the position of lieutenant to Cassio. And in order to gain that position Iago came up with a scheme where he can get Cassio’s position by misguiding Othello’s emotions. Even though Iago dislikes Othello, Iago talks to Othello in a very respective manner. However behind the scenes while talking to other characters in the play Iago degrades Othello by calling him a Moor. In Act 1 Scene 2 Iago states, “This countercaster, He, in good time, must his lieutenant be, And I, (God) bless the mark, his Moorship’s ancient.” Iago is seen mocking Othello by saying the word “Moorship.” Iago should have been saying “his worship” instead he says “his Moorship.” When you worship someone you give your utmost respect. However, when you “Moorship” someone you are insulting him or her and you also degrade that person even though he or she is of high post. This is happening only because Othello is a Moor; if Othello had been a person of a lighter color then he would have been given more respect according to his social status. Iago uses Othello’s race as a base for his plan to take place. The first person Iago target is Roderigo. Iago knew that Roderigo had likings for Desdemona, Othello’s wife, so he told Roderigo that Desdemona was having an affair with Cassio. Iago also made Cassio believe that Desdemona wasn’t in love with Othello and if Roderigo wanted to be with Desdemona, he had to remove Cassio. In Act 2 Scene 1 Iago says, “Blessed fig’s end! The wine she drinks is made of grapes. If she had been blessed, she would have never have loved the Moor. Blessed pudding! Didst thou not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? Didst not mark that?” Iago tells Roderigo that there is no way that Desdemona can like Othello because of his skin color. Also he’s says that Othello is the grape meaning that the grape’s dark color represents Othello’s black skin color. The only reason why Desdemona married Othello was because she was under the spell of Othello. Iago uses this strategy to stimulate Roderigo’s feelings towards Desdemona. Iago provokes every characters feeling when he talks about Othello. Roderigo doesn’t know that Iago is using him. Iago tells Roderigo to sell all his assets and turn it into cash because that would be the only way for Desdemona to go to Roderigo. Iago makes Roderigo believe that once Desdemona gets tired of Othello, she’ll go look for a man who is much younger. And if Roderigo wanted to be with Desdemona then he would have to have cash on him. When Iago tells Roderigo about turning his assets into cash, Roderigo replies by calling Othello the Moor. In Act 1 Scene 3 Iago tell Roderigo, “Therefore, put money in thy purse. If thou wilt needs damn thyself, do it a more delicate way than drowning. Make all the money thou canst. If sanctimony and a frail vow betwixt an erring barbarian and supersubtle Venetian be not too hard for my wits and all the tribe of hell, thou shalt enjoy her.” Iago is lets Roderigo know that he will misguide Othello. He also tells Roderigo that he will create skepticism between Othello and Desdemona. Creating skepticism between Othello and Desdemona would mean that Iago’s plan was working, which would be making Othello believe that Desdemona was having an affair with Cassio. In return, Othello would want to have Cassio killed and also would have killed Desdemona. Iago tries hard to make arouse Roderigo’s feelings for Desdemona and also make Roderigo believe that Desdemona doesn’t love Othello but Cassio. Roderigo knew that Iago was just trying to act nice in front of Othello to get what Iago wanted, which was Cassio’s position. In Act 1 Scene 1 Roderigo says, “What a full fortune does the Thick-lips owe If he can carry’t thus!” Roderigo teases Othello by stating a racial slur. Roderigo is saying that Othello is unlucky because Othello cannot see Iago’s plan. Iago obeys Othello from the outside but inside Iago is using Othello by serving him to get what he wants. Roderigo isn’t the only character who says racial slurs against Othello. There are other minor characters in the play who say words that are racist but don’t mean it a disrespectful manner. The Duke is one example of a minor character in the play that makes partial racist remarks towards Othello. In Act 1 Scene 3 the Duke states, “Let it be so. Good night to every one.—(//to// BRABANTIO) And, noble signior, If virtue no delighted beauty lack, Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.” The Duke lets Brabantio know that Othello is someone who is trustworthy and honest. Othello had justified himself in front of the Duke and Brabantio and let them know that he would be an honest man and would care for Desdemona. After hearing this, the Duke told Brabantio that even though Othello is black he is still beautiful. This could mean that the Duke believes that Othello is a man of integrity and that is what makes him beautiful. In conclusion, being racist towards Moors was part of a daily life during the 16th and the 17th century. People with dark skin color were seen as someone who was inhuman. Othello’s the general of the Venetian army and is seen as a man with power but when it comes to social status in the Venetian society he is very much subjacent  towards the public. When in front of Iago, Othello received the respect from Iago. However behind Othello’s back Iago bad mouthed Othello by calling out racial slurs such as “thicklips.” Even though Othello was a General of the Venetian army he was still looked down upon because Othello is one character that everyone had targeted because of his race and skin color. 