Race

• "Moor"

  - The first mention of Othello in the play - in Act 1, Scene 1.

  - Until Act 1, Scene 2, he is referred to with words that focus and reduce him to his race as a black man and an outsider, rather than his name. This makes the audience shape an impression of Othello as an outsider and as a man that cannot be trusted because of his blackness.

  - In this sense, he is ostracised from the very beginning and makes us be wary of him as a character as he is not an 'insider'.

  - The term 'moor' is used to refer to people of North African descent.

  - He is reduced to his race from the very beginning suggesting that his race will be an important factor.

  
  

  SAID BY IAGO AND BRABANTIO (A1,S2)
• "An old black ram is tupping your white ewe."


  - Iago uses crude, bestial sexual language to exaggerate the sinfulness of the marriage between Desdemona and Othello.

  - Iago's reference to sex by using animal imagery also makes the union seem crude and unnatural, as if Othello is breaking the rules and norms of nature to taint Desdemona's innocence for his own sexual pleasure.

  - In describing Othello as a "black ram", Iago presents Othello as a sexually-frustrated and uncivilised character which taints the audience's image of him and presents him as a predator - already making us dislike him.

  - Iago also focuses on the contrast between "black" and "white", the colour imagery further emphasising the marriage which goes against natural order and the darkness of the "black" (the evil, uncivilised, dangerous black man) tainting the "white" (innocent, chaste, impossible of doing bad white woman).

  - It almost presents Desdemona in danger at the sexual desires of Othello.

  
  

  SAID BY IAGO
• "Thick lips"

  - Othello's identity still remains hidden, but what does not remain hidden is his race - him as a black man. He is dehumanised by Roderigo through the use of an abusive description used to refer to black people during the Jacobean era.

  - It is as if he is presenting Othello as a physically ugly character too - not just the morally ugly character that Iago presents him as.

  - Othello is targeted by other characters besides Iago too. All the characters that are overtly racist - Iago, Brabantio and Roderigo - are Venetian and therefore view themselves as 'insiders', at the top of society.

  - Their prejudice may come from a place of fear; a fear of their superior position being undermined by an outsider.

  
  

  SAID BY RODERIGO
• "Barbary horse"


  - Iago further fuels Brabantio's racist views by presenting Othello using bestial imagery, specifically a horse, an animal known for its promiscuity.

  - Othello's identity still remains hidden, yet, he still is referred to as an animal throughout the whole of Act 1, Scene 1 - implies that he is not worthy of humane treatment and makes us curious as audience of what Othello as done for him to deserve such a 'punishment'?

  - By being referred to as "Barbary", Othello is presented as being a barbarian, outside of the civilised race - almost suggesting that Desdemona will face her downfall because of Othello for not marrying one part of a civilised society.

  
  

  SAID BY IAGO
• "Your daughter and the moor are now making the beast with two backs"


  - Refers to having sex, consummating their marriage.

  - Suggests that their offspring will be "bestial", condemned by society for their blackness - for having a black parent.

  - "Bestial" also suggests that their future generations will be dehumanised for not being white - idea of superiority.

  - Through this quote, it can be argued that we can see Iago having a coloniser mindset; believes that whites are normal and worthy of humane treatment and those with black ancestry are not.

  - By making Brabantio aware that Desdemona is having intercourse with a black man, Iago is able to manipulate Brabantio with his words, making Brabantio a victim of Iago's plotting and encouraging him to dehumanise Othello as well.

  
  

  SAID BY IAGO
• "Gross clasps of a lascivious moor"

  - Othello continues to be reduced to his race and the stereotype held by people during those times about black people being lustful and uncivilised.

  - The "clasps" suggest Desdemona's inability to escape from Othello's lust and that she will become a victim of his lustful and selfish desires. Implies she is in danger???

  - He is defined by his race unlike other characters; he cannot escape his race, implying that his race will be central to the play.

  - Critic: If Othello was not black, the tragedy would have not been so tragic, therefore, Othello being black is important to the tragedy.

  - Critic: The remarks made on Othello's lecherous behaviour is created by white people, it does not define black people.

  - ^^ In promoting this view throughout the play, both Roderigo and Iago make our views of Othello be tainted by racism and prejudice.

  - We cannot avoid looking at Othello through the white man lens and cannot avoid judging him or keeping in mind the image he was initially portrayed with.
• "Foul thief"


  - Brabantio criminalises Othello and carries on to reduce Othello to the view that black people are uncivilised and a threat to the social order and peace of Venice.

  - It implies that Othello is a dangerous, immoral character that should be feared - perhaps making us slightly fear Othello. Although he has not done anything to make us fear him, maybe it makes us anticipate the dangers he will cause in the future (to Desdemona).

  - This quote does not only apply to race only but to misogyny too, objectifying Desdemona and treating her like a prized possession.

  
  

  SAID BY BRABANTIO
• "Thou hast enchanted her"


  - Reduces Othello to the stereotype that black people should be feared because they practice witchcraft and therefore are a sign of danger and links to the devil because they participate in traditions that are not Christian.

  - Brabantio believes that Desdemona is a victim of magic.

  - Some Jacobean audience may fear Othello and may condemn him for practicing such witchcraft although it isn't proven and may naturally choose not to trust him as they were very religious.

  - Link to King James and witchcraft

  
  

  SAID BY BRABANTIO
• "Sooty bosom"

  - Implies that Othello's colour makes him dirty.

  - Could be seen as dirty morally and physically - taints our view of him.

  - Brabantio's main objection is Othello's race and the unnatural marriage.

  - A victim of racism

  
  

  SAID BY BRABANTIO
• "Thing"

  - Othello is referred to as a "thing" - object-like, as if his life has no worth and therefore can be dehumanised and mistreated by the characters of the play.

  - Perhaps anticipates and reflects the inhumane treatment from Iago that Othello is a victim of. Iago mercilessly abuses Othello as if he is not human and shows no empathy for the suffering he brings to Othello.

  - He is dehumanised throughout the play.

  
  

  SAID BY BRABANTIO
• "Thou hast practised on her with foul charms, abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals."

  - Contrasts Desdemona's innocence with Othello's cruel 'behaviour' because of his use of 'foul charms'. In comparing Desdemona with Othello, Shakespeare contrasts the differing characteristics and nature of the two, victimising Desdemona and portraying Othello as the devil. This arguably forms our view for the rest of the play where we can't help but see Desdemona be a victim and Othello being the one to cause her downfall.

  - Foreshadows later in the play when the power dynamic begins to reflect the one thought to exist at the beginning; Othello having control over Desdemona and her being innocent but suffering at the faults of a cruel man - portraying her Jesus-like.

  - References to Jacobean stereotype and misconception that black people were associated with witchcraft.

  - "Abused": presents him as violent; foreshadows the end of the play but not reflective of his true nature at the beginning of the play. Kind of comedic - parents read people better than their own children??

  
  

  SAID BY
• "Spells and medicine"

  "Sans witchcraft could not"

  "mixtures powerful over the blood"

  - Brabantio referring to the unnatural nature of the relationship/marriage; they could not have fallen in love with each other without witchcraft.

  - Brabantio is in denial that his daughter fell in love with Othello because their marriage is uncommon, therefore, he believes that his daughter must have been subject to witchcraft.

  - Some Shakespearean audience would support Brabantio's view especially considering the fact that a black and white woman being married is not the norm, therefore, there has to be an explanation for why their marriage went ahead. As Desdemona is white, she cannot be blamed for the marriage. The next best reason will be Desdemona as a victim of Othello's witchcraft.

  - Link to the view of black people associated with witches

  - Portrays Othello as not being human

  - We kind of begin to despise Othello because of how their marriage is presented by others. Their marriage is presented as one-sided, one that Desdemona did not consent to.
• "She loved me for the dangers I had passed ... this is the only witchcraft I have used"

  - At the start of the play, Othello uses his race and his 'otherness' as a positive quality. When Brabantio accuses him of using 'witchcraft' on Desdemona, he responds, eloquently, recognising that his exotic history, his dangers and his observance of cannibals is what made him Desdemona love him.

  - One of the dangers he had passed was the 'cannibals'. By painting himself as an observer of the 'cannibals', he distances himself from the uncivilised cultures that he describes, trying to make people view him as a civilised character; a respectable one that is well-educated and not a danger.

  
  

  SAID BY OTHELLO
• "I saw Othello's visage in his mind"


  - Desdemona overlooks Othello's colour by saying that his face was transformed because of his "honours and his valiant parts".

  - Although Desdemona fell in love with Othello's exotic history, she feels a need to defend her decision and his race, which suggests that his race is a weakness.

  - She arguably romanticises his race - a bad omen for the relationship as she should be aware of the dangers that come with marrying a black man; she is ignorant to the idea that her relationship may not work because he is black.

  - She should have arguably had a more realistic view about Othello, acknowledging his race and how it could impact their relationship.

  - By overlooking his race it can be argued that she is ashamed of his blackness?

  
  

  SAID BY DESDEMONA
• "Your son is far more fair than black"

  - Othello is well-respected in the military, especially by the Duke.

  - By suggesting that Othello has the morals of a "fair" or white person, he implies that if he was "black", he would be inferior and less virtuous.

  - Critic: The Duke may be implying that Othello is a white man with black skin.

  - Some may argue that the Duke only has this view of Othello because he needs to serve in the Cyprus war against the Turks and that he is only accepted when he benefits the society. Arguably, if the play would have been set away from the worries of a war emerging, the Duke may have had a similar view of Othello just as the other Venetians.

  - The view that Othello is only accepted in society because of his role as a general; other than that, he would be no one and he would be targeted for his race constantly.

  - Even the characters who care for Othello see his race as a bad thing, which needs to be compensated for by his good qualities.

  - Raises the question of whether Othello would have been a
• "Devil"


  - Othello's darkness is paralleled with the Devil's.

  - Back in the day it was said that black people were immoral and given from the devil to cause disasters in society.

  - They were seen as a way to hell.

  - Makes us fear him; portrays him as danger. Foreshadow - him as a danger to Desdemona?

  
  

  SAID BY IAGO
• "Manners and beauties, all which the moor is defective in"


  - Focuses on the idea of superiority again; black vs white; white is morally and physically superior

  - Naturally, Othello is full of flaws because of his blackness

  - Through his words, Iago is able to make Othello insecure of his race too. Although these words are hidden from him initially, the more there is a focus on his race, the more he comes to the realisation that his race is a threat to his existence - especially his marriage.

  - "Defective", almost has a "defect" or "fault" like an object

  - His blackness is seen as a "defect" - almost seen as abnormal and inhuman.

  
  

  SAID BY IAGO
• "If she would have been blessed she would never have loved the Moor."

  - Not directly racist but portrays Othello as a character who makes Desdemona sin by implying that if she would have been saintly, she would not have married him.

  - It presents Othello as a subhuman; Iago holds the view that it is wrong to interact with a black person, let alone love one.

  - Othello is not worthy of love - one of the reasons as to why Iago thinks he has permission to ruin their relationship.

  
  

  SAID BY IAGO
• "I do suspect that lusty moor hath leaped into my seat"

  - Again, reducing Othello to his race and the connotations that come along with it; black people being lecherous and animalistic, uncivilised.

  - This was said in Act 2, Scene 1. By re-focusing on Othello's race and his sexual desires, it is as if Iago has nothing else to say about Othello that is bad. He just targets and brings down Othello for his race and the stereotypes associated with them.

  - He uses Othello's race as a justification for his plans; although there is no concrete evidence that Othello was 'the other man'.

  - Some audience may agree with Iago and may feel that his anger is justifiable. Why should a black man be given such power to ruin a relationship?

  
  

  SAID BY IAGO
• "Her name that was fresh as Dian's visage is now begrimed and black as mine own face."


  - Iago's persuasive techniques and racist attitudes start to infect Othello's view of himself and he views his race in a negative light.

  - Not only is Othello manipulated in the sense that he is now a jealous character driven by violence and cannot control his thoughts, he is also manipulated by Iago in thinking that being black is a flaw.

  - He is insecure within himself and is losing the position of authority he had at the very beginning when he believed that being black comes with positives, such as attracting Desdemona. He was initially romanticising the inter-racial marriage, and now, he despises it. He comes to terms that it may not work, foreshadowing the downfall of their relationship.

  - When Othello suspects Desdemona, he talks about her actions as if they reflect his race - he presents his race as dirt and promoting evil.

  - He finally comes to terms with his inferior standing in society.

  - Ultimately, he is a victim of everyone's racism - even his.

  - He has internalised the racism.
• "Give me your hand. This hand is moist my lady."

  - We begin to see Othello adopt the stereotypes of black people during Shakespearean times; the belief that black people are witches and are unnatural human beings.

  - By palm reading, he adopts witchcraft techniques. However, this is slightly ironic. He is not the first character in the play to use techniques of witchcraft - IAGO is, when he wants to "poison" Brabantio.

  
  

  SAID BY OTHELLO
• "O, the more angel she and you the blacker devil" "Thou art a devil"


  - Appearance vs Reality; Arguably Emilia's true nature comes out as well as she no longer internalises her racism towards Othello? She too was influenced and tainted by Iago's racism; goes to show that racism is a common theme throughout the play and it occurs in the minds of most of the characters of the play.

  - The juxtaposition between the white angel and the "blacker devil" incriminates Othello and heightens the tragedy as it portrays Desdemona as an innocent woman wronged by an evil man.

  - Perhaps Iago and all the other characters were right that their relationship is unnatural and it would never work.

  - Repetition of "devil" implies Othello is inhumane; Aristotle's idea of a tragic hero that we like him initially then we begin to dislike him as he blunders.

  - "Thou art a devil" - Emilia overtly focuses on Othello's race, further making him insecure.

  
  

  SAID BY EMILIA
• "Cursed, cursed, slave"

  - Othello is insecure about his race. However, this insecurity only comes out as soon as he loses his wife.

  - It can be argued that Shakespeare structures the play like this to deliberately send off the message that Desdemona romanticised Othello's race to the point that he forgot he was black, and tried to assimilate himself to his white peers.

  - After Desdemona dies, and he realises his mistake, he condemns himself for his race, arguably substantiating Iago's view that black people are 'faulty' and cannot be considered human because of the nature of their mistakes.

  - Othello himself realises his race is a threat and caused him to make such a mistake.

  
  

  SAID BY OTHELLO