Othello & Racism Essay

In Shakespeares embolden Othello the main personality is Iago, although the plays protagonist, at least during some points of the play is Othello. This paper leave behind seek to try the roles of Victorian stereotypes in the destruction of Othellos character peculiarly in the hoodwinking qualities of Iago in splitting up Desdemona and Othello The jump scene of the play is descend in the streets of Venice where Roderigo and Iago are in stocky disagreement with what is later(prenominal) revealed to be a plot to destroy Othellos conglutination to Desdemona.Othello is the object of hatred of both Roderigo and Iago, as Iago states, Your heart is burst, you have lost half(prenominal) your soul Even now, now, genuinely now, an aged black ram Is topping your uninfected ewe. (Shakespeare I, I 97-9) Roderigo is especially racist toward Othello in the company of Iago, as Orkin states, Roderigo too is trained at racist insultand go upon the racist stereotype of lust-ridden black universe when he calls to Brabantino that his daughter has given himself to the staring(a) clasps of a lascivious tie down (Shakespeare I. i. 126, Orkin 168).The vile scheme is two-fold one, to break up the spousal of Othello and Desdemona so that Roderigo can woo Desdemona and finally make her fall in recognise with him, two, that Iago can finally have his avenge on Othello. Iago suspects that Othello has slept with his wife genus Emilia and he detests Othello for passing him over for a progress that he felt he deserved more than the less experienced soldier Michael Cassio. In the first few scenes of the play, Othellos name is never mentioned, emphasizing the closeness in Roderigo and Iagos dealings.Instead, Othello is referred to as the Moor and descriptive phrases such as broad lips, a Barbary horse are employ to refer to Othellos person, which emphasizes Victorian stereotypes of the African race. While alone with Othello, Iago implies the possibility that Desdemo na is having an office with Cassio. Iago manages to persuade Othello to doubt Desdemonas subjection and love for him. He tells Othello to closely examine his wifes actions when she is with Cassio, as Othello states, She love me for the dangers I had passd, And I love her that she did pity them.This only is the witchcraft I have used Here comes the madam let her witness it.. (Shakespeare I, iii193-6). Othellos first gift to Desdemona was a handkerchief, which is a very Victorian gift to give to a lady. This supposedly trivial object later becomes the piece of evidence that Iago uses to destroy Othellos marriage, and as Othello laments at the close of the play, I had been happy, if the general camp, Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body, So I had nothing known. O, now, for ever word of farewell the motionless mind farewell contentFarewell the plumed troop, and the big wars, That make dreaming virtue O, farewell Farewell the neighing steed, and the fricative trump, The spir it-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife, The royal banner, and all quality, Pride, pomp and condition of glorious war And, O you baneful engines, whose rude throats The immortal Joves dead(a) clamours counterfeit, Farewell Othellos occupations gone. (Shakespeare III, iii, 397-409). One evening, as Desdemona and Emilia inform Othello that dinner is ready, Othello complains of a headache. Desdemona immediately offers her handkerchief to bind his head to scavenge the pain.Othello comments that the handkerchief is too small and pushes it away. Desdemona inadvertently loses grip of the handkerchief as she and Othello crack out of the room. Emilia picks up the handkerchief, remember that Iago had asked her a number of times to drop off it, she is delighted at the prospect of surprise her husband. At the same time as Iago was to plant Desdemonas handkerchief in Cassios room, Othello who discovers his plot is infuriated and ex adopts that hed rather witness delusion first hand than assume unfaithfulness without conclusive evidence.At this point, Iago, ever the manipulator, manages to constitute his way again by fabricating some other story that Cassio once called out Desdemonas name in his sleep and that Cassio acted as if he were kissing Desdemona. Iago reinforced his claim by claiming to have seen Cassio wipe his whiskers with the handkerchief. This enrages Othello and he vows to seek revenge on Cassio and Desdemona for the alleged infidelity. Once again, Iago succeeds and even manages to vex promoted to lieutenant.In the play, Desdemonas handkerchief is the emblem of faithfulness and later in the play the symbol of truth. It is the handkerchief which symbolizes Othellos incorporation of Victorian mores into his character which allow him to bank Iagos tripe about Desdemonas infedelity, and which ultimately leads to his downfall, his loss of love, and his shame. Work Cited Greenblatt, Stephen, et al. , eds. The Norton Shakespeare. sweet York W. W. No rton, 1997. Orkin, Martin. Othello and the Plain Face of Racism. Shakespeare Quarterly. Vol. 38, No. 2. (Summer 1987). Pp. 166-188.