8/2/2019 newothello1

1/3

For a literary piece that is roughly four hundred years old, Othello as a tragedy still

captivates the modern audience with gripping strength. To better understand how

Shakespeare has managed to create such a masterpiece that evokes such fundamental

emotions that can survive the cultural differences of four hundred years of history, we as an

audience must analyze the characters, and understand how we continue to identify with.

Othello is a Black soldier, whose hardworking nature and historically exotic skin color

caused him to be noticed and thus promoted to greater ranks and achievements. As his rank

rises to a Venetian general, his responsibilities grow to the point where he has significant

influence in upper society as well as the capacity to appoint various aides and officers. Due

to his influence, other characters in the setting often vie for his attention or are scheming to

reduce his power. With this in mind, Shakespeare introduces the play with Iago and

Roderigo, two characters that both are racist against Othello. With these supporting

characters in place, the major theme of racism is in place.

Othello typifies the Hero archetype, a fighter who is hardworking, respected, and famous.

However, with the twist of his Black skin, I am black/ And have not those soft parts of

conversation/ That chamberers have, or for I am declined/ Into the vale of

years(A3.S3.L263-266), Othello develops an understanding that his skin color brings both

pros and cons. This manifests itself in a way where he prides the military attention it has

brought him my parts, my title, and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly.

(A1.S2.L33), but at the same time he is vulnerable to suggestions of ideas regarding to skin

color. His tremendous hubris, exemplified in this quote tis the plague of great ones;

8/2/2019 newothello1

2/3

Prerogatived are they less than the base (A3.S3.L278-279), shows that he tries to defend

his own ego as a great one of fine military accomplishment despite his belief in the

cuckolding status he bears

At the start of the story, Iago arrives at Barbantio's house in the middle of the night

to declare that Othello has casted a black magic spell on his daughter because it is not

possiabe for Desdemona a beautiful chaste women to fall in love with Othello, a barbaic

solider. This is the first indication that Othello's race was seen as unattractive.

Iago reffers to Othello as "thick-lips" (I.i.66) and also to an "an old black ram"

(I.i.88-89). Iago has no logical reason to hate Othello "the moor", Iago has imagined that

Othello is sleeping with his wife Emila. Because of his hate for Othello Iago manipulates

roderigo to convince him that Desdemona does not love Othello, instead she loves Cassio.

The best way to be with Desdemona is to elimiate Cassio.

With Roderigo collecting money, and plotting to kill Casio Iago's plans to destory Othello

quickly starts to manifest. Ill pour this pestilence into his ear (II.iii.330) Iago gets closer

to Othello, and tells lies to Othello questioning Desdemona's chastity. At the conclusion of

the story, Iago's plot to destory Othello resulted in Cassio being injured, Roderigo to die,

and for Desdemona and her servant Emila to be murdered.

Othello, is a shakespherian tragedy, which was created during the Elizabethan time period,

which was a time period in which African Americans were being imported into England,

literature at this time portrayed African Americans as evil. Shakesphere twisted the norm in

8/2/2019 newothello1

3/3

this time period, by portraying Othello, the african american as a hero while Iago a white

venetian soldier is represented as evil. Shakesphere wanted to change the typical roles,

because he viewed racism as a tragedy. In today's society, Racism is viewed as a social

injustice.