Race in Othello

Race in Othello

1. Did Shakespeare intend for Othello to be a black moor or a tawny moor?

   • Does it matter?
   • The Black Moor: Emilia sees Othello as a 'blacker devil', to Roderigo her is of 'blacker lip' and to Iago he is an 'old black ram', however these might just be a hyperbole for a man who is only slightly darker than the Venetians.
   • The Tawny Moor: We see that Brabantio assures Othello that he is 'far more fair than black' - this might be read figuratively though. This is just one example of where we see that it could purely mean 'dark complexion', not necessarily black. This view might change the focus of the reading away from race but instead, reinforce the rascist attitudes towards darker Africans.

2. Blackness and beastiality are used together - giving black people an animal imagery/saying they behave like animals.

   • 'Your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs' is one example.

3. A relationship between a white person (Desdemona) and a black person (Othello) defines nature.

   • Witchcraft must have been used.

4. Roderigo sees black men as inferior in comparison with white men - slightly devilish.

   • Iago reinforces the devilishness - 'when devils will their blackest sins put on.
   • Iago, Roderigo and Brabantio share the same viewpoints on racism whereas Desdemona doesn't subscribe to the same ideas of racism.

5. Act three is where we see the climax of the racism.

   • Iago tells Desdemona that sooner or later, she will look at Othello and realise she made a mistake.
     • We see Othello talk about his own race and he questions himself to wheter he is good enough- 'My name, that was as fresh as Dian's visage, is now begrimed and black as mine own face'.

6. When the skin colour white is spoken about,it is referred to perfection and beauty - shows that they believe white people are better.

   • Emilia says: 'O, the more angel she, and you the blacker devil!' - this is referring to the colour white being clean, pure, virginal and perfect whereas the colour black equals dirty, evil and devilish.
     • Is shakespeare replicating or challenging this discourse?

7. The Duke is the only one to accept Othello into the world of Vencie, even though he is black - he is willing to look past race.

8. Shakespeare creates a world where race and its importance is contested

9. Race is a central concern for the play.

   • The play both reflects the racial ideologies of the period and challenges them - because of all the racism, Othello is a strong, noble character.
   • How we conceive of race in the play has implications for the meaning we make of it and how it is performed. For example, is we see Othello as lighter skinned rather than dark, we may have a different view of him and the whole play.