Race in Othello

Race in Othello

1. Race

   • Original Attitudes in Renaissance England - Jacobean/Elizabethan plays
     • Sub-Saharan Africans - 'Blackmoors'
       • "theft, violence, villainous"
     • Arab Africans - 'Tawny Moors'
       • "most honest"/"valuable"
     • there was a racist ideology shared within society
       • in 1596 Queen Elizabeth tried to get all immigrants/black people expelled from her country
     • produced a very villainous image of black men
   • Shakespeare was surrounded by social attitudes in London where he lived
     • also had the experience of the function of court and royalty - performed plays for King James
     • his plays centrally concern race and challenge the audiences opinions upon it
     • Shakespeare only strongly implied Othello was actually to be played by a black actor ("an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe."/"is now begrimed and black As mine own face")
       • all the quotations and references to Othello being black/dark skinned are ambiguous
       • Desdemona doesn't follow the racist ideology, neither does the Duke
       • Shakespeare could just be meaning a hyperbolic representation of his slightly darker complextion

2. Religious divisions (between Christians and Turks)

   • During the time period when Shakespeare wrote and produced Othello, London was a home to many different races inclding black moors
   • Christians were often defensive of their religion
   • Moors were seen as "religious outsiders"
   • at the time, stereotypically, white=clean, pure, virginal and black=dirty, evil, discourse.
     • Shakespeare is either replicating this common racist discourse OR challenging it

3. Women's (limited) rights

   • During 19th Century, women were still regarded as lesser to men. They were treated as possesions of man and had little choice within hoe they were treated especially in marriage.
     • Desdemona contrasts this sexist social expectaion by defying her fathers trust and marrying Othello - a black moor.
       • Emilia follows the social expectation (Othello refuses to acknowledge her explanation and warning not to kill Desdemona) Also she follows orders from her husband to pick up Desdemona's hankerchief.
   • Desdemona is high up within social hierarchy
     • Brobantio gives her power, although is his 'property' as a daughter
       • disobeying his trust - marrying Othello without his permission or knowledge shows great rebellion - implies true love/lust

4. Customs in the Theatre

   • Othello's character has had numerous controversial points made about his race throughout different productions.
     • was first played by a black actor in 1833
       • this became a dominant theme in 20th century
   • actors often painted faces black instead of being played by a black actor - mockery of race
   • changes in the race of Othello's character (Arab/Black) alters the racist ideology and changes how the meanings of the play are percieved to the audience.
   • In 1965 - Olivier - race affected his pronunciation of English language - criticised for being "poorly conceived"