By giving the name of witchcraft to the love between Othello and Desdemona, Shakespeare is making an interesting statement, drawing a contrast, as it were, between coercive black sorcery and the communion of soul and body that the Greeks elegized as Eros. This delineation of two distinct kinds of magic is important, as we shall see. Essay Othello By William Shakespeare 's Othello. William Shakespeare’s Othello is a play that tackles the racial issues of the Elizabethan period without explicitly mentioning them. Shakespeare aims to go against the stereotypical views of black men and paint them in a good light, one that his audience is not used to.
Iago uses racist slurs when he wakens Brabantio with thenews that his daughter, Desdemona (a white Venetian), has eloped withOthello (an older, black man). When Iago says an 'old black ram'(Othello) is 'tupping' (sleeping with) Brabantio's 'white ewe'(Desdemona), he plays on Elizabethan notions that black men have ananimal-like, hyper-sexuality. This seems geared at manipulatingBrabantio's fears of miscegenation (when a couple 'mixes races' throughmarriage and/or sex).History Snack: It's also important to notethat, although Othello is probably a Christian, Iago calls him 'thedevil,' playing on a sixteenth century idea that black men were evil andthat the devil often took the shape and form of a black man. Check outwhat Reginald Scott had to say in his famous 1584 book, The Discovery of Witchcraft:'Bodin alloweth the divell the shape of a black moore, and as he saith,he used to appear to Mawd Cruse, Kate Darey, and Jon Harviller.' (Later, it's no surprise that Brabantio will accuse Othello of usingblack magic to woo Desdemona.). We've seen how Iago uses animal imagery in his racistdiatribe against Othello, which is grounded in the idea that black men(and women) are inhuman. Here, Brabantio objects to Iago'smiddle-of-the-night assertions that Desdemona has eloped by saying hishouse isn't a 'grange' (a farm or a farmhouse).
Iago takes theopportunity to pun on the term 'grange,' as he claims that Desdemona ishaving sex with a 'barbary horse' and, as a result, Brabantio will haverelatives that 'neigh to him.' Desdemona and Othello, he says, are'making the beast with two backs' (in other words, humping,like camels).
This isn't the first time Iago has implied that Othello'sanimal-like sexuality corrupts Desdemona. Compare this to 1.1.106-113above. Desdemona's father argues that her love for Othello isunnatural, since, according to him, Desdemona would never fall for ablack man who she 'fear'd to look on.' Of course, Brabantio couldn't bemore wrong about his daughter – Desdemona is in love Othello.It seems that Iago has played Brabantio perfectly. Iago knew thatBrabantio was racist and, as previous passages demonstrate, he usedBrabantio's attitude toward the idea of a mixed marriage in order torile the man against Othello.
Brabantio repeatedly insists that Othellomust have 'enchanted' Desdemona with 'foul charms' and magic spells.Otherwise, he insists, Desdemona never would never have run 'to thesooty bosom' of Othello (1.2.70). Peoplediscriminate for many different reasons: fear, envy, the desire forpower, or a need to disassociate themselves from others. They can, thus,use someone's skin color (an innate trait that cannot be altered) toexpress their hatred.Othello, in Shakespeare’s play Othello, is a happily marriedand widely respected general in the Venetian army despite his Africanheritage. In the beginning of the story, Othello has not, as yet,experienced discrimination. However, Iago succeeds in bringing about theruin of Othello and his wife Desdemona by revealing to Othello theexistence of racist ideas and convincing him that he must act outagainst the individuals supposedly harboring racist-fueled resentment.Through Iago’s manipulation of Othello and others, his claim comes topass. In the end, people use the color of Othello's skin to condemn hiserratic behavior.
And by his believing that racism exists, Othello alsocreates it. Othellois an African prince, born into privilege and royalty. He claims, “Ifetch my life and being/From men of royal siege.” (III.iii. Heleft his native homeland and his life of guaranteed luxury to live amongwhite Europeans and be free of the innate obligations of royalty. Inhis new home, his only obligations are to people he himself has chosento serve: the Venetian government and his wife Desdemona.
Even in thisposition as general, Othello still experiences freedom since he canretire at his leisure, and he tells Iago:But that I love the gentle Desdemona,I would not my unhoused free conditionPut into circumscription and confineFor the sea’s worth (I.ii.27-28).This statement suggests that if he had not met Desdemona, Othellowould have continued to live life in a “free condition” withoutmatrimonial commitments that “put into circumscription and confine” hisfreedom.Othello delights in and experiences the ultimate freedom to do as hepleases. He is free to make the choices that ultimately affect his life,and enjoys his self-made position. The color of his skin has notprevented him from achieving a high rank in society and exercising thepower and freedom such a position entails.
Theseachievements have earned Othello the respect and admiration of thosearound him with the exception of a resentful few, including Iago andRoderigo. Iago hates Othello because he appointed the inexperiencedCassio as his lieutenant instead of Iago, who instead became his“ancient.” Iago enacts his revenge upon Othello by manipulatingRoderigo, who desires Othello’s wife Desdemona.
Roderigo expresses hisjealousy by calling Othello racial slurs: “What a full fortune does thethick-lips owe/If he can carry ‘t thus!” (I.i.65-66). Both men plot tobring an end to Othello’s marriage by telling Desdemona’s father,Brabantio, that Othello kidnapped her.They succeed in angering her father when they bring up the subject ofrace. Iago says to Brabantio, “An old black ram/Is tupping your whiteewe” (I.i.87-88). With this saying, Iago and Roderigo hint that Othelloand Desdemona’s future children will be half-breeds who will become theridicule of society and bring shame upon Brabantio. They continue bysaying, “You’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary/Horse; you’llhave your nephews neigh to you; you’ll have coursers for cousins andgennets for germans” (I.i.110-12).
Afraidthat such events would jeopardize his position as senator, Brabantioaccuses Othello of kidnapping and bewitching his daughter in a desperateattempt to retain his own power and honor in the eyes of society. Inhis defense, Othello points out that in the past Brabantio “lov’d me;oft invited me” (I.iii.128), showing that Brabantio was not racist anddid not discriminate against Othello until Iago's interference made himfeel it was in his best political interests to do so.Desdemona acquits Othello of any wrongdoing, and the Duke says toBrabantio: “If virtue no delighted beauty lack/Your son-in-law is farmore fair than black” (I.iii.288-89). The Duke tells Brabantio that heshould not put importance on Othello’s skin color, but on his virtuousdeeds and nature instead.
Othello,himself, is unaware of any existing racism or of the power of suchthoughtless hatred. He declares, “My parts, my title and my perfectsoul/Shall manifest me rightly” (I.ii.31-32). He does not believe thatdiscrimination can determine his guilt.
At first, this notion ofuniversal equality works against Iago’s claims that Desdemona ischeating on Othello because of his skin color. Othello confidentlydeclares, “Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw/The smallest fearor doubt of her revolt/For she had eyes, and chose me” (III.iii.187-89).However, he goes on to say, “And yet, how nature erring from itself—”(III.iii.228). This indicates that, perhaps deep down, Othello believesthat it is in Desdemona’s inherent nature to favor men of her own race.Iago draws upon Othello's doubt and says, “Her will, recoiling to herbetter judgment/May fall to match you with her country forms/and happilyrepent” (III.iii.226-28).
By saying this, Iago implies that Desdemonacompares Othello with other white Venetian men and regrets her marriage.Persuaded by Iago's words, Othello starts to believe that Desdemona ischeating on him because he is black.Left alone with these thoughts, Othello states “I’ld whistle her offand let her down the wind/To prey at fortune (III.iii.263-64). His wordssuggest that if Desdemona was proven false, he would cast her out ofhis household. However, after he brings up the issue of his own race andrecognizes how he is different from the rest of society, Othello lashesout in anger at Desdemona, the scapegoat for his overpowering sense ofself-loathing:Haply, for I am blackAnd have not those soft parts of conversationThat chamberers have, or for I am declin’dInto the vale of years (yet that’s not much)She’s gone. I am abus’d: and my reliefMust be to loathe her (III.iii.264-69)Othello does not just criticize Desdemona for her infidelity norcondemns her for her sins, but he, in a way, justifies her actions byassuming that his own race-related weaknesses motivated her to have anaffair with another man. This quote shows a change in Othello.
He beginsto hate Desdemona because he now believes that she cheated on himbecause of his race. He will not be content with just throwing her out,but is now consumed with loathing because he believes her cheating anddiscrimination has caused him to feel pain and inferiority. AsIago continues to supply Othello with 'proof' of Desdemona’s supposedinfidelity, Othello is further consumed with rage and jealousy.
WhenLodovico comes to deliver a letter to Othello, Desdemona makes a commentwhich Othello assumes is about her other lover, and he slaps her.Lodovico is shocked at this rash behavior, which is so out of character,and tells Othello: “My lord, this would not be believ’d inVenice/Though I should swear I saw ‘t; ‘til very much” (IV.i.225-26). Hegoes on to question Othello’s reputation after such an act, saying:Is this the noble Moor whom our full senateCall all in all sufficient?
Is this the natureWhom passion could not shake? Whose solid virtueThe shot of accident, nor dart of chance,Could neither graze nor pierce? (IV.i.245-49)Othello becomes even more rash when he calls Desdemona a whore, andEmilia, Iago’s wife, exclaims: “Here’s a change indeed!” (IV.ii.107).However, it is not until Othello commits the ultimate crime that hisskin color is held against him. They condemn his race because theystruggle to find a meaning for this sudden and seemingly unprovokedaction. WhenOthello murders his wife, it forces those who formerly respected andadmired him, and those who held him to be equal on all levels, to usehis skin color to explain his great misdeeds.
For example, Emilia callshim a “blacker devil!” (IV.ii.132). On the topic of Desdemona’s supposedinfidelity, Emilia states that Desdemona was true and “was too fond ofher most filthy bargain” (IV.iii.157), contemptuously referring toOthello in racist terms.
His race is now recognized and being utilizedby those who Othello alienated through his irrational actions. If he hadnot been prompted through jealousy and his own sense of self-loathing,Othello would continue to have been regarded in high esteem by the restof society. Othellohad previously lived a life free of racial discrimination, except forthose few who envied and resented him, or feared he would sabotage theirpowers. These few used his race as a means of bringing about hisdestruction. For the rest of society, he was considered a noble andvirtuous general, and his color was of little consequence.
However, whenOthello committed atrocious crimes because of his unfounded jealousy,those who had previously believed him to be admirable and good condemnedhim, not by criticing his character, but by criticizing hisdistinguishing racial characteristic: his color. Swansea and Ystradgynlais, Existential Pagan, United Kingdom Martyn Shrewsbury is a member of Momentum and a member of the Labour Party.He was the first Leader of the Wales Green party He is a Psychortherapist, a teacher of philosophy He is the Director at Asclepius Therapy Swansea. He is a political activist and a challenger of fixed Activist, Teacher, Philosopher Psychotherapist Ecosocialist Existential Jungian. A supporter of an independent Wales. Republican Neopagan. Blog All Too Human. He is an Executive member of Disability LabourThis Blog consists of my views only it has no connection to any political party or organisation.
If it offfends its doing its job, if it makes you think thats good. Theories are like clothes they wear out. He lives in Ystradgynlais with his partner Hayley and their dog Bramble.
You evil thief, where have you hidden my daughter? You devil,you’ve put a spell on her! Anybody with eyes could tellyou that a beautiful and happy young girl like her, who’srefused to marry all of the handsome young men of the city,wouldn’t run off with a black thing like you unlessshe’d been bewitched. You’re something tofear, not to love.
It’s obvious to everyone thatyou’ve tricked her, drugged her, or kidnapped her.That’s probably what happened, so I’marresting you.—Arrest this man as a practitioner of blackmagic. If he struggles, use force!OTHELLO.