... skin that is vividly dark, but I am not visually familiar with the Moors, so any nuances that might be given through that are wasted upon me. Othello is described as "black" rather than "brown" by many of the characters in the play. This could be a symbolic technique employed by Shakespeare rather than a specific trait of Othello's. If a woman's skin is described ... as white rather than peach or olive, a sense of purity is associated with the description. It is possible that Shakespeare's use of the word black could have simply been a literary tool within the character of Othello. Inst...

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... Shakespeare also uses juxtaposing colors through the use of animal imagery and racial slurs to show racial difference and illustrate the issue of race. As a black moor in a society of Venetians, Othello is subjected to racism stemming from three main sources. Prejudices held by the Venetian society as a whole ... marrying Desdemona, ""my daughter is not for thee". But as soon as he finds out the Desdemona has married the "black" Othello he has a sudden change of mind. This illustrates the large racial prejudice in the Venetian society, demonstrating that racial marriage is ... a constan...

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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... I say!" (1.1.90-94). In this quote Iago reveals Brabantio's daughters secret marriage. He purposely emphasizes the fact that Desdemona's lover is indeed a black man. Black men have a hypersexual animalistic reputation if they married a white woman. He acts as if telling Brabantio about this marriage is crucial to life. Iago reveals ... is telling him is not fully true. He would rather believe that his daughter is bewitched than the fact that she would be interested in a black man. Othello and Brabantio clearly had a very great relationship as Othello says, "Her father loved me, oft invi...

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... suggest that this is a racial play, racism does not actually control the play, even though it has a racist theme that is the romantic union of a black man and a white woman. This theme takes precedence over the entire play and sets up what is one of Shakespeare's most controversial works of the time. ... love, and whom he does not see as an equal to himself. This racial tension is rooted from the fact that his daughter is wife to a black man, which again goes along with the time period. Unlike Iago and Roderigo, Brabantio will openly make racist comments about Othello to his face such as...

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... of the play's most important messages that stereotypes placed on people are not always true. Shakespeare poses Othello as a model citizen and gives Iago the qualities of a typical black man. Although Othello is black, he is able to overcome the typical presentation of being a corrupt person. He is one of Shakespeare's most romantic heroes. This is partly due to the strange life ... he perceives to be the right thing. Othello's nobility and misconceptions are obvious when analyzing his character. It is a prominent misconception that most whites possess higher moral values than their blac...

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... many other references to Othello's color and race. Desdemona's father, Brabantio, is appalled to learn that his daughter is having a relationship with a "sooty bosom" (2.3.27). Emilia refers to Othello as a black devil (5.2.132). This scene does not suggest that Emilia is racist in any way. She most likely was angry with Othello because he had just killed his innocent bride. However ... references, Othello would most likely be portrayed as an African on modern stage. It is interesting to examine whether Iago and other support characters see Othello as a "noble lord" or a "black devil." ...

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... to his relationship with Desdemona. While the Venetians do not appear to have any issue with having a black high ranking soldier, some do appear to have an issue with a white woman marrying a black man. In Othello, Iago and Roderigo go to Brabantio to explain that Othello has stolen his daughter, ... mountebanks, For nature so prepost'rously to err" (1.3.61-62) to convince him that their relationship is against nature. Since Othello is black Brabantio thinks it is against nature for them to even be together and reiterates it saying to the Duke and Senator, "Against all rules ... driven T...

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... the monochromatic nature of the film highlights the racial prejudice existing in society. Although Welles" film presents a resistant reading of the text, the black and white contrast depicts to some extent, the "binary oppositions" that are evident in the play. Feminist criticism is the way that gender assumptions, ... Othello has evidence of subtle racial prejudice, which allows a post-colonial reading to be made from it encompassing racism and an ideology of "black" people. Othello is regarded and well respected in Venetian society, but only as a soldier. The binary oppositions of ligh...

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... undeniable trust in Desdemona's loyalty. However, from this dispute, an uneasiness in Othello slowly surfaces as he begins to subconsciously accept something he's been avoiding in his mind: that being black would cause Desdemona to be unfaithful. Othello's origin and race were neither faulty nor insignificant in his life as a warrior until he was cunningly forced to question himself. In selections ... same time as Othello, Africanus describes blacks as "shepherds that liue a miserable, toilsome, wretched and beggarly life: they are a rude people, borne of brutish manners " (Africanus, 2)...

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• Grade Level: High School

... metaphor, compares Desdemona to a pearl whom he has thrown away. This is one of many times where she is referred to as a priceless jewel. Throughout the play, the contrast between black and white is also used as a metaphor for the difference between Othello and the Venetian society. Several references to Othello as "an old ... black ram" and "far more fair than black" indicate that even though he holds the distinguished position of a general, the fact that he is black still makes him the 'outsider'. Through the use of imagery and metaphors, Shakespeare is able to generate a considerable...

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... such a thing if she was under a spell, and only did it out of fear. Only out of witchcraft could a young Venetian maiden fall in love with a black man. "If she in chains of magic were not bound... Would ever have, t"incur a general mock Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom Of such a ... ? of fear, not to delight" Racism plays a large part of the opinions of many of the characters. Brabantio does not approve of his daughter loving a black man, and is convinced this could not happen naturally. Iago uses this to play on Brabantio's feelings towards the marriage and to act out his plan. ...

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... Roderigo, and Brabantio, the three "bad guys" of the play. They also exhibit their racism by using phrases like "thick lips" (1-1, line 71), "an old black ram is tupping your white ewe" (1-1, line 97), and "your daughter covered with a Barbary horse" (1-1, line 125). Obviously these are very racist expressions and ... confrontation between them and Othello. The Duke describes Othello to Brabantio when he says "If virtue no delighted beauty lack, your son in law is far more fair than black" (1-3, lines 330-331). Desdemona says of Othello "you"ll never meet a more sufficient man" (3-4, lin...

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... emphasis this theme of racism and how it was affected by the context of the texts is the use of animal symbolism. In Othello, Othello is referred to as a "black ramtupping your white ewe". This language technique heavily emphasises the bestiality view that many Venetians held on 'Moors' at the time. They believed that Moors were dangerous and ... Venetian community, causing a sense of isolation for Othello. This use of animal symbolism is further explored in Tim Blake Nelsons O where, evident by accompanying close ups, Odin is referred to a black hawk, and the white society of the ...

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... and on the consistency of how Othello's character was viewed by other characters in the production. The movie O was a more modernized remake version of Shakespeare's Othello. The concept of a black guy being the main character stayed the same but The relationship between Othello and Iago's characters was interpreted differently in the two films. In O, Iago's character, Hugo, did not have ... sync with the original play. One major consistency between the two plays is how Othello's character is viewed by the other characters of the production. In both interpretations, Othello's character, ...

• Word Count: 337
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... point he has not clearly formulated his plan yet, he takes a stab at Othello's happiness by informing Desdemona's father that she has run off with Othello and that "an old black ram/Is tupping your white ewe" (I.i.97-98). He attempts to use racism to make people fear and hate Othello like he does. But this does not turn out as ... Othello and Emilia. But these reasons are used to hide Iago's feelings of inferiority to Othello and Cassio. Iago is resentful of Othello's status and power especially because he is black. Iago's racism towards Othello is apparent throughout the play. He is co...

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... and that it may only be one side of the story were being told. The imagery used paints a vivid picture in your mind. "Even now, now, very now, and old black ram is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise! " From Iago's point of view (which is all we have at this moment in time) were not sure about how Othello will ... present himself when he finally makes an appearance. We know that he is black while the rest around him are white. When Rodreigo tells Brabantio of his daughter's (Desdemona's) marriage to the Moor, we again aren't sure how he will react or what he ... the book and throughou...

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... lead to believe from Iago's race related description that Othello is a threatening and evil moor, whose beastial sexual appetite, conveyed by Iago's cries to Brabantio, telling him that "an old black ram is tupping" his "white ewe" (1.1.89), is something of a rapist. Iago's coarse animal related language conveys Iago's feelings against Othello's marriage in a much more pronounced way. The image of ... an "old black ram" gives the audience nothing but negative images of Othello, especially when this "old black ram" is being associated with the innocence of a "white ewe". Iago then associ...

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... . His fall was from happiness and love, to unhappiness and distrust. He was superior over every other man as a heroic soldier and he was very well respected by everyone. Othello, a black Moor, has spent his life as a soldier and become a general in the army of Venice, Italy. He was a citizen who was respected and had a good reputation. He was a jealous man ... Cassio. This poisonous feeling turns Othello into a mad man and he strikes his wife. Othello then began to say that he believes that Desdemona is cheating directly. Othello uses his black skin as a symbol for how poorly spoken and ...

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... of one's reputation and demonstrates the impact it can have on an individual. Shakespeare further showcases the supremacy of honour, by challenging the stereotype that white is good and black is evil. Othello, a black man, is unexpectedly characterised as righteous by Desdemona, "I saw Othello's visage in his mind, and to his honour and his valiant parts", illustrating the influence of ... ...

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... ;to Iago, the world and other people exist for him only to be used' (The Noble Moor, 1955). Through the way Brabantio's complete faith in Iago's bestial imagery 'old black ram is tupping your white ewe' allows him to accuse Othello of 'thou practiced on her with foul charmsdrugs or minerals', Shakespeare indicates how mendacity undermines Othello's innocent love ... of the qualities of eligible European suitors such as 'clime, complexion and degree'. Soon, Othello's pride is cast away, as evident in the imagery in 'haply for I am black...I had rather be a toad and liv...

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... mistakenly continues to let his blind jealousy affect his mind before analyzing the facts with reason. Unfortunately, this conflict also made Othello internalize the prejudices of people surrounded him, that a black man could never be truly loved by someone like Desdemona. Furthermore, these two examples of imagery give a deep meaning to the theme and outcome of the tragedy. The evilness of ... the situation with reasonability. Gray believes that due to his state of dread Othello also took the discrimination of others into himself. Likely, the hatred caused him to believe that a black m...

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... hatred he feels towards Othello. Both Iago and Roderigo's xenophobic attitudes are flagrantly seen in the text. They constantly make demeaning comments about his appearance calling him an "old black ram", "thick lips" and telling Brabantio that his grandchildren will be beasts and have "coursers for cousins" as a result of Desdemona's marriage to Othello. Roderigo ... deprives him of the smoothness of Venetian men, and is privy to feelings of insecurity, after the doubt of Desdemona infidelity builds in his mind. He says "Haply, for I am black And have not those soft parts of conversa...

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... not until Act 1, Scene 3 that Othello is actually referred to by his name instead of by such derogatory nicknames as ˜thick lips', ˜the Moor' or ˜an old black ram'. While Othello is an able and confident general and leader of men on the battlefield, inwardly it would appear that Othello has internalized all of the racist comments that ... " (3.3.230-33). These comments are constantly fed to him throughout the play, taking advantage of his insecurities and making him question Desdemona's love for him even more, "Haply, for I am black And have not those soft parts of conversation or fo...

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... that makes it popular. The play Othello has succeeded in achieving that. Among the main themes is racism. Othello, the title character, was a Moorish general serving the Venetian government. Being a black, he was subjected to so many different forms of discrimination and hatred by others around him. Iago who was his ensign was probably the worst racist in the play " ... ;old black ram tupping your ewe" to Brabantio, "thick lips" and he describes Othello as a "Barbary horse." While racism may not be as prominent, it still exists. Through ... ...

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... author talks about how people show their racism element in the play. People in the play including Iago calls Othello as "the moor", which is the meaning of negro or black. They use the color of a person to define Othello's status and that he does not deserve his position. This can support my point of saying that one reason Iago frame ... . Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. A literary criticism of the book "Othello," by William Shakespeare is presented. It explores on the skin color of the character Othello which is black relative to his image as a hero. It explains the meaning ...

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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School