Race And Gender Inequality In Othello

Throughout history, endured many hardships due to hateful crimes. For example, the Nazis, during Hitler’s reign, terrorized the Jews because of their beliefs. White supremacists during the Civil Rights movement beat African Americans physically and mentally. In the late eighteenth century, women were also targeted when they desired the right to vote. Whether because of religion, race, or gender, minorities experience inequality in most aspects of life. The Shakespearean play Othello highlights the injustices of several minority characters. Throughout the play, many attacks against minorities ultimately result in destruction and tragedy. Specifically, Othello and Desdemona suffer as a result of racial and gender prejudice.
The unaccepting world creates inevitable racial tension and prejudice. This plays a crucial role in Othello’s life. As a racial minority, Othello greatly suffers. Early in the play, Iago makes known to Brabantio that Othello, a black man, is violating his daughter, a white woman. Iago declares, …show more content…
The death of Desdemona at the hands of Othello is the end result of many attacks against character and skin color. Meredith Skura writes that this play is a play about prejudice. Her comment is absolutely accurate because the driving force behind the devastation is prejudice against both race and gender. One of the outcomes is Othello’s mistrust of his wife. Emilia shouts, “Thou art rash as fire to say that she was false. O, she was heavenly true! (Shakespeare V.ii.119). He did not believe and trust his wife, which eventually led him to kill her. Another outcome was the death of Othello. He internalized the racism and negativity of others which in turn clouded his judgement. Ultimately, his rash actions killed his one true friend and himself. This tragedy only occurred because of predisposed prejudices and actions based on those hateful