Race In Othello Analysis

The concept of “Race” plays a very significant and critical role on Othello, the play in which Shakespeare tells the story of the “dark Moor” who eventually finds himself struggling against his jealousy in the midst of white society. The very beginning of the play may be considered illusory for a reader who is unfamiliar with Othello's character: in fact, many derogatory terms are used, especially by the villain Iago and his confederate Rodorigo, to define Othello. This would certainly lead the reader to believe that the entire story gravitates around a racist discrimination of Othello, since we are not given any description of the protagonist rather than his racial difference. Both Iago and Rodorigo often refer to Othello simply as “The Moor” …show more content…
Moreover, Iago goes further and exaggerates in his depiction of Othello by saying to Desdemona's father that he will have grandsons that would become some sort of hybrids (half-horse and half-man): this lines are absurd and frightening, and it would seem that the two characters try to diminish Othello's nature to that of an animal. It is interesting to notice in this case the genius of Shakespeare, who creates a character (Iago) who does not attempt to put Desdemona in a bad light in front of her father, rather he tries to demolish the reputation and notoriety of the Moor of Venice, a man apparently respected by all of his officers for his military triumphs. Another example which clearly shows the connection between the concept of race with that of animals is represented by Iago's description of the dangers of Desdemona's sexual union with Othello: he clearly states that their sexual union will form a “beast with two backs” (I.i.112). It is interesting to notice that Shakespeare does not seem to give the reader enough time to portray a clear puzzle about Othello's identity, rather he provides the reader with brutal and grotesque