2/25/2017 0 Comments Is Shakespeare Racist?Definition Racism is usually defined as discrimination or prejudice directed against someone of a different race based on such a belief. In William Shakespeare’s Othello, racism is certainly a huge theme featured throughout the play. Shakespeare makes many horrible jokes and critiques towards African Americans. So, after reading Othello one must wonder is Shakespeare a racist? From the very beginning of the play, race seems to be the main theme because Othello is black and Desdemona is white. There are many times when characters use openly racist language to describe Othello. Most names describe Othello as an animal or someone who is the “devil” (I.i.123). By using these names, Shakespeare is using unnecessary racial language in his play. Therefore, one has to believe he is racist.
In the beginning of the play we see Shakespeare’s character, Iago, use very brutal racial language. This is because Iago becomes jealous when Cassio is chosen to be Othello’s assistant. When Iago plans revenge on Othello, he decides to use Othello’s marriage as a target. Therefore, he tells Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, that “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” (I.i.97-98). By using this line Shakespeare critiques and jokes about how Othello, a black man, and Desdemona, a white woman, are having sex and how they shouldn’t be together. However, not only does Iago's line critique Othello's skin color and marriage, but it also is saying how Othello is an animal. There are many times in Shakespeare's play where Othello is described as an animal. He has been characterized as a "ram" (I.i.97), a "barbary horse" (I.i.125), and a "toad" (III.iii.311). When Shakespeare uses these names and racial slurs to describe Othello, he is dehumanizing and discriminating African Americans. Later once Brabantio discovers that Desdemona wasn’t forced, however willingly married Othello, he has suspicions. Brabantio believes that Othello used some type of “witchcraft” (I.iii.77) on her. This in fact is racist also because Brabantio is stating that it is impossible for his daughter to fall in love with the moor. He is also stating that a black man has nothing to give to a white woman – even a noble soldier such as Othello. By understanding Brabantio's thoughts, you can understand that he would rather have his daughter unmarried, than be with a black man, despite his military rank. Everyone that has read Othello knows that Othello is not a bad guy. He is just a good soldier and leader who is treated unfairly by other characters in the play. Using racial language and slurs to describe the only black man in the play, shows how Shakespeare must feel towards African Americans. Shakespeare had no reason to make Othello targeted by racial articulation or even to make him black in his play. Therefore, Shakespeare has to be racist.
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