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Othello theme summary- Race
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A summary of the theme of Race in Shakespeare's Othello.
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Othello: Key Theme – RaceRace
Othello’s Race
Othello is black. Shakespeare broke tradition by writing a black protagonist. This gives a
modern audience insight into Shakespeare’s progressive views for the Jacobean era. Due to
racist stereotypes, before Othello black characters in Renaissance drama were usually
presented as villains. This contrasts with Othello’s portrayal, as an honourable, brave
gentleman.
Characters’ views of race
There are consistently opposing views about Othello. Early in the play, positive references to
his race come from respectable characters (The Duke of Venice and Desdemona). This
shows Shakespeare encouraging the Jacobean audience to think positively of Othello’s race.
Due to the racism of Brabantio, Desdemona is forced to explain her choice of husband, she
“saw Othello’s visage in his mind,” showing she is attracted to his personality as well as his
appearance. Othello is also initially confident in their love “She had eyes and chose me.” In
including an interracial marriage in the play, Shakespeare suggests that racial differences do
not affect love. Desdemona’s lack of racial prejudice contrasts with other characters in the
play, such as Iago and Brabantio. Due to his mounting jealousy, Othello’s race becomes a
source of insecurity later in the play. Despite this, the audience can still recognise his
nobility, as the only cause for this jealousy is Iago’s lies. Negative views of Othello’s race are
undermined as Shakespeare encourages us not to trust or sympathise with the characters
that express them (Iago and Brabantio). They use offensive language to describe Othello,
such as “sooty bosom,” and “old black ram.”
Othello, an outsider?
Arguably, Othello’s tragedy is triggered by his position as an outsider. This only becomes a
problem for Othello when he starts to view his own race negatively, a victim of Iago’s
prejudices and lies. His final speeches in Act 5 suggest he has been dislocated from his true
noble self, as he has become a villain. In the final scene Othello’s race is not mentioned by
Gratiano and Montano, they merely label him as a “rash and most unfortunate man,”
showing that, by the end, his race does not label him as an outsider, his actions do.
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