Othello in Shakespeare's Tragedy Othello, Essay

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Without magic, Brabantio argues, Desdemona would not have chosen "So opposite to marriage that she shunned" and would not "Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom, / of such a thing as thou -- to fear, not to delight" (1.2.66-70).

Iago and Brabantio's attitudes toward people of color were very much in line with popular Elizabethan views of black people during Shakespeare's time. This is, for example, evident from Duke of Venice's attempt to defend Othello. "If virtue no delighted beauty lack," the Duke tells Brabantio, "Your son-in-law is far more fair than black" (1.3.22). While arguing that Othello is virtuous and "fair," the Duke is suggesting that blackness has negative connotations. European attitude toward blacks is also evident from the fact that Othello eventually ends up internalizing negative connotations attached to black people. For example, learning upon Desdemona's "cheating," Othello says: "My name, that was as fresh, / as Dian's visage, is now begrimed and black, / as mine own face" (3.3.54).

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Diane's is the goddess of the pale moon, and Othello equates his former reputation with Diane, but then says that Desdemona's "cheating" rendered his reputation "begrimed and black" just like Othello's "own face." Othello makes more statements like these, resembling himself to a "base Indian" after learning that he wrongly killed Desdemona since she was innocent. This is an important theme since Iago is although an evil man, his racist description of Othello turns out to be true by the end of the third act -- something acknowledged by Othello himself.

European attitude toward blacks is also evident from the way Iago was able to deceive such a genius military leader as Othello. Othello easily believes Iago's stories because he questions Desdemona's sincerity since he is black and she is white. Deep down in his heart, Othello feels inferior and insecure. This weakness of Othello's helps Iago to deceive him, making him believe that Desdemona has cheated on him.….....

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