Examples Of Racism In Othello

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Othello is a play about tragedy, written by William Shakespeare. Othello is a black moor living in Venice. Racism has been going on for ages and the play Othello is a perfect example. Othello was always judged for his actions racially. Othello has never felt accepted in the venetian society. A moor is people who lived in in Northwest Africa that are Muslim and Arab. Othello is often addressed as a moor rather than his own name. In the society Othello is living in they had no problem with being in charge of an army, but the society did not approve of him marrying his white wife Desdemona. Readers of the play have many questions such as why is Othello a moor and would the play be different if he was white, how is Othello being affected, and does his actions come from him being a moor.

Shakespeare wanted to show racial and stereotyping existed back then. He wanted to show the reaction to people back then also. In the 17th and 18th century people with darker skin tones were seen as less superior over whites. Having Othello as a moor and being a general in the army also back then was big because it was a black man superior over the whites. With Othello being black it makes it more interesting especially having a white wife. I believe it’s interesting because he faced so many obstacles and hate for just being black. Iago …show more content…

Brabantio called Othello a thief and that he put a spell on his daughter Desdemona because his daughter would never go for a guy like Othello. When he says a guy like you he is referring to him as being black, so he accuses of Othello using magic on her to fall in love with him. Othello in the play is then arrested for black magic because he married a girl he loved but wasn’t accepted because her father disowns her. Brabantio also affected because he was so bitter toward his daughter and ignored her at the end he dies of grief for loosing

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