Theme of Racism in Othello : for Higher classes

4. Theme of Racism in Othello.

Ans. Racism has been one of the most devastating matters of the human being from the very beginning of the history, and it has been a topic of great debate and discussion since then. This severe fact does not have a special time and place. Actually, every society that has inhabited the earth has been virtually affected by this dispensable problem, racism. As all the important affairs of human being, the issue of the race is also one of the most significant themes that have a huge place in world- wide literature. Generally, most of the eras in the literature world have got their share of pleasure from this subject but Elizabethan Era was one of the most obvious times and Elizabethan Society was one of the most obvious places that discrimination of race was felt. The fascinating play of Shakespeare, Othello, is one of the plays that are shaped by the flaming effects of Racism.

The racial conflict in Othello is evident from the very beginning of the play.Othello is depicted as an 'other' or outsider from the beginning of the play. Within the opening lines of the play, we see how Othello is distanced from much of the action that concerns and affects him. He is ambiguously referred to as "he" or "him" by Roderigo and Iago for much of the first scene and when they do begin to specify just who they are talking about, they use racial epithets, not names.

Iago, the vilest character in all of Shakespeare's characters, uses racism in the opening scene of the play as a spark to inflame Desdemona's father, Senator Brabantio, against Othello..After Iago and Roderigo raise a clamor outside Brabantio's house late one evening, the senator awakens and comes to a window. Iago then uses vulgar animal imagery to slur Othello, telling Brabantio that the black Moor has seized his greatest treasure, his daughter, and at that very moment is defiling her. Iago shouts to Brabantio -" ... now, very now, an old black ram/ Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise!"

There is an obvious racism in this quote. When Brabantio reacts with incredulity, Iago replies with a metaphor that this time compares Othello to a horse. The use of animal imagery is used to help convey Othello as a monster and the choices of animals shows the underlying racism: "Old Black ram" and "Barbary horse". The references to witchcraft and the devil also help to emphasise Othello's differences: "The devil will make a grandsire of you", "the beast with two backs". The playwright uses these characters to paint a picture of Othello as the embodiment of the black stereotype held by people at this time, labelling him as "different" to everyone else. There is a clear theme of racism throughout, one which was firmly embedded in the Venetian society which rejects the marriage of Othello and Desdemona as erring, 'against all rules of nature'.

The racial conflict becomes clearer when we consider of Iago's 'motiveless malignity' against Othello. Iago seems to have few motives for his devious actions. Although he resents Othello being promoted before himself, it seems that from his speech that the thing he hates most about Othello is the colour of his skin. Because of this he uses unintelligent and colloquial racism to insult Othello. He refers to Othello as, "Thick lips,".

Although "jealousy" is often offered as Othello's "tragic flaw," but that emotion is not self-creating. Rather, it stems from a psychology of inferiority. The thing that fuelled his jealousy was his belief that he is black and Desdamona is white. That he is unfit to retain her attention for long. Thus Jealousy and racism are both inter-connected.

Consequently, the unavoidable and destructive effects of racism change lives of Othello and Desdemona deeply. It is observed that a society having the prejudice of racism can restrain love and sometimes there cannot be the limitation of racist people at destroying the people's happiness. Iago's bad character development progressing on the way of damaging Othello with feeling of racism and even dedicating himself to working under the devastating power of the racism is experienced. Othello cannot spread the clouds in front of his own eyes, and insist on being unaware of Iago's step by step poisoning of him against his wife.

Essentially, Othello has resentment of his roots and Iago is already aware of this and it provides him to ruin Othello's life. Othello's psychology is affected by his race and he has the feeling of isolation. This is the most dependable arm that Iago has and the gun which triggers the thought that as others threat him as inferior, his wife can also cheat him. He becomes so blind with manipulations of villain Iago that he prepares the death of his faithful Desdemona and his own destruction.

(Collected and assembled from internet)