An example of this is Othello’s soliloquy: Therefore it can be said that Othello could have only achieved his position through immense willpower, which would be the reason why he’s fixated on his image. This is because he is constantly observed as an outcast as a black man in a white Venetian community, and believes that Desdemona has damaged him through her “affair” and so, in a fit of rage, he must punish her. Lastly, because of his outsider status, Othello’s obsession with his reputation and career pushes him to become violent and, eventually, murder Desdemona. Because of the way is perceived, he begins to believe he is not the true husband for Desdemona because he is black, growing his self-hatred, which only fuels his jealousy. This is further supported by the fact that, although Iago convinces Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful to him through his lies, he never offers any evidence this is happening. This displays how Othello has reformed the way he perceives himself as he is continually exposed to racist attitudes. He believes that he will taint her because he is black, as seen from the quote:Īs Dian’s visage, is now begrimed and blackĪs mine own face” (Shakespeare, 2001, 3.3.388-390) An example of this is how Othello had become convinced that Desdemona was having an affair and the marriage falls apart at the end of the play, as opposed to the happy state of their marriage at the start of the play. This is because “he is an alien among white people that his mind works so quickly, for he feels dishonour more deeply” (Hadfield, 2002). Secondly, Othello, surrounded by racist attitudes, starts to absorb these and begins to self-deprecate. Although Iago plotted to use Brabantio’s xenophobia to worsen the relations between the two, Iago is just a catalyst for this event as both Brabantio and several other characters already share this xenophobic trait, which diminishes Othello noble character. The marriage also causes other characters to refer to Othello as “thick-lips,” “devil,” and “old black ram” (Shakespeare, 2001). Nevertheless, she does love him, yet he is still convinced that she could not love a black man, as he states “thou hast enchanted her” (Shakespeare, 2001, 1.2.64). That will confess perfection so could errĪgainst all rules of nature, (Shakespeare, 2001, 1.3.96-101).īrabantio states that Desdemona wouldn’t fall in love with a black man she “feared to look on” (Shakespeare, 2001, 1.3.98) and so claims that her love for Othello is untrue. It is a judgment maimed and most imperfect To fall in love with what she feared to look on! Of years, of country, credit, every thing, For example, the reactions of the marriage from the public are negative and insulting to Othello, especially from Brabantio
This is because interracial marriage has been seen as offensive and taboo during the 1600’s the period the play was written. Therefore, although it appears that Othello was a victim of Iago, he is in reality a victim of the pressures of society which marginalises him because of his race, which led to his envy and death.įirstly, Othello is oppressed by society through the fear of a mixed-race marriage. It has been said that “Shakespeare was deliberately exposing the racism of his fellow countrymen in representing a black tragic hero” (Hadfield, 2002).
However, it can also be argued that it was the discrimination from society that had caused this, and that Iago was only a promoter of this treatment. One argument for the cause of Othello’s defeat is because of the antagonist, Iago he convinces Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him, thus leading to Othello’s jealousy. He absorbs these attitudes and murders his wife out of jealousy and, later, executes himself. Othello is both isolated and marginalised from society as, despite appearing to be a noble and respected character from his first appearance, he is subjected to racial slurs and stereotypes throughout the play, which evidently leads to his downfall.
Shakespeare’s Othello is a controversial piece of Western literature that deals with themes of race and prejudice, thus making it one of the earliest relevant works to this day.
The Societal Pressures That Led To The Fall Of Othello