'To the Shakespearian audience the notion of mixed marriages was not just unnatural it was evil and would be punished.' How valid does this comment seem to you when applied to Othello? Use as your starting point Act 1 Scene 3, entry of Brabantio to 'your

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‘To the Shakespearian audience the notion of mixed marriages was not just unnatural it was evil and would be punished.’ How valid does this comment seem to you when applied to Othello? Use as your starting point Act 1 Scene 3, entry of Brabantio to ‘your son in law is much more fairer than black.’

In Shakespearian times, it was very unusual to see people of other races as Britain was predominantly white. At the time, women were made to marry whatever man her father chose for her and this was usually someone of the same class or above. People frowned upon those who married below their status and who married someone of a different race as it was seen as a sin against God. In ‘Othello’, Desdemona and Othello go against this. Desdemona marries a black man who is not the same class as her and without her father’s consent. A Shakespearian audience would have found this shocking.

As soon as Othello enters in Act 1 Scene 3, the Duke calls Othello ‘Valiant’. This does not suggest that the Duke thinks of him any less because of his marriage or race and suggests that the Duke has a lot of respect for him. This is contradictory to the opinion of Brabantio who states that Othello has ‘abused, stolen and corrupted’ his daughter ‘by spells and medicines bought of mountebanks’. He also states that his daughter could not have been won over naturally, ‘sans witchcraft could not’. The idea that witchcraft and spells have been used suggests that their marriage is unnatural and evil seeing as witches were seen as evil. It also shows that Brabantio does not seem to know much about Othello or his daughter. He believes Othello is a demon or warlock and believes that his daughter would not have been so stupid to marry Othello. Desdemona loves Othello so married him for that reason and she knew that her father would not like it which is why she married him secretly. The Duke asks who took his daughter from him as he believes it is a sin, but when he realises it is Othello who has done this, he changes his opinion. He knows Othello better than Brabantio does.

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In Othello’s next speech, he speaks in blank verse which shows his importance as Shakespeare used blank verse to show the audience his really important and higher status characters. This is the complete opposite to Brabantio’s view of him. He is not a warlock or demon, which gypsies and lower classes were sometimes viewed as, he is an important figurehead. Othello talks as if he is a noble and tells everyone about his marriage to Desdemona and how he loved her and won her without the use of witchcraft and spells. Everyone apart from Brabantio believes this stating ‘spirit’, ...

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