How far is Othello a racist play that is the product of its times? William Shakespeare wrote the play Othello in 1603, where there was a lot of racial pressure

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Raam Kanbi 11S        English Coursework        Ms. Button 11En1

How far is Othello a racist play that is the product of its times?

William Shakespeare wrote the play Othello in 1603, where there was a lot of racial pressure as there were more and more coming in to the country, even though there was a lot of trade activity at that time. The queen herself expressed her views publicly in 1601 at her dislike of the African people coming into England. Queen Elizabeth the 1st decreed a law that would see the transportation of the ‘negars and blackamoors which are crept into the realm’ out of England to another place.

 The views of 17th century England on other races were of inferior and bestial creatures. Many travellers portrayed the African people as ‘a people of beastly lyvinge’ and an extract of Eldred Jones’ book ‘Othello’s Countrymen’ quoted,

 ‘whomsoever they finde but talking with their wives they presently go about to murther them … by reason of jalousie you may see them daily one to be the death and destruction of another.’

        Shakespeare’s England was different from today. There was a different view on racism. Shakespeare could have written his play because he views on stereotyping and racism was different from his surrounding environment, hence the noble character at the beginning and the heroic lift of dignity and honour at the end of the play. This is different compared to Macbeth, where there was no rise in dignity at the end of the play. He might have had a humane view on the rest of the world, and treated everyone like equals. He might have written it because even he was caught up in the racism during that time. Shakespeare could also have written it because this was what the audience wanted, and he was just a playwright. If he showed racism in the play, he would get a larger audience.

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We see racism in the play as early as the opening scene of Othello when Roderigo and Iago are going to tell Brabantio of Desdemona’s elopement with Othello.

                ‘What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe’

This immediately tells us that Iago is obsessed with Othello’s colour and appearance. We can tell that Iago is jealous of Othello and his status of General of the Army of Venice, and he is also jealous that he didn’t get promoted but Othello promoted an inexperienced man, Cassio, in his place.

        ‘For ‘Certes,’ says he,

        ‘I have already chosen ...

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