Othello is perhaps the character with the most reasons to feel like an outsider. In the very first scene, before we have even met Othello or heard his name, we are struck by the prejudiced and crude references to him. He is insultingly called “thick lips” and constantly called “Moor”, which show Othello’s social and cultural background. Since this is our first impression of Othello, the image of him being black is embedded in our minds throughout the entire play. This issue of Othello’s race is an obvious source of tension in the play. While he is accepted as a soldier and a servant of the state - even the Duke calls him “Valiant Othello” – there is the underlying feeling that if Othello tries to fully integrate into Venetian society he will meet with opposition because of his skin colour. Iago, Roderigo and Brabantio are explicitly racist towards Othello. This emphasises the point that Othello is treading a fine line between acceptance and being an outcast, because Brabantio had previously been hospitable to Othello – Othello says that “her father loved me, oft invited me” into their home – but because Othello and Desdemona are married, Brabantio disowns Desdemona for this and curses Othello. It is because of these hidden attitudes towards Othello that sometimes break through to the surface, that he constantly feels as if he is an outsider. I think that it is because Othello feels different that he allows his insecurities to get the better of him with Iago. Othello fails to realise that Desdemona’s willingness to put up with the mockery from Iago and the rage from Brabantio that their marriage inspires, is more proof of the love that exists between them.
Desdemona and Emilia are the central female characters in Othello and so both are outsiders in this way. Women in Shakespeare’s time were not thought of as equals to men, and were expected to obey their husbands. They were not usually consulted on important affairs, leaving them in the dark.
As the play progresses, Desdemona becomes much like Emilia in the sense that they both become outsiders in their own marriages. At first, the love between Othello and Desdemona is very strong – they exclaim “O my fair warrior!” and “My dear Othello!” after meeting each other after the storm, and Desdemona is confident, despite her position as a woman she calls Iago a “slanderer” and puts herself in the firing line in order to protect Emilia. Yet as Othello’s love turns to jealousy - “Devil!” he calls her, “striking her”, Desdemona’s self-confidence diminishes, “What shall I do to win my lord again?” she becomes more passive, an outsider to her will and an outsider in her union with Othello, it is he who is making all decisions to do with their relationship, he does not discuss the supposed affair with her, leaving her bewildered and confused.
A lot of the characters misunderstand Desdemona. Her father Brabantio calls her “a maiden never bold”, Iago assumes that “she must have change” and Roderigo thinks that she can be bought with presents.
Emilia is married to Iago and she is constantly humiliated in public, “You rise to play and go to bed to work”, implying that Emilia is lazy at everything but sex. Iago does not show Emilia affection, she is “nothing” to him. When Emilia finds Desdemona’s handkerchief, she sees that this might be an opportunity for her to get some warmth from Iago. But as soon as he has the handkerchief, he treats her like a cast off again has it –‘ Be not acknown on’t’. The only polite thing that Iago says to Emilia is “Good wench, give it me” when she has the handkerchief. Emilia is an outcast in her own relationship and yet she is also trapped in it.
It is also ironic that Iago claims insiders knowledge of Venice which Othello, as an outsider, would lack; “ I know our county disposition well’ and I think this makes Othello feel more of an outsider, I think more than he has ever felt.
Emilia’s husband Iago is also an outsider. A marriage is a union between two people, so if Emilia is isolated, so is Iago. Iago has no real companion or someone like him; he uses each character to manipulate them instead, for example Roderigo is his source of money; Iago has his “purse” practically at his disposal. Iago often uses Roderigo to express his anger, as Roderigo is not intelligent enough to understand the implications of what Iago is saying – “I follow him to serve my turn upon him”. In this way Iago is an outsider, but then we could argue that there is no one in the play who is as villainous as him and for him to have a companion like him would be impossible. The fact that Iago’s plan works is because Desdemona, Othello, Cassio and Emilia are too honest and noble to think of badly of Iago.
Iago is also kept out of the circle including Cassio and Othello; he is not in the league of Cassio because he is not a gentleman - “’tis my breeding that gives me this bold show of courtesy” says Cassio, unintentionally implying that Iago lacks his manners, he is told by Othello to “disembark my coffers”. This continuously vexes Iago and is perhaps the reason that sparks his entire plan.
I completely agree that Othello is a tragedy of outsiders. Each character is isolated in one form or another, and each has difficulties. This has probably affected communication and lessened discussion between the characters. Iago’s plan has been made easier by the fact that each character is an outsider and lack of communication between the characters.
This is perhaps what makes Othello such a successful tragedy, that it is only when Desdemona is killed that the barriers between the characters break down and they realise Iago’s simple scheme.