The impression is also conveyed that Othello, because of his race, has mysterious qualities that enable him to practice witchcraft. Iago refers to him as the ‘devil’, which suggests he is linked to evil and Roderigo suggests that Desdemona has been transported ‘To the gross clasps of a lasciovious Moor’. The association was that black people from foreign countries were extremely lustful and sensuous. This view of Othello is supported by A C Bradley who saw him as a romantic, exotic and mysterious hero and his suggestion is that he is one of the greatest lovers in literature. Roderigo accuses Othello of being a ‘wheeling stranger/Of here and everywhere’ which suggests that he’s a wandering vagrant, the idea that he is a threat to the stability of the civilized Venetian society. This view was common in Elizabethan society with negroes and moors being considered a problem in England in 1601. Elizabeth 1 issued two edicts for the deportation of their return to Barbary after it was decreed that too many had crept into England. By presenting Othello as the black hero and setting him against Iago, and evil, ‘black’ man, Shakespeare is reversing the racist prejudice of his time, that evil is indicated by skin colour. There is a lack of Christian attitude and behaviour in Barbantino, Roderigo and Iago which ironic and casts doubt on the supposed superiority of their culture and Othello can only be viewed through their eyes so that he is seen from a racist point of view. The unfavourable views of the three hostile characters, support the view of Othello as being a menacing heathen and leave the audience intrigued at the end of Act 1, scene 1.
Othello’s appearance in Act 1, scene 2, instantly challenges any pre-conceived ideas that the audience may have of his character as his opening remarks are conciliatory. Othello is keen to defend his good reputation and speaks proudly of his value to the Venetian state. ‘My services which I have done the signiory/Shall out tongue his complaints’. He is also keen to stress his birthright as he justifies his decision to marry Desdemona, ‘I fetch my life and being/From men of Royal seige’. However, Othello doesn’t appear as the same pompous and boastful general described in Act 1 scene 1, ‘loving his own pride and purposes’, instead he is portrayed as authoritative and self controlled. His behaviour completely contrasts to Brabantio’s emotional outbursts and abusive insults and Iago’s vulgar accusations in Act 1 scene 1.
Othello shows himself to be honourable in his willingness to answer Brabantio’s charge of any wrong doing in his marriage to Desdemona. ‘Wither will you that I go/To answer this your charge?’ He diffuses a potentially volatile situation with confidence and keeps the peace. He is quite willing to face up to the consequences and let other people judge his actions.
Othello is open about his actions and speaks sincerely of his love for Desdemona. ‘I’ll present/how I did thrive in this fair lady’s love, and she in mine.’ Othello is also trusting, which is in complete contrast to Iago. His trust is also genuine and absolute. He is even prepared to trust his life to Desdemona’s account of events, and if found guilty, is willing to face the consequences. ‘If you do find me foul in her report…… let your sentence/Even fall upon my life.’ In the same way, he is willing to trust his wife’s safety to Iago, who he believes to be ‘honest Iago’.
In contrast to the way the other characters portrayed Othello in Act 1 scene 1, he actually commands the respect from other important figures. The Duke of Venice greets him as ‘Valiant Othello’. He is also referred to as the ‘valiant Moor’ and ‘brave moor’ by the first senator. He is obviously highly regarded. The Duke also tells Brabantio that ‘Your son in law is far more fair than black’, suggesting that despite appearances, Othello is a good, pure person. Despite Brabantio’s hostility towards Othello, it emerges that he willingly welcomed Othello into his house wanting to hear the stories of his life ‘Her father loved me, oft invited me’. This suggests that before Othello and Desdemona’s marriage he was an acceptable person to Brabantio which is completely hypocritical. Thomas Rymer, one of the play’s earliest and most negative critics saw Othello’s actions of eloping with a white upper-class woman as opposing the correctness of Venetian society but Shakespeare discourages a one-sided interpretation of Othello as a warning against mixed marriage.
Although Othello claims to be ‘rude’ in his speech and intends to deliver a ‘round unvarnished tale’, the speeches that he makes to the senate in Act 1 scene 3 show his eloquence. His authority is illustrated as he shows himself to be a powerful public speaker through his use of hyperbole and rhetoric. He uses sensuous imagery and metaphor to enchant his listeners ‘Of my whole course of love:what drugs, what charms, what conjuration and what mighty magic’, which results in even the Duke approving of Othello’s story of Desdemona’s love for him, ‘I think this tale would win my daughter too’.
Through his contradictory portrayal of Othello in Act 1, it seems that Shakespeare intended the audience to be open minded and unprejudiced. He wanted to deliver the message that pre conceived beliefs are not always correct and appearance and reality can be completely opposed He wanted to represent that skin colour and religious beliefs do not always mean that a person is good or bad and so by making Othello a black hero, an experienced and accomplished warrior, physically attractive to women, imaginative and a powerful public speaker, Shakespeare opposes cultural misconceptions and reverses the racial prejudice of his time that evil is indicated by skin colour.
