Racial Discrimination In Othello - 1076 Words

Isolation, by definition, is the condition of being separated from the mainstream society. In William Shakespeare’s Othello, the protagonist, Othello is isolated from the rest of Venetian society because of racism. Racial discrimination is common throughout the dialogue of the play, as almost all characters have directed racial slurs towards Othello. Iago, the antagonist, is able to take advantage of Othello’s insecurities and vulnerabilities about his race and convince him of Desdemona’s infidelity. Other’s verbal comments on Othello and his own sense of reputation speed up Othello’s insecurity regarding his race. Othello’s insecurity about his race is later revealed to be the tragic flaw in which ultimately leads to his downfall and the†¦show more content†¦As the play continues, readers can see how Brabantios comments and disbeliefs contribute to Othellos accumulating insecurities which eventually lead to his demise/downfall Othello’s strong sense of reputation also contributes to his downfall. Othello’s achievements and honorable service to the people of Venice make him feel like an â€Å"insider†. He wants others to portray him as a nobleman and is willing to sacrifice anything to protect his image. When others question him, he starts to wonder if they are questioning about his race, which makes him an â€Å"outsider.† Othello wants others to respect him as a Venetian leader, not a moor. After Iago’s manipulation, Othello is finally convinced his wife’s infidelity, and it enrages him to a point that he sees no other solution other than to kill Desdemona in order to preserve his reputation. He feels Desdemona’s affair has damaged his status. He described his name and reputation â€Å"that was as fresh as Dian’s visage† (III, iii,283-385) changed to â€Å"black† just as his â€Å"own face† after his wife cheated on him. Othello felt his name and good reputation is now â€Å"begrimed†(III, iii, 388) and eventually turning into a cuckold. He is associating the blackness of his skin with the dirty deeds that Desdemona supposedlyShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Shakespeare s Othello, By William Shakespeare1040 Words   |  5 Pagesboth the old and the new. The texts Othello, William Shakespeare (1600) and Othello, Geoffrey Sax (2001), ring true for this statement. Despite the differing contexts and ages, the universal themes of racism and betrayal bring new meaning to each of the texts. The primary meaning from the juxtaposition of the two is that of the human condition, and how the problems faced in the 17th century are faced in modern times. 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