Racism and Shakespeare Analytical Essay by Peter Pen

This paper explains that the way Shakespeare constructed the themes of racism in "Othello" and "The Merchant of Venice" can be analyzed using social-psychological theory because the racism towards Othello and Shylock is based purely on racial and religious differences between Othello, Shylock, and the Venetians. The author points out that Othello, the Moor of Venice, is referred to by other Venetians as the Moor or another derogatory, bestial name, "the thick-lips", "an old black ram", "a Barbary horse", and "the lascivious Moor", much more often than by his name, which, while not necessarily indicating racism, separates Othello from those around him. The paper concludes that Shakespeare's ability to characterize human nature is perfectly illustrated in the characters of the Christian Venetians, Othello, and Shylock.