Shakespeare's "Othello": A Tragedy of Race or Character? Analytical Essay by Nicky

The paper asserts that our own contemporary obsession with race inevitably clouds our interpretations of Othello's character and the degree to which Shakespeare portrays him as a victim of a racist society, or as a character whose natural savageness eventually is revealed by events machinated by Iago. The paper describes how the white men of the play are predisposed to be prejudiced against Othello because of his race, specifically Iago, who cunningly uses Othello's race against him. The paper points out the ambiguity in the play's language regarding race and highlights how Othello also uses blackness to characterize evil, showing that Othello himself is also affected by racism. Finally, the paper demonstrates how Desdemona's cultural differences with Othello unintentionally intensify the social forces of Venetian racism.