What Iago and Roderigo call ‘unnatural’ and unjust only reveals, ironically, how humanly unnatural and morally unjust they are. Racism is so reviled by Shakespeare that, in Iago, he presents one of the moist vividly ugly and alarming life-sized portraits of unequivocal racist hatred of black people in literature. It is true that Brabantio reacts with horror at the thought of Othello marrying his daughter: Iago is clever enough to tap into this primal and illogical fear of miscegenation, but Othello’s first appearance and the way Shakespeare presents him as a well-spoken, articulate and persuasive human being demonstrates that Shakespeare does not endorse any stereotypical view of non-white people at all. In Act One, scene two Shakespeare portrays Othello as calm, measured and sensitive - hardly the “black ram” that Iago has so crudely referred to. In fact, Shakespeare’s presentation of Othello highlights the ironic untruthfulness of Iago’s words. He is much more than the “Barbary horse” that Iago calls him (Act one, scene one, 113). Shakespeare presents Iago as the character with the most psychological problems. This is not just a question of his racism - it is also his obsessive pursuit of Othello’s downfall and his cynical, debased attitude to life. Iago’s speech throughout the play is full of disgusting animal images - this shows us more about his conception of what it is to be human than it does about Othello and other non-Europeans. Samuel Taylor Coleridge (quoted in Kermode, page) wrote about Iago’s “motiveless malignity”, but that is not strictly true: Iago does give two reasons for his hatred of the Moor - at the end of the opening scene of the play he expresses his anger at being passed over for promotion to lieutenant and at the end of Act One, scene three he says that he suspects that Othello has had sex with Emilia, Iago’s wife: “It is thought abroad that twixt my sheets? He has done my office.” (lines 369 - 370). Therefore, Iago does have clear motives. However, that does not explain the sheer joy and relish Iago feels at triumphing over Othello. But even this sadistic enjoyment of destroying other people’s lives is not inherently racist: he destroys the lives of all the characters in the play - without a hint of remorse - white and black, Venetian and non-Venetian. Iago is a bully - and he bullies Othello because of his color, but he might just as easily have bullied him about his age.
Table of Contents
1. Representation of ethnic groups in Othello
1.1 Othello as a military leader and outsider
1.2 Iago’s racism and psychological motivation
1.3 Communication barriers and the tragic end
2. Representation of ethnic groups in The Merchant of Venice
2.1 Anti-semitism and the figure of Shylock
2.2 The common humanity of Shylock
2.3 Shakespeare’s use of satire against religious intolerance
Objectives and Themes
This essay explores how William Shakespeare represents relationships between different ethnic groups in the plays Othello and The Merchant of Venice, arguing that while characters may hold racist views, the plays themselves serve to condemn such bigotry.
- Analysis of institutional and personal racism in Elizabethan theatre.
- Examination of Othello’s status as a military outsider.
- Investigation into the psychological motivations of Iago’s malice.
- Evaluation of Shylock’s humanity versus Venetian anti-semitism.
- Critique of societal values and the parody of intolerant rhetoric.
Excerpt from the book
Shakespeare presents Iago as the character with the most psychological problems.
This is not just a question of his racism – it is also his obsessive pursuit of Othello’s downfall and his cynical, debased attitude to life. Iago’s speech throughout the play is full of disgusting animal images – this shows us more about his conception of what it is to be human than it does about Othello and other non-Europeans. Samuel Taylor Coleridge (quoted in Kermode, page) wrote about Iago’s “motiveless malignity”, but that is not strictly true: Iago does give two reasons for his hatred of the Moor – at the end of the opening scene of the play he expresses his anger at being passed over for promotion to lieutenant and at the end of Act One, scene three he says that he suspects that Othello has had sex with Emilia, Iago’s wife: “It is thought abroad that twixt my sheets? He has done my office.” (lines 369 – 370). Therefore, Iago does have clear motives. However, that does not explain the sheer joy and relish Iago feels at triumphing over Othello. But even this sadistic enjoyment of destroying other people’s lives is not inherently racist: he destroys the lives of all the characters in the play – without a hint of remorse – white and black, Venetian and non-Venetian. Iago is a bully – and he bullies Othello because of his color, but he might just as easily have bullied him about his age.
Summary of Chapters
1. Representation of ethnic groups in Othello: This chapter analyzes how Othello is portrayed as a respected military leader who faces personal prejudice, primarily from Iago, rather than institutional rejection by the Venetian state.
2. Representation of ethnic groups in The Merchant of Venice: This chapter examines the portrayal of anti-semitism in the play, focusing on how Shakespeare gives Shylock a voice to challenge the hypocrisy and intolerance of his environment.
Keywords
Shakespeare, Othello, The Merchant of Venice, Racism, Anti-semitism, Iago, Shylock, Prejudice, Venetian society, Elizabethan drama, Bigotry, Humanism, Marginalization, Religious toleration, Stereotypes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this academic essay?
The essay examines how relationships between different ethnic groups are portrayed in Shakespeare's Othello and The Merchant of Venice and argues that the plays critique rather than endorse racist attitudes.
What are the central themes discussed in the text?
The central themes include racism, anti-semitism, the nature of evil and malice, societal outsiders, and the contrast between human commonality and destructive prejudice.
What is the primary goal of the author?
The goal is to demonstrate that despite the presence of characters with racist or anti-semitic views, Shakespeare uses these characters to highlight the irony of their prejudices and to critique the societies they inhabit.
Which scientific or analytical method is applied here?
The author employs a literary critical method, conducting close readings of specific scenes, analyzing character motivations, and incorporating established scholarly criticism to support the central argument.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The body covers Othello's position as a respected outsider, Iago's psychological motivations for his malice, the tragic failure of communication, and Shylock’s humanity in the face of institutionalized anti-semitism.
Which keywords best describe the work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Shakespeare, racism, anti-semitism, prejudice, Othello, Shylock, and social critique.
How does the author interpret Iago's racism?
The author argues that Iago's racism is a reflection of his own malicious, bullying nature rather than a reflection of Shakespeare’s own views or the systemic view of the Venetian state.
Why is the "rat" speech in The Merchant of Venice significant?
The author notes that this speech is a clever parody where Shylock appropriates the dehumanizing vocabulary typically used against Jews, thereby exposing the illogical nature of anti-semitism.
Does the author believe Desdemona's love for Othello is based on race?
No, the text suggests that Desdemona ignores racial differences entirely, falling in love with Othello’s virtues and military deeds rather than being concerned with his ethnic background.
- Citation du texte
- David Wheeler (Auteur), 2011, How are the relations between different ethnic groups presented in 'The Merchant of Venice' and 'Othello'?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/175049
