Racist Quotes In Othello

Racism in Othello, by William Shakespeare, plays a major role in the play, and Othello’s racist roots eventually destroy all of the main characters. Othello, on the outside looking in, does not seem like a racist play because it is about a marriage between two people of different races, but it is most certainly racist. Upon close examination, it is clear to see that the union of a white and a non-white is not accepted, and cannot possibly persevere. The outcome of Othello is quite predictable when taking the racist backbone of the play into consideration. There is no hope for a happy marriage, and poor Othello and Desdemona are doomed from the start.
It is made clear right off the bat that Othello is black or non-white, and that fact is
Many of the other characters are racist as well for listening to and ultimately falling for the hatred that Iago spews, and going along with it. Although there are many motives behind Iago’s pure evil, the core of his hatred for Othello comes from him being racist. Iago has difficulty coping with Othello’s success, because of his race. Iago wants Othello’s military success, his confidence, and wants his wife Desdemona. Iago is enraged that Othello has attained these things, all the while being a “moor”, and is determined to take them from him, and rise above Othello, because Iago believes that Othello belongs below him. Iago’s racism is what sparked his secret personal war against Othello, and ultimately is responsible for the plays death and
Emilia makes clear her opinion of Othello and his marriage to a white woman, Desdemona, by not caring that stealing the precious handkerchief may cause turmoil in the marriage. Emilia refers to the marriage between Desdemona and Othello as a “filthy bargain” (5.2.169). Upon finding out about Desdemona’s murder at the hands of Othello, Emilia proclaims “O the more angel she, and you the blacker devil!” (5.2.36). Emilia portrays the white Desdemona as angelic, and blatantly describes Othello as “blacker” and a “devil”. Emilia has every right to call Othello a devil, for he has just murdered Desdemona, but she proves her racism by using the adjective “blacker”. Emilia thinks that Othello is a devil even before Desdemona’s murder. It is clear that she does not care for him or respect him, when she tells Desdemona that cheating on him is