Racism in Othello

Throughout history, men have the tendency to seek power. They may initially intend on pursuing the greater good, but eventually, pride rules out. And according to Cornelius Tacitus, senator of the Roman Empire, “the lust for power, for dominating others, inflames the heart more than any other passion” (Tacitus). This desire that is stained within our human nature gradually instigates tension between individuals and is largely influenced by race. Therefore, while those who triumph usually become centered, those without, get driven to the edges of society and most oftentimes fail to redeem themselves.

But it is at these edges when those who attempt to return to the top are faced with criticism such as racial prejudices.

Take for instance Othello, he is mocked, belittled, unrespected and eventually categorized as an “outsider” solely due to the color of his skin. As a result, the only thing he feels able of regaining that “status” back is further becoming more of an authoritarian figure, allowing him to reattain the respect he deserves. However, it is during the process of attempting to reclaim his dominance does he personally become affected by saying, “I had rather be a toad and live upon the vapor of a dungeon” (Shakespeare 3.3.273). By exclaiming this, Othello suddenly acknowledges that his own race is no better than a toad, and refers to the fact that he rather be locked up under constant solitude than face the oppressiveness from his society. Evidently, these “edges” are where individuals trigger one of the most unstable attributes of human nature.

Jealousy. It is what consumes the mind. It is what creates a barrier between a person and the truth. It can be easily overlooked, yet it can also be the most destructive attribute of our human nature. The fight between us and how we cope with jealousy is one of the greatest battles that we fail to win each and every time, and Othello certainly is under substantial attack by this oppressive foe. Even as a respectable general with countless worthy accomplishments, Othello is still labeled as inferior to the point where he is “unable to fully measure his level of acculturation into the white society (Shaw 87). But how does this affect Othello? Well, it inherently returns back to his desire for power. With the determination to play a more authoritative role in order to acquire back his respect, Othello faces a point when he cannot fulfill that goal solely due to his race. And by pondering, Othello becomes jealous since he cannot achieve what other “white” men can, respect. He sees them instead as “better” and eventually creates a higher opinion of them.

Therefore, Othello gradually concedes that maybe why Desdemona is having an affair with him is due to him being of a different race. This most definitely provokes Othello’s greater feelings of self-hatred as well as jealousy and eventually leads to murder. Furthermore, Othello’s last scene when he is about to kill Desdemona is a symbol of him reaching rock bottom. He cannot take the insults and discrimination anymore, and as a result, he feels as if he needs to unleash his rage against those who have caused him suffering as he says to himself, “It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul. Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars, it is the cause” (Shakespeare 5.2.1-3).

Consequently, the first to stand in his sight is innocent Desdemona who he would ultimately take the life of. This act of murder displays the impact of what initially was stirred from society itself. Hence, from the moment Othello let jealousy dictate his emotions is when he ultimately succumbs to the unruly natures of men.  

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