a paper on othello, my favourite play

There are forces within a society that conform people to an expected code of conduct and way of thinking which takes away from their individuality. Shakespeare’s play Othello is a tragedy about a Moor who is manipulated by another man into murdering his wife. Othello demonstrates the environment’s ability to model man’s behavior and cognitive processes. Iago was able to manipulate Othello because his society was governed by superstition, racism and sexism.

Superstition is a theme in Othello. A notable similarity between Othello and Barbantio is their acceptance of superstitions. Superstition is introduced in the play when Barbantio exclaims “I therefore vouch again that with some mixtures powerful o’er the blood, or with some dram conjured to this effect, he wrought upon her.” Barbantio is accusing Othello of using magic to seduce Desdemona because he is unable to accept their love. Othello was unwilling to completely believe Iago’s claims of Desdemona’s infidelity until he was given ocular proof. Iago provided the proof by planting in Cassio’s possession, a handkerchief that Othello had given to Desdemona as a wedding present.

The handkerchief represents superstition. Othello is superstitious because he believes that the handkerchief is magical and capable of bringing marital bliss to its bearer. He says “There’s magic in the web of it.” Othello thinks that he is cuckolded because Desdemona had given the handkerchief to Cassio. We can see that this handkerchief is probably not enough proof for one to believe that they are being cuckolded. However, Iago knew that Othello values the handkerchief because he believes it to be magical. Consequently he uses Othello’s superstitious nature against him.

The theme of racism is an integral part of this play. The Venetian society thinks that they are civilized and considers outsiders (for example the Turks) as uncivilized. Although Othello is valued as a general he is not accepted by the Venetian society. A staggering display of racism is demonstrated when Iago and Roderigo hurl insults at Barbantio because his daughter has married a Moor. Iago displays his abject racism as he shouts, “ Even now, now, very now an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” and “…you will have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse…” Iago stresses on Othello’s complexion pointing out that he is black in comparison to Desdemona and he compares Othello to an animal. Further racism is depicted when Barbantio refuses to accept the marriage of Othello and Desdemona. Barbantio welcomed Othello as a friend but refused him as an in-law. Barbantio’s behavior mirrors that of society.

Othello is aware that he is the outsider. Iago plays with Othello’s insecurity in being the outsider and uses it to manipulate Othello into believing that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair when he says “Not to affect many proposed matches of her own clime, complexion and degree.” Iago lures Othello into believing that Desdemona prefers Cassio because he is of her country, color (race) and knows about the social graces in their society.

A major theme in the play is sexism. Sexism is depicted many times in the plot. Iago is very sexist and thinks that all women are whores. We see an example of this sexism when Iago says to Emila and Desdemona, “…You are pictures out of doors, bells in your parlors, wildcats in your kitchens …players in your huswifery, and huswives in your beds.” Iago says that women are hypocrites who are brazen and only good for copulating because that is all they are capable of. This very sexist view of women is prevalent in the society and it is used to mould Othello’s view of women. Barbantio warns Othello that Desdemona is not faithful because she has abandoned her father and may do the same to him. Iago uses Desdemona’s love for Othello against him and tells further instills a doubt of Desdemona’s honesty when he tells Othello “ She did deceive her father, marrying you; And when she seemed to shake and fear your looks’ She loved them most.” The society’s degrading view of women seeped into Othello’s mind and distorted the image wife’s love to infidelity and hypocrisy.

In this play we see how in disturbing forces in society can debilitate one’s faith in love and expose their mind to evil. Superstition, racism and sexism are very dangerous forces in society because they influence the minds of people and narrow their point of views and tolerance for things that are different. The forces in the play still govern today’s’ society. We see instances where people allow superstition to rule over logic. People accept outsiders as their friends but refuse them as their family. In some places women are subdued because a stereotype is present. Maybe societies of today can learn from Othello and see that by accepting these dangerous forces of racism, sexism and superstition we are only lending to our downfall. Othello fell from grace because he allowed himself to be influenced by the dangerous forces within his society.