1. Othello Presentation By James Abene Honors English

2. The Role Of Racism in Othello

3. Play Background Othello is a play about a Moroccan man who falls in love with a white woman named Desdemona. They fall deeply in love and plead to not be broken apart for this would kill them. Othello took place a in a time where racism was very common and no one liked military men named Moors. Othello of course, happened to be one.

4. Racism in Act 1 Page 13 : “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe.” Lines 97-99 Page 11: “What a [fill] fortune does the [thick-lips] owe if he can carry’t thus!” Lines 72-73 Page 15: “I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are [now] making the beast with two backs.” Lines 132-133 Page 15: “To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor.” Line 142

5. Analysis of the quotes part 1 The first quote calls Othello blatantly a black man whom is making love or marrying a white woman. This shows that Iago and Roderigo both feel somewhat disrespect for Othello, whom they also call a Moor. The word tupping means either to marry to make love too but in this case it was used just to make Brabantio angry. The second quote shows is that the Iago once again is racist because he calls Othello out on his thick lips which is a black trait. For someone to even bring this up in talking about another person is clearly a sign of racism.

6. Analysis of the quotes part 2 The quote from page 15 reads something about a beast with two backs. This is in fact a reference to the fact that Othello and Desdemona are making love. Nothing would be wrong with this if it wasn’t for him being a Moor. Since he is a Moor, Brabantio sends Iago to get him before he reaches the Duke. The gross clasps of the lascivious Moor is a direct derogatory term towards Othello which means that he pranked Desdemona to fall in love with him. This also means that Desdemona could be playing a trick on her father which Othello made her do.

7. Racism in Act 2 Page 77 lines 273 – 277 : Blessed fig’s end! The wine she drinks is made of grapes. If she had been blesses, she would have never have loves the Moor. Blessed pudding! Didst thou not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? Didst not mark that?

8. Analysis of the quote in Act 2 What this quote is saying is that Desdemona, being a white girl has no morals. If she did have morals, she would have never loved the moor, Othello. What Iago is trying to say is that falling in love with Othello gives herself and her family a bad name. It makes them seem not human for they are not following within the normality's of society.

9. Racism in Act 5 Page 247, lines 161 : Emilia “o, the more angel she, and you the blacker devil!”

10. Analysis of the Quote in Act 5 This quote is blatantly calling Othello a black devil or a man who deceived a young girl to fall in love with him against his will. After he kills her, Emilia calls him this because she had a very strong bond with Desdemona and now that she is dead, she would not have anyone to talk to, not even her husband.

11. THE END