Jealousy and Discrimination in Othello

Humankind has discriminated against other people for being in a different religion, being gender, and or being another race. Discrimination has been a part of many cultures all through out our history, including in today's world. The significance in the Venetian society was crucial in the play because it lead to the unfortunate events to the downfall of Othello. Othello was being discriminated for being African-Venetian despite being ranked high in the Venetian military. There are numerous representations of racism toward Othello in the play.

Early on in Othello, there was already discrimination happening. Othello was called names by Iago and Roderigo. A few examples of name-calling they said towards Othello was “The Moor”, “Thick Lips”, and also “ Barbary horse”. All these names are different ways of calling him black and them being disrespectful towards him. Another example was when Iago said, “I have told thee often, and I retell thee again and again, I hate the Moor”. Iago is fed up reminding people that he hates the Moor. He is being open about his hatred toward black people and has clearly said it multiple times.

Another example early on in the book is when Iago was talking to Brabantio and Iago said, “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe”. Iago insults Othello again by calling him an old black man. Making Brabantio mad that his daughter has gone out with a black person. The second example is when Iago was having a conversation with Roderigo and Iago states, “Blessed fig’s-end! The wine she drinks is made of grapes. If she had been blessed, she would never love the moor.”. Iago says that she is like everyone else and if she was blessed she would not be in love with Othello.

Lago's plan to take down Othello has had Othello start thinking about his relationship with Desdemona. One thing he said was:

“ I’d whistle her off and let her down the wind To prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black

And have not those soft parts of conversation That chamberers have, or for I am declined,

Into the vale of years -yet that's not much- She’s gone. I am abused, and my relief must

be loathe her. O course of marriage”.

Here Othello is saying he's been cheated on because he's getting old, does not have good manners, and because he's black. He also said his marriage is a curse and regrets getting married to Desdemona.

Towards the end of the play, after Othello kills Desdemona, Emilia in anger says “You the Blacker Devil”. Emilia in anger calls Othello a monster for killing Desdemona. Emilia tells him she was faithful to him but Othello refuses to listen.

In conclusion, Othello’s downfall was caused by jealousy and discrimination. Discrimination was a huge part of it. Most of their society saw Othello as an honest, brave general. People like Iago used Othello’s race as a way to make him go insane and caused him to think Desdemona was cheating on him because he is black, thus causing him to kill her and later he killed himself. This was all caused because of the color of his skin and people in the Venetian society were discriminating toward Othello.