Othello and Love
Love is a powerful blindfold; it can make a person see things that are not there or look away from things that would pain a lover. Othello is blinded in his love for Desdemona, blind to all the consequences of a secret love, and ultimately blinded to the treachery of his friend Iago. Desdemona is also blinded, she does not see the color of Othello's skin, and even up to the last she never curses him for his actions. Othello and Desdemona prove that love is more powerful than race to each other but proving it to the world is a different matter. Desdemona's father Brabanzio holds racist thoughts, and calls them aloud in response to the union of his daughter and Othello. Iago uses racism to wield power and speaks of Othello's blackness as a means of bringing people such as Brabanzio, Roderigo, and many other people closer to his side. The issue with the racist comments made through the play is that they are made out of spite for Othello, and not for his color but for his position, and his wife. Othello does not portray any of the qualities that the racist stereotypes would make him out to be, and only after much deception from the person that he most trusts does he display any bit of the savagery it is claimed all Moo
Also, the reader must take into consideration that at the time the play was written it would not have seemed racist because it would be normal to comment on the color of a person's skin and typical of the times to believe stereotypes. Any man could have come to that end; it is not the color of Othello's skin that makes him murder Desdemona. Also, the racist comments are made by dishonorable people who seek to destroy a man for their own gain, proving that racism is a poor attribute to have. Othello murders Desdemona, smothers her in the bed they share and the whole time he dislikes this action. The stereotyping done by Iago and his accomplices are meant to show the ignorance of racism. Othello is a good man through the play until he can longer stand the torment of his thoughts, only then does he succumb and become a savage man. My parts, my title, and my perfect soul. The total devastation brought on by Iago is greater than any pain caused by Othello for he does not apologize for his actions. Jealousy and rage over the supposed infidelity of Desdemona drive him to kill her, and not the racism that is held by some of the members of their society. Othello is a very civilized man, in fact it is his civility that allows him to hold the position that he holds. When he finds that Brabanzio knows of his and Desdemona's marriage he does not run but rather says, "I must be found. Othello has a fault though, he is insecure with their love, afraid that Desdemona might fall prey to her father's wishes, or dislike the life that he leads in the military.
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