Racism in Othello

3 is crucial to an understanding of the methods used by Iago to make Othello doubt Desdemona, by making him doubt himself. Othello is structured so that the main premise of the play, introducing the main themes, appears near the beginning. Othello's racial 'characteristics' such as a quick temper and jealousy, (assumptions held at the time) do not bring about his downfall - Iago does - but he is only able to achieve it by working on Othello's weaknesses, his insecurity over his race being central to this. 204] reminding him of his nature as an outsider, and as such, of a lesser authority to know the ways of Venetian women, and indeed, women in general, playing on his insecurities at his lack of experience in relations with the opposite sex. 226-228

Everyone seems to believe that Desdemona has little knowledge of the actions she is taking, and all the characters see the marriage as an inevitable failure. These events, so early on in the play, establish the idea of white purity and goodness, suggesting that other races represent darkness and evil. He is the catalyst of all the destructive happenings within the play starting from the very beginning when he and Roderigo approach the residence of Brabantio in 1. Racism is the tool used in Othello by Iago to destroy the lives of two visually different types of people. The failure of these two individuals to mate successfully demonstrates a cultural failure. But has he really won their trust? We witnessed how quick Brabantio was to forget his honourable nature. 'And yet how nature, erring from itself - ' [3. 231] is the crucial point at which we see Othello crack - he has linked Desdemona's rejection of the 'curled darlings' [1. Othello had won the love of Desdemona with his stories of battle and he had also promised an injured Brabantio that he would be a loyal son-in-law by that same token.