Themes


Othello


His wounded pride means he no longer feels that he is a true man and sees his military career as ruined (‘Othello’s occupation’s gone!’). Iago goes to great lengths to maintain his outward show and to appear virtuous; it is this that earns him the nickname ‘honest Iago’. In an effort to disguise the reality of his malevolent scheming, Iago actively presents himself falsely: ‘Though I do hate him as I do hell-pains, Yet, for necessity of present life, I must show out a flag and sign of love, Which is indeed but sign’ (Act 1, Sc 1).


By trading on his reputation as an honest individual, Iago manages to avoid suspicion, but more importantly it allows him to earn Othello’s trust. Othello does not doubt Iago’s motives so convinced is he of Iago’s honesty. It is Iago’s reputation and honest appearance that allow him to connive so brilliantly throughout the play.


Race is an important element of the drama as skin colour and racial appearance are treated by some characters as signals of an individual’s personality. Many racist remarks are directed at Othello. Iago incites Brabantio’s fury by using racist remarks: ‘you’ll


have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse; you’ll have your nephews neigh to you; you’ll have coursers for cousins and jennets for germans’ (Act 1, Sc 1). Roderigo also refers disparagingly to Othello’s racial appearance calling him ‘the thicklips’ and a ‘lascivious Moor’ (Act 1, Sc 1). Brabantio sees Othello’s dark skin as something to fear. He finds it incredible that his daughter would fall in love with a black man: ‘To fall in love with what she feared to look on!’ (Act 1, Sc 3). Despite his honourable reputation and the respect he enjoys for his military experience, Othello comes to internalise this racist view of his appearance. He starts to see his black skin as signalling a lack of refinement: ‘Haply, for I am black / And have not those soft parts of conversation / That chamberers have’ (Act 3, Sc 3). Iago exploits Othello’s insecurities about his appearance, citing it as reason for Desdemona to be unfaithful: Iago argues that Desdemona should naturally choose someone ‘Of her own clime, complexion and degree, / Whereto we see in all things nature tends’ (Act 3, Sc 3). Iago who is so conscious of the importance of appearance recognises this as a means of sowing seeds of doubt in Othello’s mind and disfiguring the true nature of Desdemona’s love for Othello.


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