How Does Iago Use Prejudice In Othello

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In The Tragedy of Othello by William Shakespeare, the themes of racism and prejudice run deep as nearly every character uses racial slurs to insult Othello and destroy his sense of self. Othello is a soldier from Africa who at the moment is a respected, successful commander in the Venetian army. Othello is also one of the few dark skinned men in Venice at this time period. With the encouragement and goading of Othello’s main antagonist, all the characters including Othello himself begin to think badly of him because of his skin color.
Iago is the instigator of every conflict throughout the story as he is angry at being passed over by Othello for an army promotion. In Act 1 Scene 1, Iago effectively uses racism to turn Brabantio, father of Desdemona, against Othello. Iago uses harsh racist terms to enrage Brabantio about Othello having married his daughter. Iago says to Brabantio, "Even now, now, very now, an old black ram / Is tupping your white ewe" (1.1 97-98). Iago continues to insult Othello, calls him a horse, and warns Brabantio that, "You'll have your nephews neigh to you, you'll have / coursers for cousins, and jennets for Germans" (1.1 126-127). These racial slurs turn Brabantio against Othello so that he no longer …show more content…
He believes that his daughter should never have fallen in love with a dark skinned man as he envisions her marrying a wealthy Venetian. Brabantio describes his dismay about her love of Othello as, “She, in spite of nature, /Of years, of country, credit, every thing, /To fall in love with what she feared to look on! /It is a judgment maimed and most imperfect /That will confess perfection so could err /Against all rules of nature” (1.3. 114-119). He is certain that Othello must have used ‘dark magic’ to make Desdemona fall in love with

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