shakespeare's othelloRacism, Jealousy, and Deceit
...e for the blacks in England. “Between 1562 and 1568, Hawkins brought ‘blackamoors to England’ and sold hundreds of black slaves to Spain; so there were ‘several hundreds of black people living in the households of the aristocracy and the landed gentry’” (Barthelemy, p166). In all three scenes of act one, Brabantio accuses Othello of using witchcraft to embezzle his daughter. “Is there not charms By which the property of youth and maidhood May be abused?” (Act 1, scene 1, lines181-183). “O thou foul thief, where hast thou stow'd my daughter? Damn'd as thou art, thou hast enchanted her; For I'll refer me to all things of sense, If she in chains of magic were not bound, Whether a maid so tender, fair and happy, So opposite to marriage that she shunned The wealthy curled darlings of our nation, Would ever have, to incur a general mock, Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom Of such a thing as thou, to fear, not to delight. Judge me the world, if 'tis not gross in sense That thou hast practised on her with foul charms, Abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals That weaken motion: I'll have't disputed on; 'Tis probable and palpable to thinking. I therefore apprehend and do attach thee For an abuser of the world, a practiser Of arts inhibited and out of warrant. Lay hold upon him: if he do resist, Subdue him at his peril.” (Act 1 scene 2 lines 74-93) “She is abused, stol'n from me, and corrupted By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks; For nature so preposterously to err, Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense, Sans witchcraft could not.” (Act1 scene 3 lines 69-73) Brabantio’s thought of Othello using witchcraft and magic to get his daughter was sparked by Iago’s allegations that Othello and Desdemona are married and having sex. Iago stirs up these feelings by saying things like: “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe.” (act 1, scene 1. lines 92 and 93) “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 gennets for germans. “ (Lines 119-121) “I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs.” (Lines 123-124) Through out the play, Othello’s race is constant...