Do you agree or disagree that othello is about jealousy, not racism?

Question

and no this is not a homework assignment, I just thought that although a few scenes imply that Othello does what he does because he is a moor. But other scenes illustrate how Othello is merely jealous of Cassio. hmmm..?

Answer 1

It is about both jealousy and racism

Iago, Roderigo, and Brabantio combine to give us a portrait of Venetian racism. Compare this with the Duke's utilization of Othello in 1.3 (though balanced at 1.3.289-290).
Iago's reasons are career advancement, revenge, lust, racism. The more he spins out, however, the less tangible they become.

Although "jealousy" is often offered as Othello's "tragic flaw," that emotion is not sui generis, self-creating. Rather, it stems from a psychology of inferiority. This may seem at odds with Othello's first description of himself at 1.2, but notice that almost immediately in 1.3 he's apologizing for his differences.
"Rude in speech"
tale of adventures

Recall the image of the Turk Othello invokes at 2.3. Othello invokes it to describe himself, juxtaposing lines 170-174 and 204-209. These are the foundations that Iago builds upon to create his monster.

Consider carefully the machinations of 3.3 (a scene comparable to Hamlet's 2.2 in both length and dramatic complexity, and superior to it as the fulcrum of the play).
Note especially Iago's cunning use of silence at 34-39 and 95-133.
compare 3.3.156-161 with 2.3.262-271
new strategy emphasizing Othello's otherness at 199-204 (a new strategy that obviously works by 263-273)
Othello's inability to stand indecision: compare 177-193 and 383-390

Look also at 4.1. Iago gives Othello all the proof he needs! Is it too little?

The question, of course, is why is Othello so completely taken in by Iago's lies and manipulations. One part of the answer is that no one sees Iago for what he really is. But another part of the answer is Othello's predisposition, and it's not really jealousy as such to which he's predisposed.

Othello is a man of action, and that obviously cuts two ways. On the one hand, he is an effective leader of men, but on the other hand he is not predisposed to examine Iago's "evidence" very carefully. Note especially 5.2.47-64.


good luck

Answer 2

Oh, I think Othello is completely about jealousy. The movie "O" brings race into the picture much more than the book by Shakespeare because it used Mekhi Phifer to play the part of Odin James. When you read it it's easy to forget that the character is supposed to be black, but when you are looking at it it's much more "in your face" and makes it much more plausible. But I have both read the book and seen the movie and I think its about jealousy.

Answer 3

Jealousy and racism are both important themes. I would ask how much does the racism of most of the character's fuel their jealousy? How much are they obsessed with bringing Othello down because he is a great general, and how much is it because he is a Moor.