A Reading of William Shakespeare’s othello: A Critique of Colour Discrimination

Discrimination is a grim reality in our society that affects all people. Racial / Colour discrimination has existed in our society for centuries. This is a serious concern and needs immediate attention. The main causes of racial / colour discrimination are: superiority, prejudice, stereotyping, jealousy etc. This is a big challenge, which, if ignored, may result in a serious threat to life. Othello, the Moor of Venice, one of William Shakespeare’s finest creations, reflects the same theme. It would not be just to say that this was a reflection of his personal experience, but at the same time we cannot deny the fact that it raised the burning issue of racial or colour discrimination in his time and challenged civil, cultural, political and social rights. Discrimination on the grounds of caste, colour, race, religion, sex etc. is a violation of the right to equality. The major themes in Othello include racism, love, jealousy, infidelity, revenge, repentance etc. Othello provoked many reactions because of the issue of race , colour and anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. This play has shaken the faith of the readers in basic human values as it proved that ‘Black’ is associated with ‘Evil and Sin’. Othello, the most dignified character in the play, was a victim of racism and his brutality was revealed when he killed his innocent wife Desdemona. The objective of the present paper is to examine how a legendary writer such as William Shakespeare dramatizes colour discrimination, a very sensitive issue, which is widely prevalent in our society. In the play, Othello’s own weakness (inferiority complex) had been exploited by Iago and Roderigo. Othello, a competent and experienced soldier, fell victim to a political conspiracy which resulted in his downfall.