Othello (Blog 1)
By: William Shakespeare

Shakespeare features a great use of characterization in Act I of this play.  It is used in a negative manner, though.  This is because it is racist towards Othello, the Moor.  Some of the characters characterize Othello as an animal, as well as someone that only lusts.  For example, Iago says that "an old black ram is tupping your white ewe" (I.i.88-89).  This quote describes Othello as "an old black ram."  This is because he is African American and is pretty old.  However, this quote is racist for two reasons.  It compares Othello to an animal, which implies that he is inferior to others because of his race.  Also, it says that the ram is "tupping your white ewe."  This implies that Othello is like an animal.  He doesn't know how to truly love; he just uses women for sex.  This is an unfair and rude assumption.  Another example of this characterization is when Iago tells Brabantio that he will have his "nephews neigh" to him (I.i.111).  This implies that if Desdemona and Othello have children together, the children will be animals because of their African American father.  Overall, many of the characters have negative views towards African Americans, and this is proven in the manner that they speak of Othello.