Racism in Othello Throughout Shakespeare's tragedy, Othello, there is a constant flow of racism. It originates from not one, but rather several characters in the play. In the opening scene, while Iago expresses his dislike, indeed hatred, for General Othello for having chosen Michael Cassio as lieutenant, he devises a plan to partially take revenge ("I follow him to serve him my turn"), with the help of Roderigo , alerting Desdemona's father, Brabantio, to the fact of his daughter's elopement with Othello. Roderigo shares Iago's prejudicial attitude towards Othello: "What good fortune must the thick-lip / If he cannot carry it so!" The word thick lips is a disparaging reference to a facial feature of many members of the black race. When, with loud cries, Brabantio is awakened, Iago begins with a series of racial epithets: Zounds, sir, you have been robbed; for shame, put on your robe; your heart has burst, you have lost half your soul; even now, now, right now, an old black ram is towering over your white sheep. Get up, get up; wake up the snorting citizens with the bell, otherwise the devil will make you a grandfather: get up, I say. (1.1) The phrase old black ram and the word devil both offensively refer to dark skin color. The allusion to the white sheep has the effect of putting Othello's darkness in stark contrast. A few lines later Iago once again directs his full-throated invective at Othello with three stinging racial epithets: "Zounds, sir, you are one of those who will not serve God, if the devil commands you." Because we come to do you service... middle of paper... the blackest devil! OTHELLO. She went crazy, and she was a whore.EMILIA. You deny them and you're a devil! (5.2) Following Iago's murder of Emilia, he is captured; Lodovico addresses Othello, who is so dejected at having been deceived by his ancient: O you, Othello, were once so good, fallen into the practices of a damned slave, what shall I tell you? (5.2) Needless to say, the Cursed Slave has racial undertones. Shortly afterwards, the hero, repentant for the tragic mistake committed, stabs himself and dies on the bed next to his wife, his pain is as deep as his love.WORKS CITEDShakespeare, William. Othello. In Electric Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http://www.eiu.edu/~multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No lines n..