Is Othello a victim of racism? | 3 top grade ideas about identity in Othello

Race is a key theme in 'Othello', but is the tragedy of Othello caused by racism as we understand today? In this video, I offer a top grade character analysis on Othello by focusing on 3 key ideas about his outsider identity. My argument may be a bit surprising and unconventional, so make sure you watch till the end for a complete understanding.
This video covers context, argument, language and structural analysis - so, pretty much as good as it gets in terms of revision-friendly Othello analysis you can find on the web!
TIMESTAMPS:
00:40 - Was 'racism' a thing back in Shakespeare's time?
02:04 - Context: Moors in Renaissance England
03:45 - How would Elizabethan audiences have reacted to the theatrical portrayal of a Moor?
5:45 - My argument
06:12 - Key idea #1: Othello as a useful outsider for Venice
09:17 - Key idea #2: Othello as a polarising outsider to Venetians
14:22 - Key idea #3: Othello as a racial outsider to himself
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[@Ozgipsy]

This is really good, thank you. I continue to be amazed by the genius of Shakespeare 400 years later.

[@emote3655]

hi Jen, this is super helpful for A level revision, thanks so much!!

[@taranparmarr]

this was an amazing resource, thank you so much!

[@bigz8818]

I think Im finally gonna get my first good grade after watching this video Thanks Jen

[@JenChan]

Haha all the best! And thanks for watching

[@abdulkabia8307]

Thank you Jen for making this video.I have got it at long last.It.is very resourceful

[@JenChan]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching and I hope it helps with your revision :)

[@catherineomalley9688]

Great video, really useful for my revision thank you! Would you consider doing analysis on Arthur Miller's Death of A Salesman?

[@JenChan]

You're welcome, and I will certainly consider putting out some Arthur Miller content next year (if you can wait for it!)

[@caterina-uo6hs]

hi I had my AQA English lit a-level today! the Othello question was: "Iago's skill makes him a likeable anti-hero instead of a villain" Explore how Iago's attitudes to love are presented in the play. I was kind of thrown as I found it hard to link the question to the statement, but I think I did ok!

[@JenChan]

I'm sure you did the best you could so massive pat on your own back! Don't think about it now haha xxx

[@caterina-uo6hs]

@@JenChan thank you! 1/2 done now for English lit!

[@samwell2386]

Great vid

[@smartypants1804]

THANK YOU THIS WAS REALLY HELPFUL,

[@JenChan]

You are so welcome! xxx

[@nuerdebiolley3494]

This is a very interesting argument! However, why would Othello think that it is due to his race that others treat him so, what made him think like that? He must have endured some form of racial discrimination to think in such a way, or is it because he is rather straightforward and sees the obvious difference between himself and others being his race?

[@JenChan]

Frankly, the racial discrimination is obvious - whether it be the explicit disgust that Brabantio shows once he realises that Othello has married his daughter, or in the presumably subtler non-verbal cues that someone like Iago (or even Cassio and the other Venetians) would reveal in their interactions with Othello (of course, they would never be explicitly racist towards him because of their lower professional rank to Othello). So yes, it's a nuanced one: when there's no lack of bigotry thrown at you from the outside world, can you still stand your own and not internalise those bigoted views? It must be extremely challenging, so not at all arguing that Othello is any 'weaker' a man for failing to do so. What it certainly does reveal, though, is that his self-consciousness shows him to be no less human a character than Iago, Cassio et al. Thanks for watching and engaging!

[@zeckura]

WOW thank you! As ever, absolutely superb.

[@JenChan]

Thank YOU!

[@osivot]

Thank you but I could barely hear you. Your mic is low.

[@anton2559]

what a great video.

[@constanzathomas1586]

could someone explain 10:23 again please? i get that Iago sees them both as degraded, but how does the quotes "an erring barbarian", and "a super subtle Venetian" reinforce that?

[@leephelios]

i mean iago referring to othello as "an erring barbarian" emphasises that he sees othello as an outsider, that his presence alone is a natural "err"; as for "a supersubtle venetian", i see it as him saying that because desdemona is with othello, she has made herself pubpar to venetians, she is barely venetian in his eyes. it makes it seem like she has betrayed her right to be venetian by being with othello. idk, thats just my take lmao

[@leephelios]

subpar***

[@constanzathomas1586]

@@leephelios thank you so much! i dont know why i didnt understand that lmao, thanks tho!

[@leephelios]

@@constanzathomas1586 :)

[@kate7806]

Do you have any videos on kite runner and dolls house?

[@JenChan]

Not yet - but perhaps I will consider doing them in the next year!