The Colors of Othello Essay - 2171 Words

The Colors of Othello In Shakespeares Othello, color imagery consistently appears throughout the text. The colors, specifically black, white, and red, create symbolic and metaphoric meanings which contribute to larger themes such as racial prejudice, good versus evil, sexuality, and murder. The colors evoke images in the characters minds, particularly Othellos. These images, along with their corresponding idea or theme, influence the actions of the characters, culminating in the murder of Desdemona by Othello. References to black and white carry the most weight and contribute much to the actions of the characters; those colors often are used as a comment on race, on good and evil, on sexuality,†¦show more content†¦(1.2.63-70) Brabantio refers to Othello as a â€Å"sooty bosom,† following Iagos earlier racial image. He stereotypes Othello, saying that magic must be involved or Desdemona, â€Å"a fair† or white woman, never would have chosen a dark man, a â€Å"sooty bosom,† to marry. The black and white images placed in Brabantios mind influence his views on Othello, or he would not have pointed out Othellos â€Å"sooty bosom.† These images that emphasize the colors are what keep him from accepting Othello. Othello defends himself against Brabantios accusations of magic, saying, â€Å"Yet by your gracious patience,/ I will a round unvarnished tale deliver/ Of my whole course of love† (1.3.89-91). Othello will tell the truth of what happened, and the tale will be â€Å"unvarnished,† or unglossed. He recognizes that the ideas associated with his color are part of the problem, and he must defend himself against racist beliefs. By telling an â€Å"unvarnished tale,† a taleShow MoreRelatedEssay on Characters in Othello: Colors and Shapes687 Words   |  3 PagesThe color and shape I chose for Othello are silver and the indifferent shape. I thought about it for a while and this indifferent shape fits othello perfectly for many reasons. 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While an early modern audience would accept this concept without hesitation, an audience