Impact of Race in Othello One of the main issues in Shakespeare's Othello is the impact of the race of the main character, Othello. His skin color is not white, usually depicted as African, although some productions portray him as Arab. Othello is called by his name only seventeen times in the play. He is called "Il Moro" fifty-eight times. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) states that a Moor is "Any individual of the dark races of Africa or Asia who has adopted the Mohammedan religion. In Spanish history the terms Moo, Saracens and Arabs are synonymous." This indicates that Othello is constantly degraded and presented as an evil person throughout the play. What this really means is that Othello is judged by the color of his skin rather than the person beneath the skin. The idea that whites and non-whites are equal is a relatively new concept in our society. In institutionalized racism, such as American slavery, people of different colors were often seen as inferior. While Shakespeare was writing Othello, this idea was becoming quite important as England entered the African slave trade. One can look at racial issues from the perspective of color, slavery and society. There are many references in the play to indicate that Othello was dark in color. The first image we readers are given of Othello is that of a black ram having sexual intercourse with Desdemona (1.1.89-90). Later in the play there are many other references to Othello's color and race. Desdemona's father, Brabantio, is shocked to learn that his daughter is having an affair with a "sooty breast" (2.3.27). Emilia refers to Othello as a black devil (5.2.132). Othello even calls himself black (3.3.265). Even Iago...... middle of paper ......hello is driven mad by the force of Iago's suggestions, indicating that he is simply a victim of another man's jealousy. Works Cited1 Norman Sanders, ed. Othello. Cambridge: New York, 1995: 12.2 CW Slights. “Slaves and Subjects in Othello,” Shakespeare Quarterly v48 Winter 1997: 382.3 CW Slights. 380.4 Norman Sanders, ed. 10.5J.Adelman. “Iago's Alter Ego: Running as Projection in Othello,” Shakespeare Quarterly v48 Summer 1997: 130.6 CW Slights. 388. Works consulted Bradley, AC. Shakespearean tragedy. New York: Penguin, 1991.By Yanni, Robert. "Character revealed through dialogue." Readings on tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprinted from Literature. N. p.: Random House, 1986. Muir, Kenneth. Introduction. William Shakespeare: Othello. New York: Penguin Books, 1968.