race

Question 1

“An old black ram is tupping your white ewe.”

Answer 1

Act 1 Scene 1
Iago
White ewe presents Desdemona as pure and innocent, like the lamb
Ram presents Othello as aggressive
Iago uses sexual language all the time

Question 2

“You’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse, you’ll have your neighbours neigh to you.”

Answer 2

Act 1 Scene 1
Iago
Covered with- Mated with
Barbary horse- African stallion famous for its breeding
Dehumanising Othello, reducing him to an animal because of his race
Relates to the time in which it was written.

Question 3

“Your son-in-law is more fair than black.”

Answer 3

Act 1 Scene 3
The Duke
He is being progressive and going against the common views of the time
Poses white people as being “better than” Black people

Question 4

“…your daughter
and the Moor are now making the beast with
two backs.”

Answer 4

Iago to Brabantio in A1;S1 when he refers to the missionary sex position in an animalistic manner”

Question 5

“O, the more angel she, and you the blacker devil!”

Answer 5

Emilia to Othello in A5;2, when he lives up to racist stereotypes. (something to consider in your essay)