Lillian Lai - Othello

After reading Othello, I feel like there is much prejudice and hatred toward the protagonist, Othello. The play begins with Iago trying to get Roderigo to plot revenge on Othello. Being heartbroken after hearing that Desdemona married Othello, Roderigo join forces with Iago. They decide to tell Desdemona's father, Brabantio that his daughter married a Moor. Brabantio becomes furious and believes that the reason for this sudden marriage is because Desdemona is under a spell. Gradually, it can be inferred that the main reason of this hatred is because he is dark-skinned. At first, I did not know that Othello was dark-skinned but there are many references to his appearance such as having thick lips or being like a Barbary horse. As the play progresses, the readers start to feel sympathy towards the protagonist because he is oblivious to all his enemies around him.