How does Shakespeare explore perceptions of Othello?

To fully understand Othello’s character you have to understand the themes and key threads Shakespeare uses to delve and craft Othello’s character by. Shakespeare presents Othello using a few key themes- First impressions of Othello, Later impressions of Othello, His military position and Othello’s own self-perception.

Shakespeare uses other characters to explore different aspects of Othello’s self. Before us, the audience meets Othello it is important for him to be introduced to us by the other characters in the play- Brabantio, Iago and Roderigo. These characters provide us with a complex and convoluted idea of what Othello is like. This is used by Shakespeare in effect to create contrast. Iago in this scene heavily focuses on Othello’s race- this within the historical context would give the audience a preconceived idea of what he is like connoting themes such as otherness and darkness. This is especially prevalent when Iago states ‘the old black ram tupping the white ewe.’ The adjective old gives way to the idea that Othello is haggard- an unattractive use of imagery. The provocative and emotive noun ‘ram’ connotes ideas of darkness, deceit and direct links to satanic behavior. Obviously the adjective ‘black’not only refers to the supposed darkness of Othello’s character but also directly refers to his race, something that strongly defines Othello and his nature and is often used as an excuse for what he has done. Othello throughout the opening scene is presenting in a highly negative light which hugely contrasts with his character that is revealed later in the play. Beginning with the opening lines of the play, Othello remains at a distance from much of the action that concerns and affects him. Roderigo and Iago refer ambiguously to a “he” or “him”for much of the first scene. When they begin to specify whom they are talking about, especially once they stand beneath Brabantio’s window, they do so with racial epithets, not names. These include “the Moor” “the thick-lips”, and “a Barbary horse”. This lexis that is used is highly animalistic and presents Othello almost as a barbarian in contrast with the venetian society he finds himself in. These initial first impressions of Othello are used to possibly connote Othello’s later nature which takes a dark turn- and this also uses race as a key theme when considering the key flaws in his relationships Othello is experiencing.