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Maeve Hammond
Sex & Betrayal: Renaissance Taboo
VanWagoner
30 June 2014
The Taboo of Othello: Class and Power Struggle

Othello is a myriad of taboo: from exposing racial prejudice to undermining filial
piety, author William Shakespeare acknowledges the often-unspeakable aspects of
society. The villain and vice character of Othello, Iago, exemplifies numerous taboos
throughout his scheming. In particular, class struggle has a correlation between Iago and
his beguiling. Iago creates a taboo by exacting petty, nearly unjustifiable revenge on the
characters of power in Othello.

Iago's hatred of the higher class is introduced immediately in the play, as Iago blatantly
airs his disdain towards Cassio, who was chosen for a highly ranked position, in favor
over Iago. Iago remarks Cassio was unfit for the position: he says the division of battle
knows/more a spinster [than Cassio] (I.i.24-25) and Cassio is only good for his
bookish theoric (I.i.25) of war. The latter line could interpret Iagos disdain for those
who are more highly educated than he. Additionally, Iago demonstrates his hate for
societal rankings, as he says, preferment goes by letter and affection (I.i.38), or class.

Furthermore, Iagos treatment towards his wife, Emilia, compared to the other
characters in Othello should be examined. Iago says he hate[s] the Moor/And it is
thought abroad that twixt my sheets/Has done my office (I.iii.429-430). Iago vows to
exact his revenge against Othello by bring[ing] this [the affair] monstrous birth to the
worlds light (I.iii.447). However, Iago never shows any resentment towards his own
wife, although she is equally accused in the affair. Additionally, Iago belittles


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Desdemona in front of Emilia by saying woman of power are only useful to rise to play
and go to bed to work (II.i.118); however, he directs hardly any of this sexism towards
his wife. Iago interacts in this manner towards Emilia because he isnt a threat to
him: Emilia is a servant for Desdemona, and therefore holds equal power with Iago.

Iagos prejudice and hatred towards people of power justifies his scheming to ruin
Othellos life. Othello is an outsider to Venice, as he is a Moor who has seen and
participated in cultural and military events unparalleled to those experienced by any of
the other characters in Othello. However, Othello combats racial prejudice and rises
above to earn a ranking as one of the highest military officials. Iagowho, to no
knowledge, has not experienced any difficulties in life similar to Othelloscannot even
surpass the ranking of his Moorships ancient (I.i.35). Iago snidely undermines Othello
by calling him a old black ram... tupping [a] white ewe (I.i.88-89) to hide the fact he is
actually insecure about his societal ranking and jealous of those who have obtained
higher power.

William Shakespeare purposefully centered Othello around the taboo of resentment
between classes in order to indicate societal and cultural problems during the Elizabethan
era. As Iago was jealous and disdainful of people ranked highly in society, it can be
inferred the lower class citizens of the Elizabethan era shared Iago's sentiments regarding
the monarch. Shakespeare hinted to this in a song Iago sings, which mocks the king and
his affluence (II.iii.83-90). Class and power struggle becomes a taboo in Othello because
of the horrific actions of revenge and jealousy he takes to exemplify the struggle.