Toker in this article amicably portrays Othello story. At the beginning of the article, Othello is seen as a rare hero with a dark skin something that was not actually well received during this period at Venice (1). Toker captures this by highlighting how Lago and Roderigo referred to Othello as “he” or “him “, “thick lips”, “the Moor” and “the Barbary horse “ (19). Racism theme is portrayed extensively as the Toker takes us through the journey of the past during this period where though the aliens were accepted during this periods to roam the street of Venice their rights were limited (1).This article takes as to a journey of Othello from an “Honorary white” to a transformed mediocre who was pictured as an outcast of both sensual and racial difference.
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Toker takes us down the memory lane to help us to know why racism was outrageous at this period of time (6). He states that this period was the most disgraceful and embarrassing of the western tradition and civilisation. He depicts clearly how a white race was considered superior and socially it was unaccepted for the society to accept a marital union of a black man and a white woman. Toker links the shameful racism to the early modern theories of which accentuated the consequence of purity and the requirement of maintaining the pure nation by avoiding contamination of their seeds by any other consideration to be inferior (8). The article evidently describes how the Elizabethans were seeing themselves as a reflection of God and black in people was seen as a deformity or abnormality of some sort.
Toker points out that, besides the fact, the moor were allowed to walk the street of Venice. Moreover, the whites were allowed to keep them as the slave, and even queen kept them to play music for her they were not full welcomed into the system and even queen Elizabeth despite having interacted with them went ahead to issue manifesto against the Moore in the year the 1590s (7).
In this article Toker shows the approaches and attitudes that the English people used towards the outsiders who were seen as alien (7). The article is used to show the racial prejudice that Othello is subjected to in the hands of civilized and democratic citizens of Venice. The origin of the word “moor” which was used to refer to the blacks, is described by Toker as it came through a period where blacks were accepted after a long period of being seen as of no rights and were subjected to slavery this was around 16th century (7).
Toker sees modern Theory as a catalyst for this kind of racial segregation as the theory linked the northerners as a superior race giving them more advantages than the aliens at the south (8). The south was seen as jealous, physical, fainthearted, savage and diabolic.
Toker also capture’s the humanity aspect of Othello. In this, he wanted to narrow the gap between the races (12). Though hidden he wanted to pass the message that as much as he was black, he was a hero one could relate with, unlike the previous ones whose character was faced by imagery, mysterious convulsion and ghosts.
On the critics of the play, Toker tries to explain how the core theme of this play was involved (6). He points out that as much as racism was there and the black skinned people were seen as of poor race, they were highly regarded, Othello rose through ranks to become a highly ranked general in the army. This was a prestigious position during this time, and this fact downplays the extent portrayed in the play.
Toker criticises the book that is based on racism whereas Othello was highly regarded (10). Othello hated being a moor and always thought of himself as an outsider. Contrary to what the book depicts during this time Toker says the foreigners were highly regarded to the extent they were appointed foreign mercenary generals a position that was high in the military power (10).
According to Toker as much as the play appears to be leaning towards the theme of racial segregation the major and core theme here is emotional jealous (17). He backs this up by the fact that Brabantio saw Othello as a distinguished soldier and an honourable guest, this was before the news of his elopement with Desdemona surfaced. Othello troubles began when his elopement was known to the public and everything he was as a person was diluted and lost including his relationship with Brabantio.
The moor according to Toker was considered as a suitor for the hand of the beautiful and elegant Portia in the merchant of the Venice though after picking the golden casket he was unsuccessful (13). But the fact that he was considered for a suitor points towards some acceptance from the society Othello, on the other hand, was an honourable soldier, but his marriage to Desdemona was what led to his predicament of losing everything even the honour he previously had.
Brabantio and Lago due to the civilized society that they came from according to Toker were not ready to accept their superior race to be contaminated with Othello’s black race. The word that Brabantio uttered immediately he knew Othello was getting married to Desdemona according to Toker indicates. He shouted with anger calling people to come and witness the injustice that is about to happen in their race in regards to matrimony.
The books go against general prejudices as it represents Othello as a noble soldier and a person of rarest quality as observed by Toker, he goes further to illustrate how when the play was watched at the end of it one would hate Lago and Othello would be admired (20).
The use of a black skinned character is illustrated by Toker as he sees it as a tool that Shakespeare used to convince the audience to confine their stereotyped to black skinned people or aliens. Toker points out that when the black slave rose to be a commander and commanded the white soldiers and went an extra mile to fall in love with Angelica this shows devotion in the side of Othello (21).
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