This lack may result in, or contributed to, the marginalization and racism against Othello. Thus in this introduction, I will be discussing Shakespeare's play Othello and analyzing how it can be subjected to a Marxist/post-colonial reading. .
The Marxist interpretation involves looking at and deciphering the economic conflict between classes in order to gain social status. A Marxist will state that the lower classes will always and continually strive to achieve a higher position in the social hierarchy, and thus Othello can be regarded as a struggling, black outsider trying to fit into a Venetian society. The term "the Moor- is used to refer to him on countless occasions: "To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor- [1.1.125] and "With the Moor, says'st thou?- [1.1.162] within the first act, rather than his name Othello. Moors are dark skinned North Americans that were considered, in Shakespeare's context, to be both intellectually and socially inferior to those of light-skinned Christians. By looking at Othello's colour and race in relation to his social struggle, the post-colonialist aspect of the play can also be analyzed. It seems Othello's dark skin alienates him no matter the effort he places in attempting to blend into a rigidly class-structured Venetian society. Othello, being born a noble - the play hints at his descent though this plays no major role in the play - holds a status within the social hierarchy as an important army general and has the responsibility over controlling a vast army. Despite the importance of Othello to the Venetian state, Brabantio (Desdemona's father) is both horrified and dismayed at his daughter's willingness and desire to marry a dark-skinned person. He accuses Othello of being a "foul thief- and that he "Hast enchanted her!- [1.2.63-65], thus implying that for no other reasons would Desdemona have willingly fallen in love and married Othello. He claims.