In "Othello," by William Shakespeare, it can be observed that even though Othello appears to be of good nature, his race affects how some of the other characters behave towards him. Othello's race affects how the play develops, especially in regards to his relationship with Desdemona. While the Venetians do not appear to have any issue with having a black high ranking soldier, some do appear to have an issue with a white woman marrying a black man. .
In Othello, Iago and Roderigo go to Brabantio to explain that Othello has stolen his daughter, Desdemona. They don't tell Brabantio that Othello and Desdemona have gotten married, the way that they portray it is as if the only way Desdemona would have gone with Othello is by trickery; ultimately leading to that she would not have gone with Othello willing because it is wrong. In fact, Brabantio goes to the senate because he believes them. .
Brabantio thinks that Desdemona could not have fallen in love with Othello or marry him; he believes that Othello has used spells and witchcraft to make her marry him. Brabantio actually says to the Duke "By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks, For nature so prepost'rously to err" (1.3.61-62) to convince him that their relationship is against nature. Since Othello is black Brabantio thinks it is against nature for them to even be together and reiterates it saying to the Duke and Senator, "Against all rules of nature, and must be driven To find out practices of cunning hell" (1.3.101-102). Brabantio is trying to convince them that Desdemona would not have married a black man without the spells. Although he doesn't know it since he only is aware of Roderigo agreeing with him, there is other Venetians who also agree with him. .
Iago appears to be against Desdemona and Othello's union, from informing her father and Roderigo for his own motives to manipulating Othello because of his race.
