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1. 
   parkerlee Teacher
   

   eNotes Editor

   Black and white are universal symbols of right and wrong or good and evil, but in Shakespeare's "Othello" there is an evident reversal of imagery. Shakespeare uses this particular twist of metaphor to reinforce the idea of the detrimental effect of preconceived ideas about people, in other words 'prejudice.'

   Check out the following enote references for more information.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/othello/race

   http://www.enotes.com/othello/role-race-othello

   http://www.enotes.com/othello/villainy-iago

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   Posted by parkerlee on Wednesday April 8, 2009 at 10:42 AM
   
   

2. 
   namminga Student
   Graduate School

   Black and white are symbols of good and evil.  Black and white are also a pair, so without white as the symbol of good you cannot fully understand the idea of black as evil.  In Othello Shakespeare plays with the traditional conception of black and white and good and evil in society and culture.  Shakespeare assigns the "good" character, Othello, black ethnicity and the "evil" character, Iago, white ethnicity.

   If you need more help understanding Shakespeare, the No Fear Shakespeare books are excellent resources.

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   Posted by namminga on Wednesday April 8, 2009 at 1:45 PM