Black vs. White

After we watched the 1995 version of Othello in class, I immediately became aware of the impact color played in my own interpretation of the final scene. The words Black and white refer not just to race, but represent the moral nature of the characters in Othello. There are countless examples of white being a color that represents innocence and youth, a view that was supported in Desdemona's depiction in Act 4 Scene 3 as well as in the movie. In the play, Emilia states that she had "laid those sheets [she] bade [her] on the bed." These sheets in themselves represent Desdemona's virginity and the innocence she had yet to lose. In the movie, the color of her gown is stark white, the color that represents purity and truth.

If I had not read the play and watched the final scene of the movie, the color of Othello and Desdemona's garments would greatly effect my perceptions of who was "good" and who was "evil." In the 1995 version, Othello is shown walking to Desdemona's room covered in a white smock. When covered in this white garment, Othello was crying and mourning Desdemona's awaited fate. Underneath this overcoat, Othello was dressed in all black. As Othello states he's "going to put out the light" he removes his white garment. The character that appeared to be completely heartbroken over the "betrayal" of his wife was replaced by an outraged man whose sole purpose was to punish his wife for her unfaithfulness. It is when he is clothed in black, not white, that Othello kills the innocent Desdemona. This scene in itself represents the symbolism these two colors have on the audience. Black represents evil, trickery, and deceit and white is all that is honest, pure, and innocent.