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OTHELLO THEMES
- Appearance vs.
reality
- Especially relevant to the issue of Iago's
character; for although he is called "honest"
by almost everyone in the play, he is
treacherous, deceitful, and manipulative.
Also applies to Desdemona, as Othello
believes that she is deceitful and impure,
although she is really blameless and
innocent.
- Especially relevant to the issue of Iago's
character; for although he is called "honest"
by almost everyone in the play, he is
treacherous, deceitful, and manipulative.
Also applies to Desdemona, as Othello
believes that she is deceitful and impure,
although she is really blameless and
innocent.
- RACE
- Race is an extremely important theme; it has a
great amount of influence on how people regard
Othellofor those who distrust black people merely
on looks never like Othello, like Iago. Race also
determines how Othello perceives himself as a
rough outsider, though he is nothing of the sort.
Othello's race sets him apart, and makes him very
self-conscious; it makes him work hard and look
carefully after his reputation, so he is regarded as
equal to the white people that surround him.
- Race is an extremely important theme; it has a
great amount of influence on how people regard
Othellofor those who distrust black people merely
on looks never like Othello, like Iago. Race also
determines how Othello perceives himself as a
rough outsider, though he is nothing of the sort.
Othello's race sets him apart, and makes him very
self-conscious; it makes him work hard and look
carefully after his reputation, so he is regarded as
equal to the white people that surround him.
- PRIDE
- Especially important with regards to Othello; Othello is
defensively proud of himself and his achievements, and
especially proud of the honorable appearance he presents. The
allegations of Desdemona's affair hurt his pride even more than
they inflame his vanity and jealousy; he wants to appear powerful,
accomplished, and moral at every possible instance, and when
this is almost denied to him, his wounded pride becomes
especially powerful.
- Especially important with regards to Othello; Othello is
defensively proud of himself and his achievements, and
especially proud of the honorable appearance he presents. The
allegations of Desdemona's affair hurt his pride even more than
they inflame his vanity and jealousy; he wants to appear powerful,
accomplished, and moral at every possible instance, and when
this is almost denied to him, his wounded pride becomes
especially powerful.
- GOOD VS EVIL
- Though there is much gray area
between these two, Iago's battle
against Othello and Cassio certainly
counts as an embodiment of this
theme. Iago and his evil battle to
corrupt and turn the flawed natures of
other characters, and he does
succeed to some extent. By the end
of the play, neither has won, as
Desdemona and Emilia are both
dead, and Iago revealed and
punished.
- Though there is much gray area
between these two, Iago's battle
against Othello and Cassio certainly
counts as an embodiment of this
theme. Iago and his evil battle to
corrupt and turn the flawed natures of
other characters, and he does
succeed to some extent. By the end
of the play, neither has won, as
Desdemona and Emilia are both
dead, and Iago revealed and
punished.
- HONESTY
- Although the word "honest" is usually
used in an ironic way throughout the
text, most characters in the play go
through a crisis of learning who and
who not to trust. Most of them,
unfortunately, trust in Iago's honesty;
this leads to the downfall of many
characters, as this trust in Iago's
"honesty" became a crucial
contributor to their undoing.
- Although the word "honest" is usually
used in an ironic way throughout the
text, most characters in the play go
through a crisis of learning who and
who not to trust. Most of them,
unfortunately, trust in Iago's honesty;
this leads to the downfall of many
characters, as this trust in Iago's
"honesty" became a crucial
contributor to their undoing.
- REVENGE
- Revenge 1: Iago's plot against Othello is partially
motivated by revenge. He feels wronged because he
was not made lieutenant. He is bitter and upset and
wants to hurt Othello and avenge his name. Revenge
2: Brabantio craves revenge for the loss of his
daughter. He takes revenge by bringing Othello
before the Duke to request his imprisonment.
Revenge 3: Iago develops his elaborate plot of
revenge. He will implant a false sense of jealousy in
Othello, thereupon destroying Othello's relationship
with Desdemona. Revenge 4: Again, Iago explains his
plot. He describing his plan of action as a web in
which he will catch a fly. The intricate deception all
comes down to revenge. Revenge 5: Iago plans to
enlist his wife, Emilia, in his plot of revenge,
unbeknownst to her. The web is growing to involve
more family and people of importance. Revenge 6:
Emilia and Desdemona touch upon the theme of
revenge lightly in this eloquent discussion. They
discuss the necessary actions to take when hu
- Revenge 1: Iago's plot against Othello is partially
motivated by revenge. He feels wronged because he
was not made lieutenant. He is bitter and upset and
wants to hurt Othello and avenge his name. Revenge
2: Brabantio craves revenge for the loss of his
daughter. He takes revenge by bringing Othello
before the Duke to request his imprisonment.
Revenge 3: Iago develops his elaborate plot of
revenge. He will implant a false sense of jealousy in
Othello, thereupon destroying Othello's relationship
with Desdemona. Revenge 4: Again, Iago explains his
plot. He describing his plan of action as a web in
which he will catch a fly. The intricate deception all
comes down to revenge. Revenge 5: Iago plans to
enlist his wife, Emilia, in his plot of revenge,
unbeknownst to her. The web is growing to involve
more family and people of importance. Revenge 6:
Emilia and Desdemona touch upon the theme of
revenge lightly in this eloquent discussion. They
discuss the necessary actions to take when hu
- BETRAYAL
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