Themes of Othello

1. Prejudice

A) "... an old black ram

Is tupping your white ewe."

- Act 1, scene 1, lines 89 - 90

    Here Roderigo and Iago demonstrate an act of prejudice based on race. They say very crude and racist things about Othello simply because he is black. They say that Brabantio’s daughter Desdemona is intimately related to an old, disgusting animal.

    Racism still exists today (hate groups, Anti-Semetic movements, genocides) however I like to think violence based on racial issues has subsided a lot today compared to a few decades before us. Black History Month has become more and more popular, raising awareness about racism and its horrible consequences in the past. While there will always be extremist groups who choose to hate certain races, I hope that it will decrease with the years. 

C) "I therefore apprehend and do attach thee

For an abuser of the world, a practiser

Of arts inhibited and out of warrant."

- Act 1, scene 2, lines 77 - 79

 

D) "Whoe'er he be that in this foul proceeding

Hath thus beguil'd your daughter of herself,

And you of her, the bloody book of law

You shall yourself read in the bitter letter

After your own sense, yea, though our proper son

Stood in your action."

- Act 1, scene 3, lines 65 – 70

     Here Brabantio and the Duke are assuming the worst of Othello before hearing the whole story. They assume that he put a spell on Desdemona, that he abused her and that he deserves to be punished. However, they don’t know that Desdemona legitimately fell in love with Othello and judge him before taking the time to look at all sides.

    This prejudice exists still today. Teenagers will at times believe gossip rumours about another teenager without getting to know the truth of what actually happened. Others accuse people of acts they didn’t commit because they assume the worst of that person. Everywhere you go, people tend to judge you based on your appearance or your first encounter without taking the time to know you; especially in high schools. The recent "crackdown" on bullying in elementary schools has helped a bit however I think as long as humans exist, prejudice will always exist. It is human nature to evaluate people based on what we observe when we first meet someone.

2. Identity

"Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation!"

- Act 2, scene 3. lines 245 - 248

    Identity is a big theme all throughout Othello. Shakespeare highlights how much reputation and social status influenced character's identities. For example, Iago uses reputation to destroy Cassio's identity. He ruins him and all he is by showing Montano that Cassio is always drunk and that he is completely irresponsible. Cassio exclaims that his reputation is completely destroyed and that without it, he is nothing.  This goes to show how important your reputation was in the Elizabethan era and how they felt what others thought of you was crucial to your own personal identity. Another factor of one's identity is your race and social status. As we see in Othello and Desdemona's marriage, the unity of two different social classes and even worse, races, was not easily accepted. In the 1600's you couldn't marry or have any relationships with other classes without being looked down upon.

    Nowadays, our identity is not so much distinguished by our race or social status anymore, but moreso how we feel about issues, our values and beliefs. People have become much more united by common ideas and philosophies rather than physical aspects of life. However identity will always be an issue in the development of humans. Everyone goes through questions of what they really want, and who they really are. It's a stage that every single human being has to pass through to feel that they have a fulfilling life.

    Manipulation (of identity)

"Thus do I ever make my fool my purse,

For I mine own gain'd knowledge should I profane

If I would time expend with such a snipe

But for my sport and profit."

- Act 1, scene 3, lines 374 - 377

    In this passage, Iago is clearly taking advantage Roderigo, one who is not as cunning or smart as himself. He manipulates Roderigo to take the risk to talk to Brabantio in the beginning of the Act but also to sell all of his land so that Iago can use this money to advance his scheme. Later on in the play, Iago also manipulates Cassio and Othello.

    Iago ruin's Cassio's reputation and makes him vulnerable, then manipulates him to talk to Desdemona which sets him up for ambush. Iago then "pours pestilence" into Othello's ear to cloud his judgement , make him vulnerable as a warrior who is supposed to be in charge of everything and then sweeps him into his web to destroy Othello's life. All this manipulation of their identities is what really seals their fate.

    There are many people today who take advantage of those of less abled in today’s society. 

Those with power and authority tend to abuse it (corrupt police officers, Catholic priests convicted of sexual abuse) and there are some who simply try to make themselves feel better by stringing along weaker individuals (bulllies in schools, those who abuse mentally disabled men and women). Much like deceit, if people see a possible personal gain, they will do anything to get it. Manipulation is a form of taking advantage of people in order to get something out of them for their personal profit. To this day, when someone demoralizes another or dehumanizes them, manipulation is only amplified. In any era when you belittle someone and take their identity, something irreplaceable, the damage is all the more worse.

3. Perception vs. Reality

"For when my outward action doth demonstrate

The native act and figure of my heart

In complement extern, 'tis not long after

But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve

For daws to peck at. I am not what I am."

- Act 1, scene 1, lines 62 – 66

False Perceptions:

- Iago is "honest"

- Desdemona is a "whore"

- Cassio is a "drunk"

- Roderigo has a chance with Desdemona

- Othello is in control of his life

    Throughout all of Othello, there is always the notion of perception vs. reality. What characters are perceived as to other characters are almost always false and the direct opposite of what they really are. The biggest example: Iago is "honest" and "good" but really, he is the most flawed and evil character there is. Desdemona, perceived as a whore and cheater to Othello, is the most innocent of all. Cassio is actually a really good guy, very responsible but is falsely perceived as a drunk. Roderigo believes until the very end that he actually has a chance with Desdemona and Othello really isn't in control of his life; he becomes miserable and torn apart by his wife's alleged affair.

    You see this deceit in other literary works (Valère in Molière’s L’Avare pretends to be Harpagon’s best servant for his own personal gain) and definitely in real life. Teenagers also backstab each other in vengeance. Unfortunately many people still live according to the “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer” rule. Ultimately if possible gain comes into play and greed takes over, people will do anything to become richerm, including deceiving innocent people (internet scams, lying to the public in order to get a higher position for a job).