Themes in Shakespeare's Othello. Other themes may exist this may just have some. There are quotes from the play to match each theme.

1. Name…………………………………………………………………………………………….
Themes in Shakespeare’s Othello-
 Appearance vs Reality
 Deception
 Good vs Evil
 Isolation
 Order vs Chaos
 Pride
 Racial Prejudice
Appearance vs Reality
“But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
for daws to peck at. I am not what I am.”
Appearance vs Reality is a recurring theme in Shakespeare’s Othello.
In almost every instance appearance hides some degree of importance
in reality. For Othello, seeing is believing and proof of the truth is
visual. This theme is especially relevant to Iago’s character. Although
he is called “honest”, many time in the play by many people, he is
actually treacherous, deceitful and manipulative.
Roderigo: Tush , never tell me, I take it musch unkindly
That thous, Iago who hast had my purse
As if the strings were thine shouldst know this.
The tragic plot of Othello hinges on the ability of Iago to mislead
other characters by encouraging them to misinterpret what they see.
Early in the play Iago realizes Othello’s greatest flaw. That is, that he
is unable to see further than appearance and reality is unrecognized
by him. It is this major flaw that would account for Othello’s defeat.

2. Iago: The Moor is of a free and open nature,
That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,
And will as tenderly be led by the nose
As asses are.
In act 3 scene 3 Othello has been forced by Iago to believe
that Desdemona (Othello’s wife) is having an affair with Cassio. In this
act Othello askes Iago to be sure of his assumptions in regards to his
wife, “Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore, be sure of it,
give me ocular proof.” Although Othello pleaded with Iago for the
truth he instead is deluded with imaginary pictures of Desdemona
and Cassio which provokes envy and jealousy in Othello.
Iago: “ Cassio, my lord? No, sure I cannot think it
That he would steal away so guilty like,
Seeing you coming”
It is through the use of language (e.g the above lines) that assist
Iago in deluding the “valiant moor” Othello.
Deception
“O treason of the blood!”
The theme of deception is to some extent foreshadowed by
appearance vs reality. Iago, arguably, is literature’s most impressive
master of deception. Iago plots with consummate sophistication,
carefully manipulating Othello (without real proof) into believing that
Desdemona has been unfaithful. Iago deceive the other characters

3. putting himself in the role of ‘director’ of a kind of play within a
play.
Iago derives his sense of manhood through his understanding of
the human psyche and as a result is able to orchestrate a complicated
interweaving of pre-planned scenarios. As a result of this he is able
to manipulate others. “I’ll tell you what you shall do” Iago may be
thought as “Janus” the roman two faced god of beginnings. This
sums up the character of Iago.
In Othello, Desdemona’s father (Brabantio) accuses his daughter
of deceit. This is as Desdemona asserts independence from her father
nd obedience to Othello. “But here’s my husband; And so much duty
as my mother showed to you, preferring you before her father, so
much I challenge that I may profess due to my lord” Brabantio feels
that his daughter has deceived him as she has eloped with the
“Barbary horse” Othello, “O she deceives me!”
Brabantio defines her independence as “… treason of the blood!”
Brabantio heartbreaking statement signifies that he believes, by
Desdmona marrying Othello, she has committed the highest form of
betrayal, disloyality to her family. It is in this same breath that he
warns Othello that if she has been disloyal to her father she would
soon do the same to him. “She has deceived her father and may
thee” this allows Iago to further manipulate Othello into believeing
that Desdemona is unfaithful.
*Under deception is Misrepresentation
This is what allows Iago to gain trust and manipulate other
people; misrepresentation means that Iago is able to appear to be
“honesy,” in order to deceive and misdirect people. Othello also

4. misrepresent himself, as being simple and plain-spoken; this is not for
deceptive effect, but also is used to present ans image of himself
which is not exactly the truth.
Good vs Evil
“there are many events in the womb
of time which will be delivered. Traverse!”
Though there is much gray area between these two, Iago’s battle
against Othello and Cassio certainly counts as an embodiment of this
theme. Hatred is supposed to have caused, some concrete event or
insult that inspires a lasting rage. Iago is determined to destroy both
Othello and Cassio, but has no true reason for his destruction.
Iago: thus do I ever make my fool my purse;
For I mine own gained knowledge should profane
If I would time expend with such a snipe
But for my sport and profit. I hate the moor,
And it is thought abroad that’twixt my sheets
He’s done my office. I know not if”t be true
Yet I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do as if for surety. He holds me well:
The better shall my purpose work on him.
Cassio’ s a proper man: let me see now;
To get his place and to plume up my will
In double knavery. How? How? Let’s see. (act1 scn3)

5. At the end of the play, neither has won, as Desdemona and Emilia
are both dead, and Iago is revealed and punished.
Isolation
“I know our country disposition well. In Venice they do let [God} see the pranks
they dare no show their husbands”
Isolation in Othello affect the outcome of tragedy because it
causes characters to hear and see what they are told. Shakespeare uses
isolation to develop tragedy as the plot takes full effect in Cyprus : an
island symbolic of isolation in its truest form as it is an isolated
Venetian trading empire. The characters that contribute to this the
most are Emilia, Desdemona and Othello.
Although Emilia is smart, a good judge of character she is yet
a foolish woman. Her own ignorance accounts for the outcome of
tragedy. Her job as Desdemona’s servant requires her not to leave her
side. This makes Emilia unable to see her husband, Iago,
manipulating the other characters. In act 3 scene 3 Emilia give Iago
Desdemona’s handkerchief but in the following scene her ignorance
disallows her to realize that the handkerchief she gave her husband
is what has Othello upset as he believes that Desdemona gave the
handkerchief to Cassio. Not only is Emilia’s ignorance to be blamed
but also her husband’s jealousy. This is as Iago states “I do suspect
the lusty moor hath leaped into my seat”, as a result of this jealousy
he tries to restrict her from the other men in the play. Emilia’s
ignorance is not being able to see that her husband, Iago, is using
her to fuel his plot because she loves him, “I nothing but to please

6. his fancy” act3 snc3
Desdemona herself is isolated, as the only person we see
Desdemona can truly conversing with is Emilia. One can arguably
state that as a result of Emilia’s lack of knowledge is unable to catch
onto details that may have saved Desdemona’s life. I n Act 3 scene 4
Othello send Desdemona for her handkerchief, “Fetch me the
handkerchief”. Desdemona admits that she unaware of its where-
abouts, although Emilia, who is in the same room as well, hears
Othello asking for the handkerchief doesn’t realize that the
handkerchief she gave her husband is the same one Othello speaks
about. Although Desdemona says she is faithful and her only sins
“are loves” she bares for Othello, but her pleading n innocence goes
unrecognized as she is dead at the end.
Othello is a black man in Venice that account for his isolation.
Othello is isolated by the words of Iago, as he believes its custom for
women to cheat on their husbands, “I know our country disposition
well. In Venice they do let [God] see the pranks they dare not show
their husbands” act 3 scn 3. He is also isolated as his experience in
war is greater than his experience with women. As a direct result of
being isolated by other Venetians he is forced to believe the person
closest to him, Iago. Isolation therefore isolation accounts for the
downfall of characters.
Order vs Chaos
“Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul But I do love thee; and when I
love thee not, Chaos is come again”

7. As Othello begins to abandon reason and language, chaos takes
over. His world begins to be ruled by chaotic emotions and ver
shadowy allegations, with order pushed aside. This chaos rushes him
into tragedy, and once Othello has sunk into it, he is unable to stop
fate from taking over.
Othello: Lie with her? Lie on her? We say kie on her when the belie
her. Lie with her! Zounds, that’s fulsome! Handkerchief-
confessions- handkerchief! To confess and be hanged for his
labour. First to be hanged and then to confess. I tremble at it.
Nature would no invest herself in such shadowing passion without
same instruction. It is not words that shakes me thus. Pish! Noses,
ears, and lips. Is’t possible? – Confess? Handkerchief? O devil!
[he] falls in a trance.
Act 4 scn 1
The line above state exactly what is goin to happen to Othello,
he is going to kill and then ask questions. The lack of connection in
his language parallels descent into emotional and logical chaos as he
falls further and further away from himself. At the end of the play
Lodovico restores order by giving both Othello and Iago what the
rightfully deserve.
Lodovico: You must forsake this room and go with us.
Your power and your command is taken off
And Cassio rules in Cyprus. For this slave,
If there be any cunning cruelty
That can torment him much and hold him long
It shall be this. You shall close prisoner rest
till that the nature of your of your own fault be known
To the Venetian state. Come, bring him away. Act5 scn2

8. Pride
“ Why, anything: An honourable murder, if you will; An honourable murder,
if you will; For naught did I in hate, but all in honour.”
First and foremost Othello is a solider. His military life affects
all aspects of his normal life. Pride is especially important to him.
Othello is defensively proud of himself and his achievements and
especially proud of his honorable appearance. One can argue the
point that Othello only killed Desdemona as a result of his broken
pride. He may have felt that the people/other characters were aware
of the ‘alleged’ affair with Cassion and killed her. These allegations
may have hurt his pride more than it may have injected jealousy in
him. Even after Othello has committed this murderous act he still
wants to be remember as “ an honourable murder”. It is through
this quote we see that Othello is sadden by the lost of his wife but
the lost of his reputation. He wanted to be remembered as a
powerful, accomplished and morl man in every possible instance but
after he was deluded by Iago and almost denied to him, his
wounded pride may be described as dangerous as it can be held
accountable for Desdemona’s death.

9. Racial Prejudice
“Transported with no worse nor better guard, But with a knave of common
hire, a gondolier, To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor”
Iago’s scheme would not have worked without the underlying
atmosphere of racial prejudice in the Venetian society. This is a
prejudice that both Othello and Desdemona are aware of. Although
both deal with it differently. On one hand, Desdemona deals with this
prejudice by disallowing it to affect who she loves or affect how she
lives. She does by asserting independence from her father Brabantio
and marrying Othello - a black moor. “… but here’s my husband; And
so much duty as my mother showed to you, preferring you before her
father, so much I challenge that I may profess due to my lord!” By
Desdemona’s language we see that her love/relationship with Othello
is one of true love and she loyal only to her marriage.
On the other hand, Othello, unlike Desdemona allows racial
prejudice to govern his life. H is a military general, who has risen to
a position of power and influence. At the same time, the fact that
he’s a black man in Venice marks him as an outsider and exposes
him to racial prejudice. ( this can be compared to Deighton in Brown
Girl, Brown Stones by Paule Marshal) Language of racism serves to
further heighten prejudice, “barbay horse”, “lascivious moor”. Othello
forces himself to believe that he does not deserve Desdemona, “I am
not worthy of Desdemona”. He then goes on to list his insecurities as
reasons why Desdemona shouldn’t love him or why he believes
himself unworthy of her. (e.g I am not attractive”). And could easily
explain why he belives that Desdemona is a “whore” in Venice. All
these thoughts are as a result of Iago’s trickery as he preys upon
Othello’s insecurities.

10. Since the play is concerned with the fears of miscegenation (
intermixing of races via marriage, sex etc) both gender and sex
play significant roles in the major theme of racial prejudice.
Gender
Unmarried women were regarded as the property of their
fathers’. Most make characters in othello assume that all Venetian
women are inherently promiscuous. This explains why female
sexuality is a huge treat to men in the play. This along with
Othello’s race/colour encourages the illusion that Desdemona ha
cheat on him.
Sex
Shakespeare’s play explore some common sixteenth century
anxieties
about miscegenation ( interracial marriages) by examining
relationships between black men and white women. It is believe that
the man accuses the woman of being unfaithful and strangles her in
her wedding sheets. As explained above men believes that women
are inherently promiscuous, which further serves to explain why all
three women in the play are accused of sexual infidelity.
*******************************Bonus*******************************
Military life vs love life