THEMES

THEMES

1. JEALOUSY- a tyranny

   • Destroys love, honor and nobility
   • Makes male characters murderous and violent
   • Its nature seems not to be satisfied
     • Iago must continue with his lies until Desdemona is dead
   • Othellos violent threats ' tear her all to pieces' and 'chop her into messes'
     • He also wants to kill his rival Cassio
   • Leads to Othellos suicide once his jealousy has been proved false
     • Also destroys Iago, his tortue is a punishment for his jealous crimes
   • 'The green eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on'
     • Sense of devouring, Iago describes Othello as 'eaten up with passion'

2. LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS

   • Double standards
     • Different conducts for men and women
       • Bianca= a strumpet so breaks this
       • The masculine code of honour is threatened by the idea of active female sexuality
         • Iago destroys Othello by making him believe his wife has cheated
   • Couples
     • Desdmonia and Othello are the only couple in a harmonious relationship
       • Emilia is merely 'food' for Iago, when she disobeyed him her husband tries to kill her
     • Iago's misogyny
       • The relationship distorted by an intruder, he cannot bear to see two lovers 'well turned'
   • A love triangle
     • Iago's fear that Desdemona has power
       • mocking reference to her as Othello's 'general', he cannot bear the fact she has an influence
     • Iago despises Othello for giving into love, a female emotion

3. OTHELLO'S RACE

   • 'saw Othello's visage in his mind' looked past his colour or his origins excited her
   • Desdemona- only character who does not view mixed race marriages as wrong
   • Duke to Brabantio 'your son-in-law is far more fair than black' excusing blackness?
   • 'Sooty bosom' 'thicklips' 'an old black ram' are negative racial stereotypes
   • An outsider? Black man serving a white patriarchy