Applying Theme and Setting to Shakespeare's Othello
Aim: What are the various themes that we can apply to Shakespeare's Othello and what settings do you think are appropriate to represent the settings in your act?
Do Now: Write a paragraph on what you think is an appropriate theme for Shakespeare's Othello.
Select one of the following themes and in another paragraph or two state why your selection best fits this play:
The major themes of Othello are:
Do Now: Write a paragraph on what you think is an appropriate theme for Shakespeare's Othello.
It should be a sophisticated love story that involves betrayal and revenge. This is mainly due to the fact that Iago is an evil mastermind who is going behind many character’s backs, and as he is doing this, he is disturbing and corrupting relationships. As for a one-word theme, I would find revenge the best word. After all, Iago’s revenge is what powers the entire plot of the play.
Select one of the following themes and in another paragraph or two state why your selection best fits this play:
The major themes of Othello are:
1. appearance and reality,
2. society's treatment of the outsider; and
3. jealousy
2. society's treatment of the outsider; and
3. jealousy
I feel as though jealousy is the best theme for Othello. The main driving force of the plot is Iago’s quest for revenge. Mostly everything throughout Othello is based of Iago’s need to carry out his revenge. However, this revenge is all based on Iago’s jealously of Michael Cassio being promoted to Lieutenant over him. If Iago was not jealous of Michael Cassio, then he probably would not feel a need to carry out any revenge.
Carrying the jealously theme even further, Iago utilizes Rodrigo’s jealously of Othello for eloping with Desdemona in his revenge. If Rodrigo was not jealous, he may not have listened to Iago’s plans and therefore the plot of Othello would not have been the same.
Carrying the jealously theme even further, Iago utilizes Rodrigo’s jealously of Othello for eloping with Desdemona in his revenge. If Rodrigo was not jealous, he may not have listened to Iago’s plans and therefore the plot of Othello would not have been the same.