"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, / But I for mere suspicion in that kind/ Will do as if for surety."
~ Iago, Othello, I.iii.366-369
The suspicion that started it all....
5. What themes does the play present? To what extent do the thematic materials of the play have an effect on the dramatic experience? Does the power of the ideas increase or decrease the pleasure of the theatrical experience? Does the play seem either too didactic or insufficient in its presentation of important human concerns?
One of the biggest themes in the play is jealousy. It is involved in almost every aspect of conflict - Iago's plotting against Othello, Othello's excessive anger towards Desdemona and Cassio, and Roderigo's love for Desdemona. We see it throughout, but somehow it doesn't overwhelm the play or the experience of the audience. I think that because jealousy is something that people deal with on a daily basis and something that everyone has experienced personally at least once, the large concentration of jealous behavior and theme doesn't seem inundating. It is natural for people to see this. Also, because it is so common in everyday life, it is very relatable - while the audience would like to see everyone be friends and sit in a circle singing Kumbaya, they know that this is realistic, raw, and good - it heightens their theatrical experience. This human concern is addressed well.
And now, a song from the marvelous Darren Criss describing Othello's main theme.
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