: Essay Topics Some have said that the focus of is not the title character, as is the case with Shakespeare's other great tragedies, , , and . Is Othello simply too one-dimensional to be considered a great tragic hero? Does his seemingly unrealistic gullibility lessen our interest in him and his suffering?
Why does Othello not investigate Iago's accusations? Why does Othello not seek his own proof of Desdemona's betrayal?
Samuel Taylor Coleridge once wrote that Iago's soliloquies are the "motive-hunting of motiveless malignity." Is this an accurate observation? Does Iago have a motive or motives for his hatred of Othello?
Explore the character of Desdemona. What does she represent in the play?
If you read the play closely you will see that not enough time could have elapsed on Cyprus for Desdemona to have committed adultery. Examine the problem of time in and the possible dramatic reasons behind this unrealistic passage of time.
Discuss Othello's relationship with Desdemona. Does he truly love her?
Examine the female characters in the play. Do they share a common role in Othello?
Explore the issue of racism in and relate it to the problems of racial hatred in Elizabethan England.
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| : Complete Explanatory Notes
: Plot Summary
: Q & A
|  36 pages • 1 hour read A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. Before You Read Act Summaries & Analyses Character Analysis Symbols & Motifs Important Quotes  Essay TopicsDiscussion Questions Why do you think Shakespeare chose to write Othello as a Moor and Desdemona as a Venetian? How do their respective races affect the plot? Support your answer with evidence. In Act I, the Venetian Senate asks Othello to defend Cyprus against the Turks. All of the play’s major characters sail to Cyprus, but a storm stops the Turkish fleet in Act II, eliminating the reason for Othello’s journey to Cyprus. Why do you think Shakespeare moved the action of the play to Cyprus, rather than leave his characters in Venice? Which character does Iago have the easiest time manipulating, and why might some characters be more susceptible to his manipulation than others?  Related TitlesBy William Shakespeare All's Well That Ends Well  A Midsummer Night's Dream  Antony and Cleopatra  As You Like It  Henry IV, Part 1  Henry IV, Part 2  Henry VI, Part 1  Henry VI, Part 3 Julius Caesar  Love's Labour's Lost  Measure For Measure  Much Ado About Nothing  Featured CollectionsAudio Study Guides View Collection Banned Books Week British Literature Elizabethan Era Shakespeare |
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