The Devil is in the details

Many consider Shakespeare a secular writer who avoids overt religious themes and references. Do you agree? Where in Othello do you spy religious symbolism, characterization, allusion, and theme?

It's all fun and games until someone puts his eye out . . .

At what point does the tragedy TURN in Othello? Where does a relatively innocent drama about jealousy, cuckoldry, and personal spite suddenly turn into something much more dire and dangerous? Who propels such a bloody ending? How? When?

A conspiracy of cartographers

How does (do) the physical setting(s) of this play highlight and mirror the inner conflicts at work in the characters? To think about this from another angle, why would Shakespeare move the action to Cyprus after just the 1st Act? Is Geography an important element/character in this play?

The beat of a different drummer

How is the character of Othello more "modern" and believable than Hamlet, King Lear, or Macbeth? If you'd prefer (and haven't read the above works), consider Othello's character in light of other older heroes/protagonists such as Odysseus, Gilgamesh, and King Arthur.  How does Othello depart from the stock associations and values of these more "typical" heroes?

The Horror! The Horror!

What is the nature of the evil that pervades the story of Othello? What is the central motivating factor for Iago? Is he aware of his own monstrosity? Why has Iago been characterized as THE most chilling and evil villain ever?

HeHeHeHawHeHeHawHawHaw

Shakespeare often uses humor NOT ONLY to offer a bit of comic relief, BUT ALSO to underscore a certain key idea. How does he use humor in Othello to highlight a key message of the play? (Please do not merely comment on the "comic relief" aspect of the humor; these responses will not count for credit.)

Original Student Entries for Othello

What observations, theories, or questions are you playing with as you read Othello and consider one of our listed ** Essential Questions?