In Othello, love is a force that overcomes large obstacles and is tripped up by small ones. Shakespeare’s Othello uses the medium of theatre to present ideas such as jealousy, appearance versus reality and racism through a variety of literary techniques while also encompassing the conventions of a classic Shakespearean tragedy. The audience can see how Bianca, an obvious prostitute in Venice, at the disposal of Cassio, is rejected from society because she uses her sexuality in a loose manner. series editors: w. geiger ellis, ed.d., university of georgia, emeritus and arthea j. s. reed, ph.d., university of north carolina, retired a teacher’s guide to the signet classic edition of william shakespeare’s othello by debra (dee) james, university of north carolina at asheville Explore the different themes within William Shakespeare's tragic play, Othello.Themes are central to understanding Othello as a play and identifying Shakespeare's social and political commentary. Through analysing this play, one can come to understand the dangers of racial injustice in relationships, especially in the relationship of Othello and Desdemona and the setting of the play, thus the conventions of the time. Tragedy in Othello. Only Iago voices an explicitly stereotypical view of Othello, depicting him … Othello, by contrast, is a noble figure of great authority, respected and admired by the duke and senate of Venice as well as by those who serve him, such as Cassio, Montano, and Lodovico. ‘Typically, texts about romance that breaks social conventions present such love as objectionable and dangerous.’ In light of this view, discuss how Shakespeare presents relationships in this extract and elsewhere in the play. In Othello, the major themes reflect the values and the motivations of characters.. Love. Social position also impacted Othello and Desdemona’s relationship, as they were from different social classes. She falls in love with Othello and acts on her own to elope with him, eschewing social conventions. The tragedy lies in Shakespeare conforming to these racist social conventions. And she is unwavering in her kindness to Cassio. Desdemona was the daughter of a senator, a well regarded, upper class man. Othello may also be seen to show how it was a behavioural expectation for women to be promiscuous by nature, but it was a social convention for them to be pure and wholesome. Once the social conventions have been broken, we begin to see the cruel vicious and murderous side of man. The list could go on, but this gives us an idea of how pervasive the theme of marrying for love versus social convention was in Shakespeare's plays. The speed with which Othello is transformed from respected general to reviled outsider reveals the strength of prejudices more or less repressed by other characters throughout the majority of the play. Through no fault of her own, her independent spirit and goodness are used against her by Iago in his plot to ruin Othello. Once there's reason to exclude him from the social group, Othello quickly is diminished to the status of outsider among the Venetians. Othello, apart from Act I in Venice, is located entirely within the fortress at Cyprus. We see his self-seeking, his hatred and violence. Othello was a General in the Venetian Military, and while that was a highly classed job, it was considered below Desdemona’s class. In the play, Othello comes up against the evil around him. “She’s like a liar gone to burning hell: Twas I that killed her!” Act 5 Scene 2 Othello: Othello proudly declares that he has killed his wife moments after denying having any knowledge of her death. She argues convincingly to go with him on the military mission to Cyprus. Verona, Othello and Desdemona in Othello, and Bianca and Lucentio in The Taming of the Shrew. 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