Having trouble thinking of a topic and focus for your Othello essay?
Check out some of these prompts to help you formulate an argument about
the play.
Write an essay in which you discuss the character of
Iago. Here are some possible positions you might take in
your essay:
■ Iago is a classic two-faced villain, with no motives for
his crimes other than to “plume up his will.” His soliloquies
are, as Coleridge put it, merely the
“motive-hunting of motiveless malignity.”
■ Iago is not a believable character: he is too evil, like a
caricature of a villain. Shakespeare should have made
him more human, more realistic.
■ Iago is not as terrible a villain as he is commonly
thought, and certainly no evil genius. He never meant
for his plan to go as far as it did—he never meant for
Desdemona or Cassio or Othello to die. He just wanted
to get revenge on Othello, who he believed slept
with his wife, but his plan spun out of his control.
■ Although it is commonly believed that the Moor’s jealousy
leads to the tragic events in Othello, it is actually
Iago’s jealousy that that causes the tragedy.
Write a critical essay examining the character of
Desdemona. Before you start, brainstorm about questions
such as the following: Why did Desdemona marry Othello,
when she could have chosen from all the “wealthy curled
darlings” of Venice? What does that choice say about her?
Why does she continue to declare her love for Othello
even as his actions become more abusive and irrational? In
your essay, consider how Desdemona’s character is developed
not only through her own words and actions but also
through what other characters say about her—notably
Brabantio, Cassio, and Emilia.
Write an essay examining the role of race in Othello. In
your essay, you might deal with such questions as the following:
Is Othello’s race an important factor in the play?
Does racism contribute to Othello’s tragic downfall? If so,
CRITICAL WRITING ACTIVITIES 263
how? If not, why not?
Is Othello a true tragic hero? Is he the central character
of the play? If Othello is a tragic hero, what is his tragic
flaw? Some critics have said it is his jealousy; others have
said it is his gullibility, in that he is too quick to believe
Iago’s insinuations. Other critics have claimed that Othello
is not a true tragic hero, because he is brought down not
by a tragic flaw but by the machinations of the villain Iago.
Still others have claimed that the true hero of the play is
not Othello, but Iago. Write an essay in which you defend
your position on the matter. Discuss how well Othello fits
the definition of a tragedy, and how well Othello fits the
definition of a tragic hero.
In Othello, Shakespeare gives a representation of three
types of women: the privileged noblewoman, the tough
middle-class servant, and the low-class prostitute. Examine
his depictions of each of these women. Was Shakespeare
sexist? That is, do you think he would agree with Iago that
women are useless creatures who “rise to play, and go to
bed to work”? Was he classist? For example, would he
agree with Cassio that it would be ridiculous to marry a
common prostitute like Bianca? Does he mean for us to
view the high-class Desdemona as a more pure and better
person than Emilia? Brainstorm on these questions, and
then come up with a thesis statement about Shakespeare’s
depiction of women. In your essay, use quotes and examples
from the play to support your thesis.
Explain the use of deception throughout the play. Be careful to remember that Iago
is not the only character guilty of deception.
Explain the function of jealousy throughout the play.
Analyze how Othello’s background affects his ability to be manipulated by Iago.
Discuss Othello’s relationship with Desdemona. How does his love for her change
throughout the play? Do you believe he ever truly loves her?
Compare and contrast Iago’s and Othello’s language throughout the play. How does
each character’s language illustrate his character? At what point do the characters
begin to speak alike? What is the implication in that change?