Othello – Themes
There are several themes at play in Othello—many more than time allows us to explore. A couple of
them, however, are listed below.
Your first task: In the blank lines provided, please identify 3 additional themes in the play.
1. Appearance vs. Reality
2. Jealousy
3. ______________________________
4. ______________________________
5. ______________________________
Your second task: Using the table below, for 4 different themes, identify 3 passages AND write 3
accompanying explanations for each of these themes. You can finish up Theme 1 that I started, but you
still need to do 3 new ones for this theme—in the boxes provided—if you choose to do that.
Theme 1: Appearance vs. Reality
Passage – write it out! (and cite using
act.scene.line(s) notation)
“I hate the Moor / And it is thought
abroad that ‘twixt my sheets / ‘Has done
my office. I know not it’f be true, / But I,
for mere suspicion in that kind, / Will do
as if for surety.” (1.3.429-433)
Explanation (5-8 sentences)
This passage comes from Iago’s first soliloquy in Act 1,
Scene 3. It features him speaking generally about his
hatred for the Moor (Othello) and specifically about the
rumor that Othello has slept with his wife, Emilia. Iago says
explicitly that he doesn’t know if it’s true, but because he’s
heard it and has suspicions about similar situations, he’s
going to assume that it is true—that Othello did in fact
sleep with Emilia—and, furthermore, he’s going to act
accordingly. This relates to the theme of appearance vs.
reality because a rumor is something that creates a
specific appearance of something or someone, whether
it’s true or not. A rumor is also something that is usually
spread verbally among people without any clear proof—
it’s just hear-say, which further adds to the concept of
appearance. Proof, on the other hand, confirms the reality
of something. Because Iago is assuming and acting on
mere rumor here, this illuminates the tension between
appearance and reality. Thus, the reader is forced to
question what is true in the play (reality) and what is pure
fabrication (appearance).
1
Theme 1: Appearance vs. Reality (continued)
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Theme 2: ______________________________________
Passage – write it out! (and cite using
act.scene.line(s) notation)
Explanation (5-6 sentences)
3
Theme 3: ______________________________________
Passage – write it out! (and cite using
act.scene.line(s) notation)
Explanation (5-6 sentences)
4
Theme 4: ______________________________________
Passage – write it out! (and cite using
act.scene.line(s) notation)
Explanation (5-6 sentences)
5
Theme 5: ______________________________________
Passage – write it out! (and cite using
act.scene.line(s) notation)
Explanation (5-6 sentences)
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