"And till she come, as truly as to Heaven
I do confess the vices of my blood,
So justly to your grave ears I'll present
How I did thrive in this fair lady's love
And she in mine."- Othello Pg. 1375
(Answer to Question 5)
As Mr. Costello already outlined in our worksheet from the beginning of this week, the main themes of Othello so far tend to be love, hatred, jealousy, and deception. Othello has a love so true for Desdemona, and she for him. They're happily married and totally in love. Roderigo on the other hand is jealous of their marriage because he too believes he loves Desdemona. Iago is furious that Othello gave his new position to a math geek whose never seen battle. He is also angry because rumor has it Othello has been sleeping with his wife. Iago also deceives all the characters when he pretends to be this nice, loyal guy when in reality he is an evil man out to get revenge. These themes enhance the dramatic experience because they help build both the plot and increase the emotion of the play. Iago is currently being honest with the audience, but I have a feeling we don't know the extent of his plot to take down Othello. Also what's to come of Othello's and Desdemona's relationship when it seems everyone is trying to tear them apart? And poor Roderigo is nothing but a heart broken pawn in Iago's game. The reason these themes heighten the pleasure of the thematic experience is because these are all feelings everyone can relate to. At some point in their life everyone has gotten jealous of another's job or relationship, has fallen in love with someone, or has hidden a part of who they truly are. This play's themes are universal and timeless. Even in today's society these ideas are still relevant. The themes stem from the core of our being which connects with the audience and therefore engages them. Shakespeare has done an excellent job of writing a play that outlines all important human concerns.
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