Othello Essay

Characters play an important role in assisting playwrights in developing themes. In Shakespeare’s Othello the characters play an essential role in being able to communicate the themes of the play and how they are relevant to their society. Othello tells the story of a black man marrying a white woman, whom he murders because he becomes convinced that she is unfaithful. In the text, the characters and their responses to one another inform the audience of the importance of themes, such as class, power and relationships. Through the use of character in Othello, Shakespeare is enabled to communicate the differences in class, power and relationships in relation to society.

The character of Iago is used to portray the power in his relationship with Othello. Othello is a powerful military figure, he commands like a “full soldier”. He is a respected general in the army, being called a “worthy governor” for the commission of Cyprus. As a soldier, Othello is impenetrable to Iago, so...