throughout the play. Because he is angry that Othello has passed .
over him for a promotion, he vows revenge. Playing upon .
Othello's jealousy, he deceives him into believing that .
Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. He also deceives .
Roderigo, making him believe that Desdemona will tire of .
Othello and eventually be won by Roderigo. It is Iago's repeated .
deceptions that move the plot of the play forward to the ultimate .
climax and tragedy. .
Another minor theme of Othello is love, and the play can be .
considered a romantic tragedy. The play is romantic because it .
celebrates "the marriage of two minds" as embodied in Othello .
and Desdemona. They marry in spite of the protests of .
Desdemona's father, and she faithfully follows her husband .
wherever he is sent. Their romantic marriage, however, is ruined .
by the villainous machinations of Iago. Othello is eventually led .
to murder his beloved, turning the romantic play into a tragedy. .
A third minor theme of Othello revolves around appearance vs. .
reality. Iago has an honest face, which helps hide his deceitful .
soul. Othello appears to be strong and courageous, a leading .
general, but he is easily tricked into fearing that his wife is .
unfaithful. It appears that Desdemona has left her treasured .
handkerchief with Cassio; in reality, Emilia has taken it and Iago .
has planted in on Cassio. Because of Iago's trickery, it appears to .
Othello that Desdemona is involved with Cassio; in truth, she is .
innocent, loving her husband dearly. Throughout the play, Iago is .
instrumental in making sure that reality is disguised by .
appearances, which he manipulates. .
MOOD .
The predominant mood of the whole play is somber and tragic. .
Iago works his evil almost from the opening scene, and each new .
deception that he plans brings greater misery. The tragic gloom .
that he causes is only occasionally relieved by comedy, provided .
by Roderigo and the Clown. .
OVERALL ANALYSES .
CHARACTERS .
