An Opinion

by amy

    Many people believe that a main theme in Othello is the fact that Othello is black and Desdemona is white. 

I don't feel this is so.

In the world we live in today, surely we can see that the differences between Othello and the Venetians go much deeper than the color of their skin.  Othello was an outsider, and that is a place that many people have been in in their lifetime.  That is why Shakespeare goes on being popular:   because of the universal themes in his works. 

Also, the most predominant theme in Othello is the jealousy issue.  Iago is jealous of Cassio, Othello becomes jealous of Desdemona and Cassio's supposed relationship, Bianca is jealous of Desdemona.  It keeps recurring because it is such a common emotion.  And it is incredibly resonant in us because, as far as emotions go, jealousy is one that is a total mystery to us.   That's what makes it interesting.

So I say to anyone who thinks the race issue is so important:

Look at your life and see how much you notice race compared to the amount of emotions you feel.

Emotions are our lives; Shakespeare knew that.