Othello

In Act I, the Venetian Senate asks Othello to defend Cyprus against the Turks. All of the play’s major characters sail to Cyprus, but a storm stops the Turkish fleet in Act II, eliminating the reason for Othello’s journey to Cyprus. Why do you think Shakespeare moved the action of the play to Cyprus, rather than leave his characters in Venice?

Which character does Iago have the easiest time manipulating, and why might some characters be more susceptible to his manipulation than others?

If Desdemona were guilty of an affair with Cassio, do you think Emilia would have considered her murder just? Provide evidence for your argument.

Do you consider any of the characters in the play to be heroic? Why or why not? 

What are the differences and similarities between Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca? How do the men regard and treat them, and how do they regard and treat each other and the men in the play?

In Act I, Iago states that his malice towards Othello is because he chose Cassio for promotion over him. He goes on to amend his motivation, saying that he also suspects both Othello and Cassio of having sex with Emilia. Why do you think Shakespeare gave Iago multiple motives for tormenting Othello?

In Act V, after Othello has murdered Desdemona, Iago refuses to explain himself. Does the reader or audience know more about Iago’s motives than Othello at this point? What might be motivating Iago to stay silent?

At the end of the play, Othello implies that Iago is not a man, but a “devil” (5.2 337). Do you think Iago is a human character, or is he only an evil force acting on other characters?