othello questions essay

Awaken English

All things Educational. Sharing resources for Secondary English

Othello: Essay Questions

A list of potential essay questions to form revision and speed planning practice:

Jealousy is at the core of all the tragic events that occur in Othello.’ In the light of this statement, explore the dramatic function of jealousy in Shakespeare’s play. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.

‘Despite his suffering, Othello learns nothing.’ In the light of this statement, explore Shakespeare’s presentation of Othello in the play. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.

‘Othello depicts a world riddled with corruption and prejudice’. In the light of this statement, explore Shakespeare’s presentation of the values of the world in which the play is set. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.

‘Irony is a powerful device that Shakespeare uses to heighten the tragedy of Othello.’ In the light of this statement, discuss Shakespeare’s use of irony in the play. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors

‘Othello’s foolishness, as much as Iago’s cleverness, is responsible for the tragedy that unfolds.’ In the light of this statement, explore where responsibility for the tragedy might lie. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.

‘The settings in Othello are not just times and places in which action happens: they are deeply symbolic and add greatly to the meaning of the play as a whole.’ In the light of this statement, explore Shakespeare’s use of settings in the play. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.

Looking for more resources on Othello?

A compendium of useful links, exemplar material, resources and home learning

Othello Knowledge Organiser

An Othello Knowledge Organiser, based on William Shakespeare’s seminal play, including key vocabulary and crucial literary allusions and comparisons. My knowledge organisers distill important information from the text in clear and manageable pieces of information for both students to revise from, and teachers planning new curriculum content.

The Knowledge Organiser is structured into three key areas: Critical Theory, Intertextuality and Context as well as Biblical Allusions. Whilst also incorporating key quotations for each character in short sharp, high utility phrases which can be used in a range of essays.

Lizzie B. ★ 5.0 (2)

University of east anglia - ma creative writing (prose).

Friendly and approachable Cambridge graduate and PhD student, committed to making English accessible to all

Notes || Exam Prep || Character Profiles || Themes || Additional Reading & Videos

This text is included in Paper 1 . You can find notes and guides for it below.

Literary Form

Additional Reading & Videos:

Essay: Homosocial Desire and its Conversion to Homosexual Desire
Essay: The Symbolic Significance of Desdemona’s Handkerchief
Essay: Men, Women and War: An Examination of Gender Conflicts within Othello
Thesis: Courtship, Love, and Marriage in Othello: Shakespeare’s Mockery of Courtly Love
Essay: Too Gentle: Jealousy and Class in Othello
Video: Racism in Othello
Video: The Question of Race in Othello
Film: Othello (modern-day adaptation, dir. Geoffrey Sax 2001)
Film: Othello (filmed theatrical production, 1965)

Character Profiles

Proximity and Distance
Truth and Deception

Connect with PMT Education!

Revision Courses
Past Papers
Solution Banks
University Admissions
Numerical Reasoning
Legal Notices

169 Othello Essay Topics & Examples

William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello , the Moor of Venice is based on Giraldi Cinthio’s story Un Capitano Moro . You’ve probably read the plot of this masterpiece already or watched the play and are now looking for inspiration to write an A+ Othello essay. If that is the case, you’ve come to the right place!

This article contains many creative Othello essay topics, thesis statements, paper examples, and more. Check it out to stimulate your creativity and complete your assignment successfully.

🔝 Top-10 Othello Essay Topics

🏆 Best Othello Essay Topics & Essay Examples

📚 Examples of Othello Thesis Statements

👍 good ideas for an essay on othello, 💡 most interesting othello topics to write about, 🎓 exceptional topics for othello essay, ⁉️ research questions on othello, 📑 othello essay examples: how to find the best ones, ❓ othello essay questions, ✨ how to write an othello essay.

William Shakespeare’s Othello
Theme of Jealousy in Othello by Shakespeare
Othello as the Outsider
The Relevance of “Othello” by William Shakespeare in the Current Society
The Tragedy of Othello: Critical Analysis — Othello Critical Essay
Female Characters in Shakespeare’s “Othello”: A Feminist Critique
The Downfall of Othello
Iago the Gardener`s Behavior in “Othello” by Shakespeare
Story, Plot, and Symbolism of “Othello” Film
Comparison of “Hamlet”, “King Lear” and “Othello” by Shakespeare

🏆 Best Othello Topic Ideas & Essay Examples

Othello’s Tragedy Othello is one of the characters who have features in William Shakespeare’s tragedy titled The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. It is clear to note that the tragedy that befell Othello was because […]
Othello: A Tragic Hero Through the Prism of Aristotle’s Definition According to him, the prerequisite of a tragedy revolves around the plot of the play. Othello, who is the main character, is a perfect example of a tragic hero.
Character of Iago in “Othello” by Shakespeare Analysis It is worth mentioning here that it is this attributes that he possessed that made him successful in manipulating other characters painting him to be a strong and compelling character.
Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ Act 1 Scene 2, Lines 60-82 This passage is in the form of a dialogue between the two characters in the play. The above lines portray Othello as a victim of prejudice.
The Heroism of Othello He is a tragic hero because of how he fits the mold, with the single difference that instead of pride, Othello is unwise in his placement of loyalties.
Minor Characters’ Role in the “Othello” by William Shakespeare In his play Othello, William Shakespeare also accentuates the meaning of minor characters and their actions for the development of the tragedy in Othello’s life.
Shakespeare’s Othello as a Subaltern Play Othello is considered a subaltern play that illustrates the conflict between the moral voice and silence of female characters and the treacherous voices of male figures.
Anti-Racism in Shakespeare’s Othello For Shakespeare, Brabantio’s views are representative of the racial prejudice of the society in general, rather than of his personal feelings towards the protagonist. On the other hand, Othello’s story is cohesive and believable; he […]
Symbolism in Shakespeare’s Othello and Pope’s The Rape of the Lock This paper aims to compare the aspects of symbolism in Othello and The Rape of the Lock. The lock in the poem “The Rape of the Lock” is more than just a coiled strand of […]
Iago’s Motives in Shakespeare’s Othello Play He does not seek to seize the treasure his intention is only to deprive the possessor of the treasure of pleasure. A cynic to the depths of his brain, he sees only the flipside in […]
Comparison of Marriage in Elizabethan Times and in “Othello” The man was believed to be the head of the family, and he had the legal right to punish his wife.
The Theme of the Tragic Hero “Othello” For Othello, the doubt and suspicion growing in his mind regarding a possible relationship between Cassio and Desdemona were started with Desdemona’s father at the beginning of the play. For Othello, his greatest weakness is […]
Othello’s Fall From Grace and Redemption at the End of the Play At the end of the play, Othello’s realizes that his naivety and lack of confidences in his wife’ innocence and fidelity.
Othello and Desdemona in “Othello” by Shakespeare This essay will discuss why the relationship between Othello and Desdemona was doomed from the start and how their tragic fate relates to the topic of jealousy.
Shakespeare’s “Othello” and Miller’s “The Crucible” The villains in both “Othello” and “The Crucible” are unique in their proficiency in the use of language for manipulating others and their ability to use the current setting for achieving their goals; Abigail is […]
Social Issues in Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Othello” The social environment of England at the end of the sixteenth and the beginning of the seventeenth century was characterized by great attention to social class, citizens’ jobs, and their reputation.
Female Character in the Shakespeare’s Othello It appears that the primary role of women in the play is for them to act as a basis on which men are evaluated.
Racism in Play “Othello” by William Shakespeare Since Othello is dark-skinned, the society is against his marriage to the daughter of the senator of Venice. In summary, the play Othello is captivating and presents racism as it was.
“Othello” by William Shakespeare: Summary and Analysis He in this way believes that Iago is an honest man and trusts him to an extent that, he leaves him with his wife and entrusts him to take care of his wife through the […]
Othello and Oedipus Rex Characters’ Traits The two characters had to overcome several obstacles in a manner that led many of their followers to respect and honor them, and their royal positions Othello can be considered to be a black member […]
Lago’s Hatred and Jealousy in the “Othello” by William Shakespeare Othello is a story by William Shakespeare that revolves around four characters, Othello, who is the general in the Venetian Army, Lago, who was Othello’s assistant in the same army, Desdemona, the daughter of a […]
Salih’s “Season of Migration to the North” and “Othello” by Shakespeare In his journey through those worst performances on English women leading a few to suicide, he did not consider the situation and emotions of women he met.
“Othello” by William Shakespeare: Military Honor and Othello The higher a person’s rank, the more he is expected to honor the code and the harder it is for him to conceive of someone else breaking it.
Cultural Diversity in the Play “Othello” It is the role of men to support women in this society, and that is why Desdemona’s father goes to court immediately, he is convinced that his daughter was bewitched by Othello.

Writing a thesis statement may benefit you in many ways. It can help you organize your thoughts and serve as a guide to your main idea. Here are some examples of thesis statements for Othello , together with corresponding essay topics:

Topic: The changing role of women in Othello . Thesis: Although women are represented as virtuous at the beginning of the play, they are later described as unfaithful and untrustworthy.
Topic: Analysis of Iago as the main antagonist. Thesis: Iago uses lies to defend his reasons for vengeance on Othello .
Topic: Othello as the representation of misogyny. Thesis: Othello describes a story of domestic violence towards women, which makes it a representation of misogyny forever present in real life.
Topic: The real causes of Othello’s tragedy. Thesis: Even though Iago may appear as the leading cause of Othello’s suffering, the underlying reasons for the Moor’s tragedy are his lack of social experience and inability to think for himself.
Topic: Detailed analysis of the theme of racism in Othello . Thesis: Othello, who is marked as an outsider due to his skin color, finds that the only suitable path in his situation is gaining enough power to force people to respect him.
Topic: Iago as the master of manipulation in Othello . Thesis: Iago analyzes other people’s weaknesses and uses them for his benefit, which makes him a perfect example of a manipulator.
The Tragedy of Othello They include Othello, who is the lead actor; Desdemona, Othello’s wife; Cassio, Othello’s lieutenant; and Iago a junior officer in the army.
What Can Lawyers Learn From ‘Othello’? Shakespeare has employed one of the literature elements by using major characters like, Othello, a hero and the head of armies, Desdemona, Othello’s covert wife, Michael Cassio, Othello’s deputy, Lago, ranked below the lieutenant, among […]
Jealousy in “Othello” by W.Shakespear Othello is not perfect either and the reason he acts the way he acts is that he is jealous; not that Desdemona cannot match his ‘principles’.
The Issue of Racial Prejudice The significance of Othello’s race and pigmentation work hard to expose racial prejudice in the Elizabethan era. Shakespeare is using the Moor to challenge the ideologies of race, sex and miscegenation in the Elizabethan period.
The Life and Work of William Shakespeare: His Contribution to the Contemporary Theater In addition, the plays and sonnets of William Shakespeare continue to set the standard for the study of the English language in its dramatic context in institutes of higher learning and performance training.
Play Analysis: Shakespeare’s “Othello” and “Twelfth Night” Iago’s persona, which is portrayed as predatory and cynical, is crucial to the tragedy because it disturbs the plot. Shakespeare succeeds in making the play unsettling by utilizing a lot of epithets, metaphors, amplifications, repetitions, […]
Shakespeare’s Othello: Hero or Villain Review However, it is still possible to view Othello as a hero but a tragic one. He is a tragic hero who suffered from his actions.
“Othello” Through the Lens of Feminist Theory It depicts female characters in a state of submission and obedience and shows the disbalance in the distribution of power between men and women.
The Character of Iago in Shakespeare’s Othello The greatest evil in the play, the catalyst for the tragedy to unfold, appears to be “the Devil,” the avatar of which can be seen in Iago.
Shakespeare’s Tragedy “Othello” Speaking of racism as a possible motivation for Iago’s behavior, it is worth noting that it is not the primary and only source of its manifestation.
The Significance of the Handkerchief to Othello The main reason for the discord is that Othello slept with his wife and justifies all the negativity toward Iago. The handkerchief is the best proof that Desdemona has entered into an intimate relationship with […]
“Le Morte Darthur” by Malory, Thomas and “Othello” by Shakespeare The mistrust grows, culminating in the assassinations of Emilia, Roderigo, and Desdemona, as well as Othello’s death. In truth, Iago’s evilness inspires Roderigo’s jealousy and Othello’s misgivings of his own innocent wife, Desdemona.
The Use of Dark Symbolism in “Othello” and “Paradise Lost” Thus, the use of dark imagery in Milton’s work is implemented to heighten the contrast between light and darkness, good and evil.
Restoring Honor and Confidence in Shakespeare’s Othello The correlation of the fate of the hero with the development of society, which is the main distinguishing feature of the genre of tragedy, can take on a variety of artistic forms.
The Tragedy of Othello by William Shakespeare: Bianca’s Innocence The Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice is considered one of the most popular works of William Shakespeare. The young courtesan, Bianca, is presented in the play as the mistress of one of the […]
Analysis of Acts I and II of Shakespeare’s Othello Play In lines “and what’s he then that says I play the villain,” Iago acknowledges that he seduces his victim, Cassio, by pretending to display good intent.
Why “Othello” by William Shakespeare Is a Tragedy To be classified as an Aristotelian tragedy, a film or story must be complex and include a situation in which a respectable person suffers a complete reversal of fortunes due to a fatal mistake and […]
Mind vs. Heart in “Othello” by William Shakespeare The main idea of the William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, written in 1604, is the confrontation of the mind and the heart.
Background of Shakespeare’s “Othello” and Sophocles’s “Antigone” Even though Othello is a Moor, he fights for Venice in this war and wins, thus proving his loyalty to the Christian Venice.
Power in Stories of Oedipus and Othello What woman in that period would not want to marry a high-ranking general and acquire the power that comes with it?
Critical Analysis of Shakespeare’s, “Othello”, Act V, Scene II Othello, a husband to Desdemona realizes later that Desdemona was a faithful and loving woman. Othello is determined to kill her however her beauty and innocent appearance restrict Othello.
Appearance in “Othello” and “A Raisin in the Sun” The paper under analysis is based on the comparison of Othello by Shakespeare and A Raising in the Sun by Hansberry through the manifesting of the theme of the racial segregation and the nature of […]
Shakespeare and His View on Kingship: Macbeth, King Lear and Othello At the same time, it is beyond doubt in the basement Macbeth’s character is clean and as a soldier, he is true to his job and his king.
Comparison of Oedipus and Othello Cases The essay intends to look at the life of Oedipus who is the main character of the book and how the gods were responsible for his downfall after the struggle he had gone through to […]
Shakespeare’s Othello: A Tragic Hero When Alexander the Great died, Aristotle fled to Chalcis, where he died the following year at the age of about 62 William Shakespeare was a strong adherent of Aristotle in his writings.
Othello: The Shakespeare Story Analysis Using the three female characters of Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca, Shakespeare gives us the common view of women through the eyes of Iago and the view of the nobility through the eyes of Brabantio, Desdemona’s […]
Racism in Shakespeare’s “Othello” The purpose of this essay is to detect and analyze various traits of racism in Shakespeare’s famous piece Othello and how it relates to the character of Othello.
Speciesism in Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and Shakespeare’s Othello In Shakespeare’s play, the motif of discrimination is explored in conjunction with Othello’s dark skin color, something that caused the “noble Moore” to be treated with suspicion by other characters throughout the play.
Racism in Shakespeare’s “Othello” and Dick’s “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” The formalist analysis of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep repeats the same mistake, as it focuses on the plot devices and tropes presented in the story.
Iago and Othello Relationships With the help of relationships between Iago and Othello, Shakespeare conveyed the idea that good and evil have to coexist for the sake of the world balance.
Main Themes in “Othello” and “Chronicle of a Death Foretold” In fact, it appears that this passion is encouraged by the feelings of regret and shame more than by affection to Bayardo.
”Othello” and ”Chronicle of a Death Foretold”: A Difference Between Love and Passion Consequently, I believe that differences between passion and love have a tendency to exist, as passion is the uncontrolled actions to show affection, and love is the act of the understanding of the behavior of […]
“Othello”, “A Worn Path” and “Negro” Literature Comparison Although Hughes in his “Negro” discusses race as the main source for the character’s identity and attempts to accentuate the role of the black race for the whole world history, Shakespeare in Othello and Welty […]
“Othello” a Play by W. Shakespeare Literature Analysis Consequently, Othello seeks to distance himself with the misconstrued stereotypes of a ‘Moor.’ This essay seeks to prove that the main character’s sense of identity leads to his self-destruction.
The Ultimate Irony: “Othello” by Shakespeare Iago, a jealous man from the beginning of the play, pretends to befriend Othello and speaks to him about the danger of jealousy.
Compare and Contrast Shakespeare’s Othello and the Blind Owl by Sedayat On the other hand, in The Blind Owl, the storyteller, a pen-case decorator, falls in love with a naive woman who is virtuous and demonic at the same time. In The Blind Owl, it is […]
Philosophy of Literature: Shakespearean Tragedy In addition, it is also an indication of the facts that human beings are always nosy and ready to participate in other people’s issues.
Treatment of Women by Shakespeare and Sophocles Othello disregards the explanation that Desdemona has in regard to the accusation of being unfaithful and kills her.’She’s, like a liar, gone to burning hell, Shakespeare 28.’ After Othello killed Desdemona, he believed more in […]
The Movie Adaptation of the “Othello” by William Shakespeare In its turn, this explains the lessened plausibility of film’s action, as compared to what it is being the case with original tragedy.
Machiavelli and Othello’s Leadership Skills It is not that easy to control lots of people, and this is why it is better to define the steps, which will help to take everything under control and not to be kept by […]
Othello and Desdemona: Emotional Strangers Unaware of what is happening, Desdemona continues to show her fierce devotion to her husband which both blinds her to the truth of Othello’s murderous emotions and feeds them.
Humiliation of Iago (Othello) In order to identify the actual reasons for Iago’s hatred to Desdemona and Othello, the author makes use of his own approach in analyzing the play through the prism of motives, plots, themes, and character […]
The Driving Force of Plot in Medea by Euripides, Othello by William Shakespeare, and the Epic of Gilgamesh Reading Medea by Euripides, Othello by William Shakespeare, and The Epic of Gilgamesh it becomes obvious that the driving force of plot is heroism, however, the nature of that heroism is different that may be […]
Dramatic Irony in the “Othello” by William Shakespeare Othello, an eloquent and physically fit person is considered as the protagonist and hero of the play; however, in spite of his elevated status, he is nonetheless an easy prey to insecurities due to his […]
Shakespeare’s Othello, the Moor of Venice Iago’s paranoia is tremendous to an extent that his insanity is portrayed when he deludes Othello to kill his own wife.
Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello: The Words and Actions of Iago To my mind, one of the most complex, captivating, and, at the same time, the most evil characters in Shakespeare’s plays is Iago from The Tragedy of Othello.
Othello and Snow Country: Personal Opinion As aforementioned, it is hard to differentiate between love and passion as they all come in the name of love. Nevertheless, because his ‘love’ for her is based on passion, he smothers her to death; […]
Elaborate on religious symbolism. What hell & heaven imagery is present in “Othello”? Explain how Desdemona can be compared to the Virgin Mary; how both Othello and Iago are associated with the Devil. Describe Othello’s “fall from grace.”
Compare Desdemona and Bianca. How are the women often contrasted in the play? How does the critical contrast, Desdemona’s virtue vs. Bianca’s sexual freedom, affect men’s attitude towards the respective women? Explore how both characters are more complex than the characteristics above.
Discuss heroism in “Othello.” Whose actions may be considered heroic? Who sincerely tries to act like a hero? Speculate on whether Iago may desire to be viewed as a heroic figure. Does Othello show heroism?
Analyze the conflict of passion and love in “Othello.” What does Othello feel towards Desdemona? Which of the emotions prevails? Explain why his actions and words are easy to interpret as passion, while his suicide may prove that he was in love with Desdemona.
Compare “Othello’s” Desdemona to “Hamlet’s” Ophelia. How do these female characters affect the plot of the respective plays? What influence do they and their fates have on the main Othello and Hamlet? Consider both of their tragic stories and their relationships with the main characters.
Elaborate on Desdemona’s and Othello’s relationship. How does it change throughout the play? Explain how Othello’s capability of creating a healthy and loving relationship that we see at the beginning of “Othello” goes against prejudice.
Explore the theme of racism in “Othello.” What characters have prejudice about Othello due to his race? Express how Othello’s speech and actions during the significant part of the play run contrary to the unreasonable expectations of his enemies.
Consider Othello’s suicide. What leads Othello to it? Why may an audience respect it and view it as a redemption for a fallen hero? Does suicide strengthen Othello’s heroism? Elaborate on this action in terms of Othello as a tragic hero.
Analyze various symbols from the play. Speculate on the meaning of such objects as wedding sheets from Act 4 Scene 3. What is the significance of a candle from Act 5 Scene 2? Provide a short analysis of each one with examples from the text.
Compare Othello’s and Desdemona’s relationship with that of Iago and Emilia. Which relationship was first to be struck by jealousy? Elaborate on Iago’s control and lack of interest towards Emilia instead of Othello’s devotion to Desdemona. Has Iago ever experienced the same level of jealousy (in his love life) as Othello?
Comment on the language of the play. What does the way Othello speaks say about him? How is the power of words highlighted in the play? Explain how Iago uses ambiguous and deceptive language to manipulate other characters.
Comment on Desdemona’s and Emilia’s friendship. Are they close? What do they discuss, particularly in Act 4, Scene 3? Express how Emilia proved her devotion to her mistress in Act 5 Scene 2. Why did Emilia lie to Desdemona about the handkerchief a few scenes before?
Explore animal imagery in “Othello.” Why is Othello constantly compared to animals throughout the play? Provide quotes where Iago calls him “Barbary horse” and so on and explain what it means concerning racism and prejudice.
Compare two plays: “Othello” and “Oedipus.” What are these tragedies based on? How do “Othello” and “Oedipus” end? Explain the reasons for the downfall of the hero that happens in both plays. What characters tried to prevent such a tragic end?
Examine Othello’s pride and honor. How are these aspects tied to his race and reputation? Mention how his uselessness during the war could’ve affected his pride and make Othello more susceptible to Iago’s manipulation. How does a thought of Desdemona’s infidelity hurt Othello’s pride?
Compare Othello’s and Bianca’s jealous behavior. Who takes the possibility of their lover’s infidelity better? Summarize their reasons for jealousy and their actions after gaining such a suspicion. Why is it intriguing that Bianca trusts her love interest more than Othello does?
Talk about Desdemona’s independence from her father. Why does Desdemona decide to disobey Brabantio’s will and elope with Othello? Was it common for the time? Explain how Desdemona both showed her independence and immediately became obedient to another man.
Compare the treatment of women in “Othello” and “Oedipus.” How did Shakespeare and Sophocles describe women in their plays? What role do these characters play in the stories? Analyze how men treat and talk about women in the plays. How does it reflect the period when “Othello” and “Oedipus” were written?
Analyze Othello’s changes throughout the play. What traits and behavior does he obtain and why? Does he become more himself by the end of the play than he was before, or it’s the opposite? Add a few examples of more animalistic behavior that Othello showed. Why did its features escalate and then disappear during Act 5 Scene 2?
Explore the relationship between Othello and Cassio. Was their friendship strong before Iago’s web of lies? Why was it easy for Othello to believe that Cassio had an affair with Desdemona? Explain how their relationship changed throughout the play.
Talk about murders in “Othello.” Why did Othello and Iago kill their respective wives? Why did Iago decide to kill Roderigo? Speculate on what causes murders in the play and how it’s connected to the themes of the play. Why did Cassio, whose death was planned by Iago early in “Othello,” survived
Compare Othello and Leontes from “The Winter’s Tale.” What traits do the characters have in common? What similar issues and conflicts do they face? Elaborate on the different ways that characters chose to solve their problems.
Analyze Othello’s character traits. What are his essential qualities? What traits are obtained (or revealed) due to Iago’s manipulations?
Shakespeare’s influence on the Renaissance period. How does “Othello” represent this period? What common motifs for the Renaissance did Shakespeare develop in the play? Comment on the author’s contributions to the time via “Othello.”
Compare the play with its movie adaptation. How did the director of the film modify “Othello”? Is this play cinematically adaptable? Elaborate on changes in the movie and the director’s goal (whether it was adapting the story to fit another period or making it more accurate and close to the text).
Comment on the theme of family. Who keeps in contact with their family in “Othello”? Who has a strong emotional connection to their roots? Elaborate on the relationship between Desdemona and her father.
Talk about Desdemona’s death. How did she die? Did she suspect that Othello may want to murder her? Analyze Desdemona’s last attempt to protect her husband, claiming that he’s innocent, and she committed suicide. Does it make her a perfect wife for that time?
Elaborate on the minor characters. Who are the critical minor characters? What role do they play in the plot progression? Briefly explain why they are vital for the story, as minor characters help us see the action from the inside, determine the path of the tragic hero, and develop the world of “Othello.”
What does Othello’s soliloquy reveal in the last scene?
What is the great difference between Desdemona and Emilia?
How does Iago convince Othello that Desdemona and Cassio must die?
In Othello act 2 scene 3, what are the latest developments in Iago’s plans?
What’s the “green eyed monster” in Othello? When is it used?
Why is Othello referred to as the Moor of Venice?
How far does the context of war and soldiery contribute to the tragedy in Shakespeare’s Othello?
What does “for she had eyes and chose me” mean?
What is the significance of the handkerchief in Othello?
Why did Iago want Roderigo to anger Cassio?
How Othello’s personality evolves in the tragedy of Othello by William Shakespeare?
What’s the meaning behind “it is the cause, it is the cause, my soul”?
How can you depict Othello and Desdemona relationship?
On what play do many scholars believe Othello is based? Why?
How does the ending of Othello relate to the ideas and characteristics of the text?
How would Iago gain from Roderigo’s death? Cassio’s?
What is the significance of the Willow Song in Othello?
What is the meaning behind “I hate the moor” quote?
Was Othello black? Did it cause conflict?
What does Othello’s speech and say tell us about his character?
What does it mean “he is a soldier fit to stand by Caesar and give direction”?
What is the nature of the relationship between Emilia and Desdemona in act 4?
What can be said about literary devices in Othello?
Why does Othello choose to trust Iago rather than Desdemona?
What are three examples of foreshadowing in Othello, act 4, scene 3?
Who is Brabantio, and what news do Roderigo and Iago bring him?
How does Shakespeare use dramatic irony in Othello?
How do age, social position, and race impact the relationship between Othello and Desdemona?
What are the examples of racism in Othello?
What does Iago say about the Venetian women?

If you need to see real examples of essays for extra inspiration, this part is for you. To find a quality Othello essay example, look out for the following aspects:

The focus is on one idea. This means the whole essay focuses on a single topic without switching to different ones.
The development is logical. All the paragraphs support the main idea, and the abundance of supporting arguments, examples, and details also improves the development.
The structure is unified. Every argument supports the main idea. Statements that go off-topic shouldn’t be made, or the essay will lack unity.
The essay is coherent. The structure of a quality essay typically has three main elements – an introduction, a few main body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
The sources are reliable. Good essays have plenty of references that support the arguments. It’s essential to verify that the sources are credible, that is, coming from official websites and reliable books.
The grammar looks sharp. Naturally, there shouldn’t be any noticeable grammar or spelling mistakes in a good essay.

Check out IvyPanda’s essay samples on Othello : they’ve been carefully selected to match all the requirements.

How does Iago manipulate Roderigo?
What role does race plays in Othello?
What are the prime motifs in Othello?
Does Iago die?
How does Iago manipulate Othello?
Who is Cassio in Othello?
Does Othello meet the standards of a tragic hero?
Where does Othello take place?
What are examples of jealousy in Othello?
Who is the villain in Othello?
Can pathos and ethos compel Othello out of logic?
What is the role of women in Othello?
Who is Montano in Othello?
How did Iago manipulate Othello?
What’s the Clown Pun in Othello?
What are some metaphors in Othello?
Why does Iago hate Othello?
Whose responsibilities for tragedy outcome of Othello?
Who dies in Othello?
What is another name for Othello?
Did Othello truly love Desdemona?
What are some examples of sexism in Othello?
How jealousy leads towards the tragedy in Othello?
Is Othello a Bad Guy?
What are the key symbols in Othello?
What are Desdemona’s last words?
Who is Bianca in Othello?
How does Desdemona die?
Do Cassio and Bianca end up together?
What does it mean to be cuckold in Othello?

Before you start outlining, you should ask yourself: what or who is Othello? Your answer is significant as it expresses your interest in the subject and, therefore, motivates you to research the chosen topic.

When working on your Othello essay introduction, you should get a clear understanding of The Moor character and its origin.

Your intro should thoroughly explain the subject to your audience. Don’t forget to include a thesis which discloses the central message of your paper. Put it at the end of your intro.

The next step is planning the essay body. Here are some questions you may answer in your Othello character analysis:

Describe Othello: Who is he? When he lives, his life, occupation, etc.
Is Othello a good character or bad? Do you identify with Othello?
Why is Othello famous to date? What makes him popular?
What is his role in the play? Why is Othello character crucial to the tragedy? Would the story so attractive without Othello?
Does the play reflect contemporary issues?
What did you learn from Othello?

Explain the pointers above and provide a better understanding of the Othello character to your readers.

If you need more sample ideas for your Othello essay outline, check them below:

The role of race in Shakespeare’s tragedy. At the beginning of the plot, Othello’s name is not mentioned, although everyone knows he is dark-skinned and different. Discuss in your essay, how it would impact the play if Othello were white. Argue if the character’s race is matter in the story.
The role of loyalty. Shakespeare showed how loyalty could have both positive and negative attributes. Othello’s belief in Desdemona’s lack of allegiance caused their destiny. Use it as an example of how devotion can be dangerous if it is used for bad reasons.
The role of Desdemona. Is she is a passive victim of Othello? Analyze how her character changes when she is not with him. Think of how victim behavior can cause even more violence.
Relationships between characters in the play. In your essay, you can examine relationships and emotions between Othello and Desdemona, the villainy of Iago’s character, Emilia’s emotions for Iago and Othello, and love of Roderigo for Desdemona.

In your Othello essay conclusion, sum up all the issues you disclosed in the body. Avoid introducing new points. Instead, highlight the thesis statement to show your readers that your essay supports it.

After you’ve finished your essay, don’t forget to proofread it and wipe out grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes.

We hope that the tips above will ease your writing an outstanding paper. Make sure to check our website for more Othello essay topics!

Play’s Plot Explored
Act 1 Scene 1
Act 1 Scene 2
Act 1 Scene 3
Act 2 Scenes 1-2
Act 2 Scene 3
Act‌ ‌3‌ ‌Scenes‌ ‌1-2
Act‌ ‌3‌ ‌Scene‌ ‌3
Act 3 Scene 4
Act‌ ‌4‌ ‌Scene‌ ‌1
Act 4 Scene 2
Act‌ ‌4‌ ‌Scene‌ ‌3
Act‌ ‌5‌ ‌Scene‌ ‌1
Act 5 Scene 2
Characters Analysis
Important Quotes
William Shakespeare
In Cold Blood Titles
A Good Man Is Hard to Find Essay Ideas
Letter From Birmingham Jail Titles
Canterbury Tales Research Ideas
Heart of Darkness Essay Ideas
Hills Like White Elephants Essay Ideas
Call of the Wild Questions
The Merchant of Venice Paper Topics
Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, September 26). 169 Othello Essay Topics & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/othello-essay-examples/

"169 Othello Essay Topics & Examples." IvyPanda , 26 Sept. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/othello-essay-examples/.

IvyPanda . (2024) '169 Othello Essay Topics & Examples'. 26 September.

IvyPanda . 2024. "169 Othello Essay Topics & Examples." September 26, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/othello-essay-examples/.

1. IvyPanda . "169 Othello Essay Topics & Examples." September 26, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/othello-essay-examples/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "169 Othello Essay Topics & Examples." September 26, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/othello-essay-examples/.