Othello - Theme

Naturally, I'll be tackling question number five with this blog post. Usually, the idea of theme terrifies me and I prefer to stay away from it, but Mr. Costello was kind enough to mention several of the themes before we even cracked the book open, so I think I'll give this a shot. Like 98% of Shakespeare's work, one of the themes is revenge centered around jealousy, which just happens to be one of my most favorite themes ever. Nothing is really as universally human as jealousy, and vengeance is just a natural instinct. And it appears that revenge is going to be the driving point behind the plot of this play, since Iago, previously identified as the Vehicle of Vengeance, has had more screentime than practically every other character combined thus far. And in Act two, we start to see his plan unravel. He manages to get Cassio drunk and uses his patsy Roderigo to start a ruckus and get the beloved lieutenant ousted from his position. Why, I can practically see Iago marking off Step One of his Diabolical Scheme of Vengeance. Step Two is revealed in Iago's little soliloquy in II.i.265-291. Specifically "For that I do suspect the lusty Moor hath leaped into my seat. The thought whereof doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my inwards, and nothing can or shall content my soul till I am evened with him, wife for wife." Basically, it appears that Iago is no totally convinced that Othello has had an affair with his wife, and he shall now claim revenge by doing the same with Othello's Desdemona. oh dramadramadrama. Anyhoo, long story short, from what I've seen so far, it appears that the theme of revenge centered around jealousy will be the driving force behind the plot of Othello.