Othello

5. This play presents the themes of Jealousy, Pre-Judgement, Hatred, Racial issues, and Gender roles. I believe that these themes have a great dramatic effect on the experience. The conflicts in the play are wrapped around all of these issues. In Act I of the play, the issue of Othello's and Desdemona's marriage touches on almost all of these themes. Brabantio, Desdemona's father, prejudges Othello because of his race and claims his daughter as his own property because she "isn't" married. Well, he doesn't believe so. Then once he begins to believe it, he says. "It is too true an evil. Gone she is. And what’s to come of my despisèd time, Is naught but bitterness. Now, Roderigo,Where didst thou see her?—Oh, unhappy girl!—With the Moor, say’st thou?—Who would be a father?— ( I.i.158-162 )." Brabantio doesn't even want to claim her as a daughter anymore. This was definitely a harsh time. At the time of the play, people might have percieved race and gender this way, but now, the world today sees these issues from a different view. Lastly, I do not find this play to be didactic at all. I would lean more to the view that is has an insufficientpresentation of important concerns.