113 Othello Essay Topics & Research Questions + Examples

If you’re searching for ideas for your paper on Shakespeare’s famous play, our Othello essay questions will be of great help to you! You’ll also find plenty of good Othello essay examples. Read on to get inspired!

💀 TOP 7 Othello Essay Questions

1. Emilia’s Role in the Play Othello by Shakespeare
2. Black and White Colors in “Othello” by Shakespeare
3. Dramatic Purposes of Roderigo in Shakespeare’s “Othello”
4. Analysis of the Character ‘Othello’
5. Examining the Role of Desdemona in Shakespeare’s “Othello”
6. Analysis of Reverse Psychology Used by Lago in Shakespeare’s “Othello”
7. Domestic Violence in “Othello” by W. Shakespeare

✍️ Othello Essay Prompts

Are you looking for writing prompts for your “Othello” research paper or a literature essay? Check out the ideas below:

• The theme of trust and betrayal in “Othello.” Trust plays a critical role in this play. You can write a literary analysis essay exploring how trust is gained, lost, and manipulated in “Othello.”
• Imagery and symbolism in “Othello.” Here, you can write an argumentative essay supporting your understanding of the play’s symbols. For example, what does the handkerchief symbolize? Or what does animal imagery mean, like a “black ram” and a “Barbary horse” in reference to Othello?
• Jealousy in “Othello.” You can write a persuasive essay convincing your audience of the dangers of jealousy. Use evidence from the play to prove your point. Consider how it drives characters’ actions and what adverse consequences result from it.
• Iago’s manipulation techniques. Iago is a master manipulator, so you can focus your discussion on exploring how he persuades others to think and do what he wants. You can review how he exploits Othello’s trust, fabricates evidence, creates false friendships, and provokes jealousy to achieve his goals.

🏆 Best Essay Topics for Othello

1. Theme of Deceit in Shakespeare’s Othello

   Shakespeare’s play “Othello” is a storyline behind a respectable general and the main character, Othello, who endures a series of tragedies from his deceitful and vengeful advisor.
2. The Role of Othello in Shakespeare’s Othello

   In Othello, Shakespeare aims to bring out the complexity of human relationships through the interactions of the main characters in the play.
3. Strength in One’s Convictions in Shakespeare’s “Othello”

   Objectification of women is an important concept that Shakespeare impressively incorporates throughout Othello.
4. “Othello” by Shakespeare: Desdemona as a Strong Character

   In his tragedy “Othello” Shakespeare describes Desdemona as a strong woman who can resist oppression and protect her values and ideas.
5. Othello and Antigone: Compare & Contrast

   There can be little doubt as to the fact that Sophocles’ “Antigone” and Shakespeare’s “Othello” are highly emotional dramaturgic pieces.
6. Critical Analysis of “Othello”

   Individuals tend to perceive the meanings of the words ‘dignity’ and ‘confidence’ differently, depending on their nature and nurture.
7. Mustafa Sa’eed from Season of Migration to the North Compared to Shakespeare’s Caliban & Othello

   Mustafa Sa’eed is uniquely similar to Caliban from William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” in his resistance to invading cultures of colonialism through the context of sexual revenge.
8. Who Is to Blame for the Tragedy of Othello by Shakespeare

   The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice by Shakespeare is a sexual jealousy tragedy that pioneers the investigation of racial discrimination.
9. Shakespeare’s “Othello”: Iago’s Honesty

   As the play progresses we see how Iago changes from an honest and sincere person to become evil, by introducing Iago’s character the evils in society are brought to light.
10. Shakespeare’s Othello’s and O. J. Simpson’s Tragedies

    This article compares and contrasts Shakespeare’s Othello and O.J. Simpson in the context of racism and class inequality.
11. Women Role in Shakespeare’s Othello and Hamlet

    The villain role of women in the Shakespeare’s plays Othello and Hamlet seems to have inspired the themes in both literary works.
12. Shakespeare’s “Othello” Play Interpretation

    Shakespeare’s play “Othello” illustrates the incompatibility of military heroism and love in a civilian world. The main character holds different values that are nonexistent.
13. “Othello” a Tragedy by William Shakespeare

    In essence, there are several instances of conflict in the play. Conflict among men is more dominant than conflict between the two genders. The play contains more scenes of conflict than love.
14. Analysis of Othello Speech With Brabantio

    The analysis focuses on Othello’s speech from the writing’s Act 1, Scene 3 where context is based on Brabantio accusing Othello about the latter stealing the former’s daughter.
15. Literary and Psychological Prowess of Shakespeare’s “Othello”

    Shakespeare uses Othello’s weaknesses to justify his sad conclusion that people such as Othello and his ilk are unfit to rule because of their inherent flaws.
16. Plot, Themes, and Characters of “Othello” by Shakespeare

    Two themes dominate the plot of “Othello” by Shakespeare – jealousy and racism, both of which this paper will explore.
17. William Shakespeare’s “Othello, the Moor of Venice”: An Aristotelian Tragedy

    The experiences that Othello went through – from prominence to downfall are sufficient to label him as a tragic hero; hence, the play can be classified as an Aristotelian tragedy.
18. Iago in Shakespeare’s Othello Play

    This paper examines Shakespeare’s play; it explores the conflicts between the dominant characters, their personalities, and their goals.
19. Shakespeare’s “Othello”: A Venetian Tragedy of Love

    William Shakespeare’s play “Othello” is about anxiety and lack of peace of mind as well as the fact that other actions may have saved people’s lives.
20. Shakespeare’s Othello and Its Cultural Aspects

    “Othello” is not a simple domestic tragedy, as it seemed to many generations of viewers, actors, critics, and historians of literature and theater.
21. Lies vs. Truths in Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Othello”

    In his play “The Tragedy of Othello,” Shakespeare successfully addressed various lies that different characters believed in. Most of these lies are tied to racism.
22. William Shakespeare’s Othello as a Tragic Hero

    Othello by William Shakespeare is an excellent example of the traditional Aristotelian tragic hero as far as his destiny and inner suffering.
23. Master of Deceit in “Othello”: Iago in the Film Adaptation

    The paper states that the film adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello, directed by Oliver Parker, mirrors the original play’s chronology and setting.

🎓 Othello Research Paper Topics

1. Iago: Black Man in “Othello” by Shakespeare
2. Honesty, Dishonesty, and Manipulation in “Othello”
3. Dramatic Poetry and Direct Prose in Shakespeare’s “Othello”
4. Hatred and Harsh Trickery With Extreme Consequences in the Play “Othello” by William Shakespeare
5. Gender Roles and Racism in “Othello”
6. Differences and Similarities Between “Othello” and “Things Fall Apart”
7. Friendship Between Othello and Iago According to Friedrich Nietzsche
8. Can Pathos and Ethos Compel “Othello” Out of Logic?
9. Iago’s Cunning Character Exposed Othello’s Vulnerability in Jealousy
10. Desdemona and the “Jewel” Motif Recurrence in William Shakespeare’s “Othello”
11. Desdemona and the Patriarchy in “Othello”
12. Iago’s Motive for Power and Revenge in “Othello”
13. Brabantio, the Protective Father in Shakespeare’s “Othello”
14. Honesty and Trust Throughout “Othello” Play
15. Did Othello Truly Love Desdemona?

👍 Good Othello Essay Topics to Write about

1. Emilia & Iago’s Schemes in “Othello” by Shakespeare

   The essay demonstrates justifications for the idea that Emilia from “Othello” is not innocent as she seems regarding Iago’s schemes.
2. Othello as Aristotelian Tragic Hero

   This paper presents that Long before Shakespeare, the Greek philosopher Aristotle formulated specific attributes or principles of a tragic hero.
3. “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu vs. “Othello” by Shakespeare

   “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu is an example of a Non-Western work of literature that qualifies as classics. “Othello” by William Shakespeare is an example of Western classics.
4. Female Characters in “Antigone” by Sophocles and “Othello” by Shakespeare

   Female characters Antigone and Emilia, from Sophocles’ play “Antigone” and Shakespeare’s “Othello”, constitute examples of independent women who do not lose control of their lives.
5. Shakespeare’s Othello Movie Adaptation Overview and Social Relevance

   William Shakespeare’s “Othello” has been adapted to a variety of media forms, and among the most contemporary versions is Olive Parker’s movie with the same name.
6. Character Analysis of “Othello” by Shakespeare

   At first glance, Othello seems simply a tragedy of jealousy. However, the ideas ingrained in the play seem to be broader and more complicated from the very first acts.
7. Othello, Cassio and Iago in the Play “Othello” by William Shakespeare

   Othello, Cassio and Iago are very different people with their own life experiences and this plays a very important role in the play “Othello” by William Shakespeare.
8. Othello Versus Shakuntala: Ultimate Lessons

   Both Shakuntala and Othello explore the notions of love and conflict, but the ultimate lessons learned differ significantly because of the main characters’ actions.
9. From a Villain to a Victim and Back: Othello and Iago

   Despite the fact that Othello does turn into a beast at a certain point, the splendor of his character and the misery that seizes him completely do not allow him to choose him as the main villain.
10. The Play “Othello” by William Shakespeare

    It is worth noting that the play “Othello,” written by William Shakespeare, is a rather complicated story that can be explored at different levels.
11. A Worldwide Famous Tragedy: Othello by Shakespeare

    Othello is a worldwide famous tragedy written by Shakespeare that has always been popular among theater directors interpreting it in different styles.
12. “Othello” by William Shakespeare

    In his play, Shakespeare portrays a very jealous character named Lago, who got disappointed with his friend Othello for denying him the chance of becoming a lieutenant.
13. Jealousy and Treachery in Othello by Shakespeare

    Cassio and Othello, as positive characters of the play, exhibit politeness, trust, and just nature. Cassio also shows his playful nature with Desdemona.
14. Racial Issues in Othello and Their Relevance

    Most of the conflicts unfolding in the play are built around the problems of racism, which do not lose their relevance even after centuries have passed since Othello was written.
15. Othello: Iago and His Self-Knowledge

    The paper discusses that in Othello, the struggle over love, loyalty, and will is exacerbated by Iago’s manipulation of everyone around him.
16. Themes in Shakespeare’s “Othello”

    The tragedy “Othello” is a sad story about lost trust in friendship, the effect of love, and the meaning of life which tells about the love of Othello and Desdemona.
17. Othello by William Shakespeare: A Sympathetic Character

    Every work that was penned by William Shakespeare – one of the greatest writers of all time – is unique in its way: they all have their own specific culture, atmosphere.
18. Love and Hate: Relationships in Shakespearian Othello and Life

    Explore the intricate dynamics of love and hate in relationships through a critical analysis of the Shakespearian play ‘Othello’ and personal experiences.
19. About Acts I and II Othello: Analysis

    Iago, portrayed as highly ambitious in the tragedy, exhibits a readiness to take any action for personal gain, evident from the opening verses.
20. Review of “Othello” by Shakespeare

    An analysis of Shakespeare’s “Othello” work will help to understand better the author’s central message about how blindly following feelings can ruin a person.
21. Desdemona and Lago’s Conflict in “Othello” by Shakespeare

    The paper discusses Othello by Shakespeare. There is a conflict between Desdemona and Iago over women’s nature, which ends with a rational way of thinking.
22. “The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice” by Shakespeare

    Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice” is a play about secrets, plotting and revenge telling the tragic story of Othello, who is secretly married to Desdemona.
23. Negativism in “Othello” by William Shakespeare

    Othello is one of the most popular plays by William Shakespeare. It has a lot of themes that intricate the mind of a viewer and a reader as well.
24. William Shakespeare’s “Othello”: Analysis the Play

    The paper begins with a brief note about the character of Iago in William Shakespeare’s play Othello. Causes of Iago’s revenge.
25. Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex and Shakespeare’s Othello

    The entire implementation of values needful to a man in every epoch and under any circumstances is displayed on the examples of Othello and Oedipus Rex for further generations of people.
26. Shakespeare’s “Othello” Play Exploration

    The current essay deals with a difficult but quite important topic tied with the role of race in Shakespeare’s Othello.
27. Othello’s Image in Shakespeare’s Tragedy

    The purpose of this work is to analyze how Othello’s difference influences his image in the enemies’ eyes and how he starts to evaluate himself once he has killed his wife.
28. Othello and Paradise Lost Literary Analysis

    Desdemona was devoted to her husband until the end and treated him with patience even after all the mistreatment that was done to her.

💡 Simple Othello Essay Ideas

1. Explain How Iago Manipulates the Other Characters in the Play “Othello”
2. Does Iago Cause the Tragedy of Othello?
3. The Reasons Why Othello Orders the Death of Desdemona
4. Discuss How Lago From “Othello” Exploits Others to Achieve His Goal
5. Honorable Admirable and Unchanged Character of Othello
6. Desdemona and the Norms of Sexual Morality in Shakespeare’s “Othello”
7. Examining Othello’s Character, Flaws, and Changes Throughout the Play
8. Challenges and Prejudices Faced by Othello Shaped His Character
9. Contrasting the Characters Desdemona and Emilia in the Play “Othello”
10. Describing the Courage and Heroism of Othello in Shakespeare’s “Othello”
11. Critically Exploring William Shakespeare’s “Othello” From a Marxist Perspective
12. Gender Equality and the Status of Women in the Play “Othello” by William Shakespeare
13. Analyzing the Tragic Hero in Shakespeare’s “Othello”
14. Evil and Immoral Characters in the Play “Othello” by William Shakespeare
15. Feminist and Psychoanalytical Interpretations of Shakespeare’s “Othello”

❓ Othello Essay Questions

1. Does Othello Meet the Standards of a Tragic Hero?
2. How Do Age, Social Position, and Race Impact the Relationship Between Othello and Desdemona?
3. Why Does Iago Hate Othello?
4. Does the Context of War and Soldiery Contribute to the Tragedy in Shakespeare’s “Othello”?
5. How and Why Does Iago Convince Othello of Desdemona’s Infidelity?
6. Would the Themes in “Othello” Appeal to a Contemporary Audience?
7. How Are Othello and Blanche Dubois Alienated in Their Societies?
8. Should William Shakespeare’s “Othello” be Called “Iago”?
9. How Are the Characters Empowered or Disempowered in “Brilliant Lies” and “Othello”?
10. Were “Othello” and “The Merchant of Venice” Racist Plays?
11. How Does Shakespeare Use Humor in “Othello”?
12. What Are the Contextual Factors Important to the Study of “Othello”?
13. How Does Iago Attempt to Poison Othello Against Desdemona and Cassio and to What Extent Is Iago’s Plan Working?
14. What Are the Qualities “Othello” Possesses Which Makes It a Tragedy?
15. How Does Othello’s Attitude Towards Desdemona Change Towards the End of the Play?
16. Does Othello’s Character Change Over the Course of the Play?
17. How Does Shakespeare Use Language and Dramatic Devices to Present the Theme of Jealousy in “Othello”?
18. What Are the Similarities Between “Macbeth” and “Othello”?
19. How Does Sax Portray Othello and Desdemona’s Relationship?
20. What Can Lawyers Learn From “Othello”?
21. How Does Shakespeare Present Iago’s Manipulation of Othello?
22. What Role Does Incoherent Language Play in “Othello”?
23. How Does Shakespeare Present Love in “Othello”?
24. What Role Does Race Play in “Othello”?
25. How Effective Are the First Two Scenes of “Othello”?