Othello

William Shakespeare’s Othello, The Moor of Venice is a tragic play that was originally written during the Elizabethan period which then held a completely different context and values than of today’s post-modern context. The book is subjected to a wide range of critical interpretations in which individuals today each have different particular readings of their own to add on to the text. The statement “the true value of a Shakespearean play lies in its ability to resonate with audiences over time” depicts on Shakespeare’s ability to create characters that resemble real life individuals and reflected lifestyles and personalities accurately.   Universal and timeless ideas are found throughout Othello as it has reflected the human nature behaved in everyone, one of which is jealousy. Another interpretation of the text includes feminist readings, allowing responders to develop a view that Shakespeare also wrote along the play’s reception in different contexts.
Universal themes are grand ideas that affect people at all times and are ideas that are constant throughout history. Universal themes displayed in Othello are similar to messages about life that Shakespeare wants to convey to his audiences, the text Othello is universal as it transcends race, gender, sexual preference and creed. Othello is based upon a seemingly respected noble moor of Venice who holds a significantly high position as a general, come to an inevitable downfall due to ensign’s (Iago) deceitful schemes. Being a two-faced deceitful man,   Iago managed to manipulate Othello’s mind by making insinuations about Desdemona (Othello’s wife) and Cassio (lieutenant) having an affair, to this Othello killed his own wife which had also lead to his own tragic death.   “O beware, my lord, of jealousy: It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on”