History YMMV / Othello

** In ''Film/O2001'', [[HighSchoolAU the modern update set in High School]], Iago is played by [[MrFanservice Josh Harnett.]]

** In ''Film/{{O}}'', [[HighSchoolAU the modern update set in High School]], Iago is played by [[MrFanservice Josh Harnett.]]

** In regards for how the play treats women, it's not quite as cut-and-dry as one may think. It is true that the play revolves around SlutShaming, and Emilia tolerates a ''lot'' of horrific treatment from her husband (and later, after Othello goes full GreenEyedMonster, Desdemona does as well). ''However'', Emilia is remarkably resilient and proactive, and is the one who ensures Iago gets his just deserts at the end, and Desdemona isn't quite the one-dimensional pushover people remember. (She's admittedly quite placid, but she also willingly went behind her racist father's back to marry the man she loved, which is a rather gutsy move.) It's also pretty clear that the aforementioned slut-shaming is ''wrong''; it ultimately gets an innocent woman killed, and Cassio's poor treatment of Bianca (a [[HookerWithAHeartOfGold perfectly nice courtesan he's been seeing]]) solidifies him as a bit of a {{jerkass}}. Emilia also has a rather impressive monologue where she says that, yes, some women do cheat, but we shouldn't be so quick to judge them, since [[DoubleStandard men cheat, too]], and many women are driven to cheat because their husbands abuse them. So while the play isn't exactly pro-feminist, it's still got some interesting points where the treatment of female characters are concerned.

** At one point Iago says to Roderigo's a statement that's basically meant to say "Good lord". Sounds pretty straightforward. Unfortunately, the phrase he uses is "Blessed pudding".

* ParanoiaFuel: There is something deeply unsettling about the character Iago. The idea that someone you trust implicitly could be so sociopathic that the first minor, unintentional sleight you perpetrate against them could lead them to utterly destroy your life for kicks is very creepy. Stabbing his own wife without the slightest hint of regret or reluctance.

* VindicatedByHistory: Even more than usual for Shakespeare - he subverted a lot of {{Forgotten Trope}}s at a time when a ClicheStorm was expected. Thomas Rymer's ''Short View of Tragedy'' in 1693 summed up the response to, for instance, a soldier as a villain rather than an honest man, and a dropped handkerchief leading to multiple murders rather than a comical misunderstanding.

*** At one point, Othello has a seizure [[UnreliableNarrator according to Iago]]. If Othello truthfully has epilepsy, then it's one more obstacle that makes him different from the Venitians and might feed into his insecurity.

* EvilIsSexy: Not necessary, but Iago is open to being played by handsome man, and his talk of sex and romance throughout, along with his fair share of homoerotic undertones can result in this trope.

!!The Shakesperean play

*** PassedOverPromotion: Iago was slighted when Othello promoted Cassio to lieutenant instead of Iago.
*** BlameTheParamour and EmasculatedCuckold: Iago heard a rumor that Emilia cheated on him with Othello. There's no indication that this is true, and most readers agree that it's probably not, but Emilia ''does'' have a speech where she claims that adultery can be (and often is) justified, particularly if a woman cheats on her abusive husband. Iago is certainly awful to Emilia, and Emilia overall demonstrates a far more cynical and "practical" outlook on marriage (and life in general) than Desdemona. It's not too far-fetched to think that she may have sought companionship elsewhere -- if not with Othello, then with ''somebody''.

--->'''Othello:''' ''[kneels]'' In the due reverence of a sacred vow\\
I here engage my words.\\
'''Iago:''' Do not rise yet. ''[kneels]''\\
Witness, you ever-burning lights above,\\
You elements that clip us round about,\\
Witness that here Iago doth give up\\
The execution of his wit, hands, heart,\\
To wrong'd Othello's service! Let him command,\\
And to obey shall be in me remorse,\\
What bloody business ever.\\

'''Othello:''' I greet thy love,\\
Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounteous,\\
And will upon the instant put thee to't:\\
Within these three days let me hear thee say\\
That Cassio's not alive.\\

* SignatureLine: "Oh beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on!"

*** Othello promoted Cassio instead of Iago, when it's implied Iago been at Othello's side for a while and he views himself as the obvious candidate for this promotion.
*** Iago heard a rumor that Emilia cheated on him with Othello. There's no indication that this is true, and most readers agree that it's probably not, but Emilia ''does'' have a speech where she claims that adultery can be (and often is) justified, particularly if a woman cheats on her abusive husband. Iago is certainly awful to Emilia, and Emilia overall demonstrates a far more cynical and "practical" outlook on marriage (and life in general) than Desdemona. It's not too far-fetched to think that she may have sought companionship elsewhere -- if not with Othello, then with ''somebody''.

*** Some critics believe its because Iago has homosexual feelings for Othello and thus is jealous of Desdemona. (See HoYay below.)
*** He didn't actually have a motive, and [[ForTheEvulz was doing it just because]].

** Iago's motives for his plot against Othello . He offers several different ones in the course of the play that get discarded and contradicted.

*** Some critics believe its because [[{{Yandere}} Iago has homosexual feelings for Othello and thus is jealous of Desdemona]].

--->'''Othello:''' ''*kneels*'' In the due reverence of a sacred vow\\

'''Iago:''' Do not rise yet. ''*kneels*''\\

''*they rise*''\\

** Iago's motives. He offers several different ones in the course of the play that get discarded and contradicted.
*** Some critics believe the reason for Iago's plot against Othello is not because he was denied a promotion, but instead because [[{{Yandere}} he has homosexual feelings for Othello and thus is jealous of Desdemona]].

*** Iago is classist, and indeed, this is the only motive he expresses with any consistency.

*** Another alleged motive is that he heard a rumor that Emilia cheated on him with Othello. There's no indication that this is true, and most readers agree that it's probably not, but Emilia ''does'' have a speech where she claims that adultery can be (and often is) justified, particularly if a woman cheats on her abusive husband. Iago is certainly awful to Emilia, and Emilia overall demonstrates a far more cynical and "practical" outlook on marriage (and life in general) than Desdemona. It's not too far-fetched to think that she may have sought companionship elsewhere -- if not with Othello, then with ''somebody''.

** An oft-cited piece of evidence for this possible motivation is the scene wherein Iago and Othello initiate a pseudo-wedding ceremony. To each other.

-->'''UsefulNotes/JohnQuincyAdams:''' "Who can feel sympathy for Desdemona? A woman who, born and educated to a splendid and lofty station in the community, betrays her race, her sex, her duty and her country, and makes a runaway match with a blackamoor!"

-->"... there is absolutely nothing to be done with (the part of Desdemona), nothing; nobody can produce an effect in it; and really, Emilia's last scene can be made a great deal more of. [[EnsembleDarkhorse I could understand your playing that]], but not Desdemona."

-->'''Brabantio:''' Thou art a villain!\\

* RootingForTheEmpire: While a good production should make you feel for and hope in vain that Iago's victims don't fall for his tricks, the combination of his stylish villainy and cunning nature makes watching his monstrous actions quite engaging, which means you'll likely want to see where all his plotting is going, even if you know the outcome is anything but good for the decidedly more sympathetic characters.