[Talking about Othello] His dying words are about the service he has done to the state -not what he has done to Desdemona. (..) He acknowledges not love but the power structure (..). Othello believes his fellow officer [Iago] rather than his wife, believes death is suitable punishment for infidelity (..).It makes me uneasy that we so easily state that Othello is a play about race. Race is one of its ingredients, but the most pervasive subject that Shakespeare is tackling is sexism. The two women [Desdemona and Emilia, Iago's wife] end up dead. Bianca, the third woman in the play, Cassio's mistress, ends up in jail for something she never did, and nobody bothers to get her out. Iago, the symbol of evil, remains alive. Brabantio, Desdemona's father, dies of a broken heart because of his daughter's disobedience. And everyone is very regretful about what has happened. But no one, other than Emilia, has pointed out that there is a terrible double standard, something rotten in the system itself. .Tina Packer
About This Quote
This quote shows how Shakespeare understands the power of human nature and the way we use it to hurt others and ourselves. We do not always make the best choices and we can hurt others and ourselves by attempting to do the right thing. Othello is a play about race, but more than that it is a play about sexism. He who does harm, receives the most sympathy.
Instead of Othello's death being his punishment, he is praised for his service to his society. The men who did him harm receive no punishment at all. Othello sees Iago as a hero and his last words are about praising him.
He sees Iago as the man who should be rewarded and not Desdemona or Emilia and so he ends up dead for no reason.
Source: Women Of Will: Following The Feminine In Shakespeares Plays
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