"Othello" is an example of play where the container does not quite match the treasures inside. I did not like the overall frame of the play. And personally, I did not find the title a overly-compelling character. In fact, I found most of the other characters more interesting than Othello. I do not find him noble but a normal human being with deep, tragic flaws. But the individual parts of the play make it shine and explain why it has had such an enduring influence on literature.

At the heart of the play is ambiguity and perception. No character embodies that more than Iago, the piece's villain. He is the embodiment of that Japanese proverb that a man has three faces - one he shows to the world, one he shows to his friends and family, and one he keeps only to himself. Due to feeling slighted by Othello, he concocts an elaborate scheme to convince Othello that his wife, Desdemona, has been unfaithful. Unlike some readers, I did not find Iago to be a master-manipulator with a clear plan but an adaptable person who thinks has he goes along. Most of the characters in the play embody some form of ambiguity that make the reader question their motives and make the play fruitful for any theatrical adaptation, giving the actor a wide range of possible options. The themes of vengeance and the terrible toll it can wrought provide us an insightful portrayal of the single-minded madness brought about by jealousy. Another thing that give the work its power its its overt examination of sexuality and gender politics. The play is worth reading not so much for the story but for the multifaceted psychological examination it engages in.