Othello (Act 1)

This is my first time ever studying Othello and I find it to be the best Shakespearian tragedy I have read. This play engages the most conversation and brings up political and social topics that apply to American contemporary culture. I also enjoyed "O", the contemporary adaptation. Orientalism and how it relates to the western culture is something I have always thought about, but never knew how to define. The last class has sparked my interest in the way we depict eastern customs and people. The first act of the play leaves us wondering if Iago's hatred for Othello is really about the promotion or something deeper, OR is Iago just crazy? Shakespeare is writing about misunderstandings between classes and races of people and he shows what occurs when the characters do not choose to understand those differences and let prejudice behavior escalate.