The power of language, identity, alienation, and jealousy are among the central themes of this play. Desdemona apparently falls in love with Othello because of what he says to her about himself and, presumably, what she hears about him from others (“But words are words; I never yet did hear/ That the bruised heart was pierced through the ear”). Iago manipulates Othello and other characters with his words. The full title, “Othello, The Moor of Venice”, points to the significance of identity and alienation. Othello is identified, not only as the title character but also by two distinctive characteristics – his race and the location, the physical place, with which he identifies.
As far as alienation goes, we can hardly ignore that Othello is referred to as “the Moor” long before his name is mentioned and even before he appears on stage.
It’s also notable that the question of identity is posed. Othello’s identity is not clear cut. Most of the time, in answer to the question, ”who are you?”, the answer is a negative. Othello is not a Venetian, by birth but he is a military general and a chief defender of the city. Although he also shares a common religion with the people of Venice, (he is a Christian), he is still isolated from other Christians culturally, as a convert and a foreigner.
Othello’s alienation in Cyprus, a location that places him physically further from Europe, in a place that is a military outpost, defined by war rather than peace and civilization. He gives way to jealousy – a trait that was, in the 16th century, associated with ‘Moors’ according to a number of sources used by Shakespeare – when he becomes physically, emotionally, and psychologically isolated from Europe and the order of European society.
