I consider Othello to be one of the Bard's best works. While all of Shakespeare's works delve into one aspect or another of human nature, this one offers the most biting commentary.

The most iconic scene was when the Moor became so consumed by jealousy and rage that he loses the eloquence of poetry that made him the most articulate man in Venice. He turns to the audience before he murders Desdemona and utters "Goats and Monkeys" (I was reminded of Othello when watching that clip of the Daily Show on Ridgewalker's comment on CNN).

Othello fell prey to wild self-delusion and unchecked rage, and his words became captive to hollow cliches. The debasement of language, which Shakespeare understood was a prelude to violence and instability, is really a negative aspect of our modern culture. We have stopped communicating, even with ourselves, in the form of introspection. And the consequences of this could be as extreme as in Shakespeare's tragedy.

In the final analysis, those who seek to dominate us first seek to dominate our speech, which is then used to obscure meaning through sloganeering and cliche. That is the central lesson that Shakespeare wanted the audience to take away from this work. Empty language is a gift to demagogues, who use it to manipulate public opinion. Unfortunately we see plenty of this in modern public discourse.

Shakespeare's classic exposition on flawed human nature and "green-eyed" jealousy, aroused to murderous flames by deceit and treachery. Of course, as in nearly all literature, the most fascinating character is the evildoer-- the remorseless, resentful Iago, who plots the heroic Moor's downfall with cold-blooded stealth and sly cunning. All ends in murder, suicide, and torture. Iago may not be as compelling a villain as Richard the III, but he comes close.

I would never expect a Medieval-era play to use racial themes without being racist.  It's an excellent play about love, sex, murder, and betrayal.

The fifth act is still a disturbing, fascinating work of art. An incredible tragedy about deception, sexual jealousy, social class, race, and betrayal. Every time I watch it or read it I wish it ended differently.

Not bad for Shakespeare.

Very good, probably Shakespeare's third best play behind Lear and Hamlet. Iago is a brilliant creation, and possibly the only thoroughly evil character in Shakespeare. So of course, he has all the good lines.

A very very depressing yet moving book. One of the first anti-racism novels made.

KikiD is totally confused here: maybe William Shakespeare didn't write his plays, but whoever did was hardly a fraud. Whoever wrote these plays was one of the great geniuses of all time.

I'm sure we've all heard this man has been exposed as a fraud.

Iago is pure evil... I loved it. It's amazing how this one sob can take everyone down so effectively.