Samuel Dravis

Iago's character construction is really rather interesting, actually. I have a rather controversial theory that he's designed as a tragic hero but simply denied a tragic demise. Next time I'm on Skype I'll explain the basis of that if you like; it helps to understand just why he's so successful as a villain if you look at what's stopping him from being the hero and why it isn't The Tragedy of Iago, the Ensign of Venice.

The modern (racism-seeing) eye can blind you to the subtleties of the play. The Elizabethans, from what we can tell, defined the world in terms of religion and not race; they couldn't care less about race. Othello "the moor", though, so you could look at it in terms of it being anti-anti-Islam.

Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:

She has deceived her father, and may thee.