Choose one of the essay topics below to write a formal, critical, literary essay on Othello. You will need to do a close, critical reading of the text, research critical, credible secondary resources and develop a thesis statement and outline prior to writing the literary essay.

Requirements:
1. Follow the essay writing process (brainstorm/question, thesis statement, outline, rough draft revise edit and final draft) as all process work must be handed in.

2. Follow a formal essay structure: introduction (thesis at the end of the first paragraph), body and conclusion. There is a minimum of three body paragraphs, but do not stick to a three-paragraph structure. The number of paragraphs should depend on the number of arguments you have.

3. Each of your paragraphs must have evidence and proof from Othello. You should have credible, secondary research to support the argument further. There is a minimum of two secondary sources used throughout the essay as support. NOTE: Plagiarism of any kind will result in a mark of zero. Any information that you research must be quoted and cited following MLA guidelines. Please refer to your agenda for details on formatting short and long quotations especially.

Essay Topics:

1. Iago appears to be an interesting rogue at the beginning of the play, but gains stature as a terrifying villain. Evaluate Iago’s character development in Othello through careful observation and critical analysis. Is there any compassion to him or is he pure evil?

2. Consider one of the male-female relationships in Othello (Othello and Desdemona; Iago and Emilia; or Cassio and Bianca). Do they love or hate one another, or, is it both? How are the women treated in each relationship? Explain.

3. Examine how, Othello, who is so easily duped by Iago and so violently cruel to Desdemona, remains for us a sympathetic character.