Othello teaches us a lot about our current postmodern culture. The show connects to our ideas of sexism, male bonding, racism, and capitalism. Shakespeare uses these universal and timeless flaws of humanity along with our use of language and truth to tell his story. Iago, over the course of about three days, exploits these aspects of humanity to turn Othello against his wife Desdemona and his friend Cassio. Othello reveals both the struggle of the British people in the early 1600s and Americans in the late 1900s against sexism, capitalism, and racism. In Othello, men see women as objects to be controlled, first by their father and then by their husband. When Iago shouts at Brabantio, telling him that his daughter has gone to marry Othello, he shouts "Thieves, thieves! / Look at your house, your daughter and your bags! / Thieves, thieves!" (Othello Ii79-80). Othello has taken away the goods of Brabantio, his daughter, and for this he is called a thief. Desdemona, however, refuses to be treated as property and makes "A gross revolt, / Binding her duty, her beauty, her wits, and her fortunes" (Othello Ii134-135) to Othello. Her marriage to Othello is not an act of a free woman, but a revolt against Brabantio's estates. Desdemona is also incapable of independent feeling or thought. Othello must have "enchanted" her (Othello I.ii.63), "In chains of magic" (Othello I.ii.65), because she could never have made such a choice on her own. In Brabantio's mind, only he can know what is in Desdemona's best interests and therefore choose it for her. Brabantio tries to protect her, but Desdemona makes her "Escape from her shelter" (Othello I.ii.70). In Othello the culture of the time treats women as objects to be guarded and monitored, too tender and kind to look after themselves in danger... middle of paper... chooses for her, this taking on of a different role it is similar to Othello's efforts to adapt to the European world. The lack of definitive truth in Othello is postmodern. Othello places emphasis on the characters over the setting. Although the characters represent different aspects of society, Shakespeare takes great care in developing them and their inner traits. The lack of definitive truth in Othello's world creates chaos, but Othello refuses to simply accept this chaos, he chooses Iago over Desdemona's version of events. Othello combines modernism and postmodernism in his discussion of language and truth. Although Othello contains many elements of both periods, it is mostly modern, due to its setting and need for characters. The characters decide to fight the chaos within themselves and in the world. This struggle leads to the tragic ending of the play.