Othello

What happens when fear blinds us? 

For centuries, Othello has often been interpreted as the story of a man who is manipulated by Iago, blinded by jealousy, and driven to commit a terrible act. But in this production, I wanted to look deeper—to ask where Othello’s rage and hatred truly come from. What turns him into the “green-eyed monster” consumed by jealousy and fury? Beneath all anger and hatred lies fear. And how we face that fear is not just a personal issue—it reflects the wounds of our society.

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Just a few years ago, the world was paralyzed by fear of something invisible: the coronavirus. That fear quickly turned into anger, and anger into hatred. In the United States, public figures and news outlets called it the “Chinese virus,” fueling a wave of anti-Asian racism and violence. Asians were spat on, attacked, and blamed for a global crisis they did not create.

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Today, fear continues to shape our world. Immigrants are accused of “ruining” the country or “stealing” jobs—rhetoric that leads to hate crimes, unjust detentions, and deep divisions. In a nation built by immigrants, many still live in fear that one small mistake could destroy the lives they have built over decades.

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Our society trembles with fear—fear of the unknown, of losing control, of losing power. But what happens when fear blinds us? When it transforms into hatred and violence? Is that truly the only way to confront what frightens us?

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Through this production, I invite us all to reflect on these questions. How do we break the cycle of fear and hate that has repeated since Shakespeare’s time? And what values must we hold onto if we are to move forward—together?

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-Ji Won Jeon

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