Othello teaches us a lot about our current postmodern culture. The play connects to our ideas about sexism, male bonding, racism and capitalism. Shakespeare uses these universal and timeless flaws of humanity as well as our use of language and truth to tell his story. Iago, for about three days, uses these facets of humanity to turn Othello against his wife Desdemona and his friend Cassio. Othello reveals both the struggle of the British people of the early 1600s and the Americans of the late 1900s against sexism, capitalism, and racism. In Othello, men see women as objects to be controlled, first by their father, 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 possessions of Brabantio, his daughter, and is called a thief because of it. Desdemona, however, refuses to be treated as property and commits “a gross revolt, / binding her duty, her beauty, her wit, and her fortune” (Othello Ii134-135) to Othello. Her marriage to Othello is not an act of a free woman, but a revolt of the property of Brabantio. Desdemona is also incapable of independent feelings or thoughts. Othello must have “enchanted” her (Othello I.ii.63), “In the chains of magic” (Othello I.ii.65), because she could never make such a choice alone. In Brabantio's mind, only he can know what is in Desdemona's best interest and then choose it for her. Brabantio tries to keep her, but Desdemona has “fled from his custody” (Othello I.ii.70). In Othello, the culture of the time treats women as objects to be guarded and watched over, too tender and gentle to fend for themselves in a dang...... middle of paper...... houses for her, this taking on a different role is similar to Othello's efforts to integrate into the European world. Othello's lack of definitive truth is postmodern. Othello focuses on the characters rather than the environment. Although the characters represent different aspects of society, Shakespeare takes great care to develop them and their internal traits. The lack of definitive truth in Othello's world creates chaos, but Othello refuses to 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 from both periods, it is primarily modern, due to its setting and need for characters. The characters decide to fight the chaos that reigns within them and in the world. This fight leads to the tragic end of the play.