The time Realism Behind Othello
English II Honors
31 May 2012
The Realism Behind Othello Othello: The Moor of Venice, written by William Shakespeare, has been the focus of much debate on determining factors of how it qualifies the elements on Realism, as the characters and the representation of the play are viewed differently from each responder. Certain aspects have taken many varying viewpoints from debates and expanded on portrayal of Shakespeare’s main themes, ideas, language, characters, and far more. Through careful analysis, it is appropriate to say that Othello: The Moor of Venice is a true realism play because of the literary elements it incorporates even though the story is clearly under the genre of tragedy, but even with that, the realism aspects are just as apparent as its tragic element making Othello a classic that catches the attention of many readers to this day. Taking place in the heart of Venice, two people, very different as wholes share something so inseparable, that only jealousy is able to conquer; love. Love being the center developed plot to any romantic novel makes it is possible to say all realism - ‘naive’ realism, is but a twisted branch off of romanticism. Othello’s love towards Desdemona is pure and true, and as Iago’s envy grows, not because of love but because of leadership, his promise to himself is the desire to ruin Othello, resulting in a doomed marriage between the two lovers; a true open form of realism. Their love was always at risk, even since the beginning, the true harshness of reality is revealed when Desdemona is forced to choose between her own father or the man she has truly fallen in love with. In an attempt to express things to her father, Desdemona explains her feelings through words of wisdom begging “[that she does] perceive here a divided duty.” In this passage, she, like her mother, chooses her husband before her father, hoping it will allow her father to understand her choice. Appalled on spot, her father omits the idea of
31 May 2012
The Realism Behind Othello Othello: The Moor of Venice, written by William Shakespeare, has been the focus of much debate on determining factors of how it qualifies the elements on Realism, as the characters and the representation of the play are viewed differently from each responder. Certain aspects have taken many varying viewpoints from debates and expanded on portrayal of Shakespeare’s main themes, ideas, language, characters, and far more. Through careful analysis, it is appropriate to say that Othello: The Moor of Venice is a true realism play because of the literary elements it incorporates even though the story is clearly under the genre of tragedy, but even with that, the realism aspects are just as apparent as its tragic element making Othello a classic that catches the attention of many readers to this day. Taking place in the heart of Venice, two people, very different as wholes share something so inseparable, that only jealousy is able to conquer; love. Love being the center developed plot to any romantic novel makes it is possible to say all realism - ‘naive’ realism, is but a twisted branch off of romanticism. Othello’s love towards Desdemona is pure and true, and as Iago’s envy grows, not because of love but because of leadership, his promise to himself is the desire to ruin Othello, resulting in a doomed marriage between the two lovers; a true open form of realism. Their love was always at risk, even since the beginning, the true harshness of reality is revealed when Desdemona is forced to choose between her own father or the man she has truly fallen in love with. In an attempt to express things to her father, Desdemona explains her feelings through words of wisdom begging “[that she does] perceive here a divided duty.” In this passage, she, like her mother, chooses her husband before her father, hoping it will allow her father to understand her choice. Appalled on spot, her father omits the idea of