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Turning Point in Othello

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Turning Point in Othello
Othello - Act III Scene III

Othello by william shakespeare is a tragedy thought to have been written in the 1600s, and is undoubtedly one of shakespeare's most celebrated pieces of work. The play deals with many themes such as jealousy and deception, and good and evil, all of which are centered around the tragic hero O. Throughout the play it has been discovered how Othello,a black man, has overcome the racist views of others living in that time period, and married the beautiful white woman Desdemona, and also risen up in the ranks and been made a captain. Iago, puppet master, jealous of Othello and Desdemona, also of a man called Cassios promotion over him. It is iago who conjures up a plan to deceive, mislead and ultimately destroy O.

Act III Scene III is where Iago's plan really begins. This scene has been known as the “turning point” of the play, or as the “temptation scene”, and could be argued to be the most important scene in the whole play. In it Iago speaks carefully and at length with Othello, and subtly plant the seed of suspicion and jealousy in his mind. It is this seed which brings about the tragic events of the play.

Ironically it is Desdemona’s compassion and innocence which bring about these events as she attempts to have Cassio reinstated to his previous position as Captain. The scene opens with D telling C she will do all she can to influence her husband in reconciling with him.

“Ill intermingle every thing he does
With Cassio’s suit.”

Desdemona shows great determination and a kind heart in fighting for Cassio. Ironically it this kind heartedness that brings about her downfall and her death. It is her persistence that fuels Othello’s jealousy, filling his head with thoughts of her love for Cassio. It is known how strong Othello’s love for D is and that he cares for her more than his own life, however, this then amplifies Othello’s jealousy causing such tragic consequences.

After Desdemona talks with Cassio, Emelia see’s O and

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