Othello and Related
OtheESSAY QUESTION
“Identity is shaped by people, places and experiences”.
Discuss this statement, showing how composers of texts represent their ideas in relation to identity. In your response you must refer to Othello and one other related text. Identity is a key theme and issue in Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello. A characters identity is the overall essence and how the character is viewed by the audience and in this particular play, factors such as people, places and experiences show that identity can be influenced and changed by these such things. In Othello, conflict ultimately arises from the scheming of the evil Iago, a person changing his rational view on the world. Othello’s identity also can be seen to change from the noble Moor found in Venice, to the violent person, leading up to the climax of the story in Cyprus. His experience as a soldier and a black man also influences his outlook on others and life. Through use of setting, contrasting……….Shakespeare conveys the impacts these factors have on the identity change of the most important characters, Othello and Iago.
The first Act of the play takes place in Venice. This is where we see Othello at his most innocent and care free, having just married the love of his life and have not fallen into the trap that cunning Iago plans to weave. Othello is a black African prince living in a European, colour prejudiced society. Even in Venice, where Othello holds high rank in the Venetian military, differences such as the contrast in the way he speaks to the other Venetians and especially his colour difference affect Othello and start to plant the seed of insecurity and doubt in his mind, which Iago develops into a full blown jealousy. Having come from another country Othello doesn’t speak like the rest out the characters “Rude am I in my speech”, with this referring not to the harsh language he later develops from Iago, but from the changes in his tone and use of words compared to that of the Venetians. As
“Identity is shaped by people, places and experiences”.
Discuss this statement, showing how composers of texts represent their ideas in relation to identity. In your response you must refer to Othello and one other related text. Identity is a key theme and issue in Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello. A characters identity is the overall essence and how the character is viewed by the audience and in this particular play, factors such as people, places and experiences show that identity can be influenced and changed by these such things. In Othello, conflict ultimately arises from the scheming of the evil Iago, a person changing his rational view on the world. Othello’s identity also can be seen to change from the noble Moor found in Venice, to the violent person, leading up to the climax of the story in Cyprus. His experience as a soldier and a black man also influences his outlook on others and life. Through use of setting, contrasting……….Shakespeare conveys the impacts these factors have on the identity change of the most important characters, Othello and Iago.
The first Act of the play takes place in Venice. This is where we see Othello at his most innocent and care free, having just married the love of his life and have not fallen into the trap that cunning Iago plans to weave. Othello is a black African prince living in a European, colour prejudiced society. Even in Venice, where Othello holds high rank in the Venetian military, differences such as the contrast in the way he speaks to the other Venetians and especially his colour difference affect Othello and start to plant the seed of insecurity and doubt in his mind, which Iago develops into a full blown jealousy. Having come from another country Othello doesn’t speak like the rest out the characters “Rude am I in my speech”, with this referring not to the harsh language he later develops from Iago, but from the changes in his tone and use of words compared to that of the Venetians. As