Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello has the ability throughout time to relate to the intrinsic nature of the human condition. Exposing the vulnerability of humanity, Shakespeare confronts the universal concerns such as racism and discrimination, which have a sense of timelessness still present from the Elizabethan age to the modern day. Potentially leading an eternal life, the play Othello is able to be interpreted by each individual differently through the complex language and understanding which ensures its validity in different contexts in society. These diverse interpretations include my own which has further formed an insight on the concern of human emotion such as jealousy and love, when logical reasoning is overpowered by these sporadic emotional inclinations. The collapse of Othello from a stable and rational hero, to a man driven insane by passion is a prime example of this, also framing the power of society on an individual choices and development as a character.…
In many of the plays by William Shakespeare, the central character goes through internal and external changes that ultimately shake their foundations to the core. Numerous theories have been put forth to explain the sequence of tragedies Shakespeare wrote during this period by linking it to some experience of melancholy, anger, despair, and the antagonist 's ultimate fall from grace in their lust for power. But such theories overlook the fact that it is in this very same period and in the same tragic works that portray the heights to which human nature can rise and fall in its purest and noblest, if not happiest terms. Surely the creation of so much light alongside the darkness and the perfection of the artistic medium through which Shakespeare gives them expression argues against the idea that the greedy side of human nature is his chief concern. His efforts to portray human life in its rarest form and not only the dark depths, but also the treasure rooms of our being. He tries to pierce beneath the superficial motives and forces of surface behavior, social, and cultural expressions and to the deeper levels of individual character and human nature. Shakespeare then places these aspects of human existence in their true relation to the wider field of universal life. In relation to the tragic hero, there are many similarities between the tragic heroes in Macbeth and King Lear. However, the differences between the two outline the re-occurring themes in both plays. In Shakespeare 's plays the central characters ' own weaknesses and lust for power lead to corruption. The unchecked power in Shakespeare 's Macbeth and King Lear ultimately leads to corruption, tragedy, and the hero 's fall from grace.…
Othello’s prestige (that of a dark, tall, African Moor), joined with his particular charisma, aids him in achieving the admiration and loyalty of the Venetian people and senators. Othello, subsisting as a soldier for a large interval of his life, is viewed as an exceptionally honourable gentleman. His status as a governor-general itself displays an aura of aristocracy, poise, and potency. The identity portrays someone who is sustained in tremendously high reverence by the people of Venice. In addition to him exhibiting pronounced characteristics and courage, Othello also exhibits pride. He retains his composure during the initial confrontation with the senators when he is accused of witchcraft when Desdemona's father faces Othello about his courting his daughter: “Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors,/ My very noble and approved good masters,/ That I have ta'en away this old man’s daughter,/ It is most true. True, I have married her./ The very head and front of my offending/ Hath this extent, no more,” ( I.iii.76-81). Though Iago is the venomous serpent of the play, it is Othello’s tragic faults of gullibility and jealously that convert him from an aristocrat into a venomous creature himself, which inescapably carriages him to his demise. Although Iago fuels the fire that is Othello’s jealously through his tactics of…
In Shakespeare’s Othello, A play about a group of military men and their families including their wife’s and their friends and family who are all connected to each other and the jealousy one has (Iago) of the Most important character (Othello) to tear Othello and his wife Desdemona apart in the hope to gain power with it .Shakespeare in this play uses trust/honesty to show the fault in humanity to believe in what they are told without proof that it is true. Shakespeare shows this trust and honesty through the interaction and relationships between Othello and Iago, Iago and Cassio, and the interaction between Brabantio and Iago/ Rodriego. This is not only shown as a hidden trust between two characters but also with the use of the word trust and honesty within the text.…
Shakespeare has used pathos in vast ways to support character development and to build the readers or audiences’ relationship with the characters. Shakespeare makes his readers feel sympathy for certain characters by the way the antagonist treats them. In Othello, Iago used Roderigo, tricked Othello, and mistreated the female characters in the play. Iago helps develop the theme of jealousy throughout the play by exploiting some of the major characters. The truths about some characters are shown clearly to the audience which helps them establish their opinions and feelings about them. Shakespeare uses pathos to get his reader’s point of view of a character.…
One of William Shakespeare’s many attributes as a playwright of the late 16th century was his character development. Shakespeare’s seamless use of indirect characterization sets his works apart from the other playwrights and authors of his time. In Othello, the Shakespearian tragedy about the newlywed Othello and Desdemona, Shakespeare uses character foils to emphasize the strengths and weaknesses of the characters. By making inwardly similar characters seem like polar opposites, Shakespeare truly shows how dynamic each of the characters is.…
In the opening scenes, Shakespeare portrays Othello as a noble character. Othello maintains his calm behavior until Iago taunts him with lies. Othello’s language transforms him into a monster due to his jealousy. "Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green eyed monster which doth mock" At first, he simply doubts his wife's loyalty. Othello starts to use the animal imagery that Iago used throughout the play (3.3.407).…
How is the theme of suffering portrayed in ‘Othello’, ‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘One flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest’?…
William Shakespeare's classic tragedy, ‘Othello’ written in approximately 1603, continues to be studied and appreciated even now in modern society, more than four hundred years after it was written. Apart from the obviousness of Shakespeare’s ability to use diction to draw in the audience, ‘Othello’ has many qualities which allow it to be interpreted and re-interpreted through time. It can relate to any audience and context because its varied themes, values and ideas, remain relevant to all societies making it possible for anyone to relate to ‘Othello’ on some level. This, along with Shakespeare’s depiction of common human emotions, and his ability to portray these in such a realistic manner continues to make ‘Othello’ worthy of critical study. The universality of Shakespeare’s themes are evident not only in ‘Othello’ but in almost all of his works.…
Shakespeare's 'Othello' is the study of how a seemingly successful Venetian general, is skilfully manipulated by the cunning Iago, who by exploiting Othello’s insecurities transforms his identity into a jealous murderer. At the beginning of the play, Othello’s identity is that of an assiduous black general who fought exceptionally hard to gain respect in a white dominated society. In marrying Desdemona, Othello adds to his identity by being a lover and husband and his identity is portrayed to be interconnected to his love for Desdemona. Iago is jealous of Othello’s high standing and greatly respected identity and therefore undermines Othello’s confidence in his wives faithfulness and turns his identity into an irrational jealously. Shakespeare utilises a number of key techniques in ‘Othello,’ to indicate the extent of Othello’s identity changes. These changes are effectively conveyed to the audience through the contrast of Othello’s outward appearance with his affable interior. They are further…
Discuss with close reference to the Shakespearian play Othello that you have been studying in class.…
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, I've come here today to present you with a man who wants to justify the murder of his wife. I will show you how unjustified his act and his thoughts were in this not so spontaneous crime. Othello is on trial for murder and I would like to remind you that he has admitted full and absolute blame for this and you should not heed that lightly. Under the circumstances his mental state will come into account, but do not be bewildered by his claims of psychosis as any man could have had these thoughts befallen upon him and not taken action.…
Shakespeare's "Othello" exhibits the demise of man via jealousy and rumor. The work showcases perhaps the gravest villain in literary times, Iago, whose evil cunning and masterful manipulation steamrolls the demise of honorable reputations; the destruction of intimate relationships, both brotherly and romantic; and finally, breaks down the sanity and conviction of stable men due to excessive need to protect ego and preserve personal pride.…
Emilia and Desdemona are both confined within a patriarchal power structure, and although their responses to this dynamic are different, they both ultimately die because of it. Emilia and Desdemona reside within a patriarchal society. Emilia and Desdemona both react differently toward their husbands’ actions. Both Desdemona and Emilia die as a direct result of their husbands’ authority over them.…
The fate of Othello is typical of a Shakespearian play. Shakespeare often builds up his main characters, by calling them valiant' and noble' and relating all his great military achievements in the case of Othello, and then by dragging them off their elated positions by soiling them with such petty emotions as hate or jealousy. Othello' itself is a play of strong opposites. Anger and love and the constant imagery of heaven and hell, Othello being the devil' and Desdemona the angel'.…