Preview

Explore How Shakespeare Examines the Themes If Jealousy and Deception in Othello the Play and Othello the Character.

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1780 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Explore How Shakespeare Examines the Themes If Jealousy and Deception in Othello the Play and Othello the Character.
Explore how Shakespeare examines the themes if jealousy and deception in Othello the play and Othello the character. Sana Thomas

Jealousy and Deception are both continuous themes running through out Shakespeare’s Othello. Indeed, it is jealousy that provides the fuel for the plot and deception that leads to the classic downfall of the 'hero' as is common in Shakespeare tragedies. However, it is a theme of hate that the play opens. It is a hate of inveterate anger. It is a hate that is bound up with envy hanging on a strained thread waiting to snap. In The Tragedy of Othello, William Shakespeare tells the tale of the “noble Moor” whose honour and innocence bring about his downfall. Shakespeare writes of the power of jealousy, and the art of masterful deception and trickery. The story primarily takes place in Cyprus, during a war between the people of Venice and the invading Turks. In this play Shakespeare shows the feeling of Othello’s embittered right-hand man, Iago. Iago's resentment erupts at his being passed over for a promotion to the position of Othello's lieutenant. He vows to retaliate against Othello by proceeding to manipulate his friends, enemies, and family into doing his bidding without any of them realizing. He leads Othello to believe that his new wife, the innocent Desdemona, is committing adultery with his newly promoted officer Michael Cassio. After a seed of jealousy has been planted, Othello’s mind takes its course in determining the true outcome, with a few more prompts from Iago. The chain of events that proceeded to follow is one that not only ends his own life, but also the life of his wife

What is deception? Deception is a wrongful act, to ‘deceive another, illusion, or fraud’. Deception, however, may be used with good intentions instinctively to protect someone from getting distressed. An example of deception with good intent is when in Act 1 Desdemona hides her relationship with Othello from her father, questioning whether

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Question: Ultimately, in this Shakespearean drama, it is the representation of intense human relationships that captivates audiences. Explore the representation of at least ONE intense human relationship in Othello, evaluating its significance in the play as a whole.…

    • 1461 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Shakespeare’s “Othello,” Othello is highly respected and looked up to but later is influenced by the antagonist, Iago, resulting in a jealous insecurity ultimately leading to his murdering of his own wife and the plotting of murdering of his ex-lieutenant, Cassio. The reader first notices Othello’s shift in character…

    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Shakespeare’s play, Othello tells the audience the story of a very successful General of Venice, Othello and how has was deceived by someone he believe to be an honest man, Iago, his ensign. The plot speeds up quickly Othello promotes Cassio instead of Iago. Iago vows revenge and slowly convinces Othello of Desdemona’s infidelity with Cassio, the lieutenant to whom Othello had given the position Iago had sought. Iago also gets Roderigo to help him in his evil plan by telling him that he can have Desdemona if he helps get rid of Cassio. Oblivious to Iago’s master plan Othello is ultimately a victim of his own naïveté.…

    • 1559 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Foils in Othello

    • 1326 Words
    • 6 Pages

    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.…

    • 1326 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Shakespeare expands the emotional and intellectual horizons of his audience using Othello as a medium to convey his purpose of jealousy. It takes the audience on a journey in which they learn of the castigations of jealousy. In Elizabethan times, the world was dominated by men and women were seen as inferior. Women were seen as untrustworthy and this view was reflected as jealousy in male relationships. Shakespeare highlights the dangers of jealousy using Othello’s tragic flaw: his blind and absolute trust in men. He shows that once they are jealous, men are easily manipulated and lose all ability to use logic or reason. Throughout the play, Shakespeare shows the audience how easy it is for jealousy to be fuelled by circumstantial evidence. It is easy to manipulate others using circumstantial evidence, especially to make them jealous. Shakespeare’s Othello contains a didactic warning, telling the audience of the volatile nature of jealousy. Shakespeare seeks to explain how minor flaws in human character can ultimately lead to the fall of great men, which is a characteristic of many Shakespearian tragedies. He is taking the audience on their journey through the exploration of the concepts and themes of jealousy.…

    • 1514 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Othello Key Scene Essay

    • 1390 Words
    • 4 Pages

    One of the most important scenes in Shakespeare’s play, ‘Othello’, is Act 3 Scene 3. During this scene, the protagonist, Othello is influenced by Iago to become suspicious of his wife Desdemona’s involvement with Cassio, after she begs her husband to restore Cassio as his lieutenant since he was recently fired. Cleverly, Iago uses Desdemona’s pleas in a mission to destroy Othello, persuading him of her infidelity and vowing that he will help him to get revenge and punish both Desdemona and Cassio. This scene provides a turning point in the play, as it displays Iago’s manipulation of Othello to gain control over him, and Othello’s first doubts in his wife, which by the end of the scene, lead to him becoming completely convinced that she’s unfaithful.…

    • 1390 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jealousy is explored in the song Jealousy by 702 in numerous ways. The two obvious ways are, one the title and the repetition of jealousy in the chorus and in the verses. Jealousy is defined by the Macquarie Dictionary as - resentment against a successful rival or the possessor of any coveted advantage. In this song the jealousy stems from women who envy the singer of her success in finding a partner. The singer believes the women want to be her as is continually repeated in the chorus - 'THEY'RE JUST WISHING THEY COULD BE ME.' This is further empathized throughout the song by the entire song being capitalized. Jealousy is further explored in the proceeding verses. Notably in the third verse - 'TRYING TO TURN ME AGAINST YOU.'…

    • 610 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In order to use psychoanalytical perspective to analyze a play the reader must first understand what it means. “Psychoanalytical interpretations aim to reveal the influence of the subconscious in the text’s plot, setting, conflict, symbols, point of view, language, and character development”(South University Online, 2010, para. 3). Using this style to analyze the play, the reader can focus on certain areas of conflict in the play. One example of this is the belief that Desdemona has been cheating on Othello with Cassio. Although the reader knows this is not the case, Iago wants Othello to believe it to be true. Another thing that can be examined is the significance of Desdemona’s handkerchief. There is a definite meaning for this item, and for that reason it is important to examine its use in the play. Finally the reader is lead to look at the overall attitude of Iago throughout the play. Taking all things into account; the deception on Iago’s part regarding Desdemona’s infidelity, Desdemona’s handkerchief as well as Iago’s attitude throughout the play, it is easy to see how psychoanalytical perspective is an important way for the reader to look at the play.…

    • 787 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The characters of Othello and Iago are tangled in the deception between love and hate. Othello comes to Venice to lead them against the Turks. Othello and Iago are both military men with strong fighting abilities however; they are not fighting the same battles. Othello falls in love with a beautiful lady and Iago falls in love with the idea of becoming lieutenant in the military. However, Iago does not become lieutenant and he is angry. Therefore, Iago sets out to destroy Othello by creating deceptions of lies about Othello’s wife. Iago manipulates Othello in believing his wife is unfaithful to him. They both are at war with their emotions of jealousy, love and character values. Othello and Iago are similar as they are men who are fearless and assertive, and they both are overcome by their desire of revenge, yet the are different to the core of their character values. [Thesis Statement]…

    • 263 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Deception is a term that, perhaps ironically, is not deceptive. It encompasses lies and trickery, dishonesty and treachery, even the high charge of treason. It is one of the most evil things that exists, so of course it is in basic human nature, and no small part of it. Overcoming it is a feat that has been failed by many a great man, and anybody might be conspiring against anyone else at any given time. It cannot be wholly eliminated, nor should it be, for the sake of free will. Deception plays a massive part in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, for obvious reasons. Without the play’s characters deceiving one another on a constant basis, Hamlet would have no plot.…

    • 637 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The play “Othello” moves around the story of a Moor who has just run away with the beautiful Desdemona and leaves Venice to command the Venetian armies against the Turks on the island of Cyprus. Othello is accompanied by his new wife and his lieutenant, Cassio. When they arrive, they find that the weather has destroyed the Turkish fleet. Iago, the evil antagonist, repeatedly tries to destroy Othello because he is upset Othello gave the position he wanted to achieve to another soldier. Iago finally succeeds when he is able to leave Desdemona's handkerchief on Cassio’s room convincing Othello that his wife has been unfaithful and has cheated on him. Othello kills Desdemona out of jealousy. Before, Iago's wife eventually reveals that Desdemona's affair was just an invention of her husband. Iago immediately kills his wife also, and Othello then commits suicide in grief. At the end, Iago is captured to be tortured and executed. What can we see in the middle of this story? “Othello” is a clear representation of some common human characteristics that are always present in our lives: rejection, prejudice, envy, and revenge.…

    • 1287 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Desdemona's Death

    • 742 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Shakespeare’s Othello portrays a story of jealousy and deception, and forces the reader to consider where the fault lies for Desdemona’s death. Was it as it may seem, Othello’s fault as he was the person that committed the murder, or was it Iago doing, for misleading Othello into a blinding rage. The themes of jealousy and dishonesty are evident throughout the play.…

    • 742 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Throughout Shakespeare’s play ‘Othello’ we observe Othello’s identity and reputation fall to pieces, the way Othello sees himself and the way others perceive him is transformed completely. His qualities of a decisive, dignified and proud man at the beginning of the play are later overtaken by jealousy, rage and irrational thinking. His life and himself as he knows it is destroyed by love and jealousy, the most dangerous weapons known to mankind.…

    • 1618 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Othello many themes come to play, however I find the most prevalent is jealousy. Jealousy is a funny thing, because it spreads like wildfire. The story of Othello is an example about how one person’s jealousy can take an entire social group down with it. Iago is the antagonist in this story, as he formulates a plot not only to take Cassio (the man who was promoted over Iago to be Othello’s second) down, and in the process many others go with him. He plants his jealousy in Rodrigo, and Othello. Convincing Rodrigo to provoke Cassio in a fight Iago tells him “Provoke him that he may; for even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny; whose qualification shall come into no true taste again but by the displanting of Cassio.” (2.1.269-272). Rodrigo’s fight with Cassio results in Cassio stabbing a man, and Othello demoting him from his second in command. Even though this is what Iago truly wants, he does not stop there. He continues to spread his jealousy and hatred by convincing Cassio that the only way to earn Othello’s good graces back is by talking to Desdemona. Iago then convinces Othello that Cassio is having an affair with Desdemona by planting Othello’s handkerchief in Cassio’s possession. Othello spirals…

    • 403 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Othello, Shakespeare tells the story of the soldier Othello, a noble and respected man, whose insecurities enable him to fall prey to the overwhelming power of jealousy. Through manipulation and lies, Othello changes from a kind and faithful husband into a man completely taken over by jealousy, resulting in his downfall. This shift in Othello’s character is done by the antagonist, Iago. Iago’s cruelty to not only Othello, but all others around him, reveals his villainous personality. Iago acts through selfish reasons alone, and stops at no lengths in order to get to what he wants. Through the character Iago, Shakespeare, in his play Othello, explores the concept of the evil nature of man and argues that one who is motivated purely by greed and the desire for power will ultimately face the consequences of his or her actions.…

    • 793 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics