A Moor and renowned soldier leads the Venetian army to victory against the Turks. During this war, he marries a senator’s daughter, Desdemona. Many hold Othello in high esteem; however, his Ensign, Iago, resents him and plots a scheme to ruin his happiness. He plans to make Othello believe that Desdemona and his Lieutenant, Cassio, have an affair after Desdemona and Othello marry. Furthermore, Iago gets Cassio drunk and then stages a fight to turn Cassio against Othello. Iago, whom Othello believes to be honorable, plants the idea of the affair in Othello’s mind; consequently, Othello fills with jealousy and plans to murder Cassio and Desdemona for their disloyalty. Iago makes Othello believe that Desdemona gives Cassio her handkerchief which Othello gives her as a present at their wedding. He also stages a conversation between Iago and himself which implies that Cassio never cares for Desdemona. These events enrage Othello. Therefore, he asks Iago to kill Cassio while he murders Desdemona. Desdemona never knows of Othello’s thoughts or intentions. She believes that he appears hostile because of matters from the State or because of his disagreement with Cassio. Iago’s plan to murder Cassio fails; however, during this time, Othello strangles Desdemona. Later, Othello learns about Iago’s scheme and lies. Othello commits suicide out of despair and love for Desdemona. In William…
A foil character contrasts the personalities of another character, which particularly enlightens certain characteristics of the individual. This element portrays these characteristics in an obvious manner, as it benefits the reader or audience. By showing the characteristics of one, it directly heightens the character traits of the other, creating a foil illustration of an individual. Nowhere is this element of literature more prudent than in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, as he effectively engages the use of foil characters. In the play, two lovers from opposing, and hateful families fall in love, but the hatred between households lead to their downfall. Characters in the immoral city of Verona are set to represent key themes and elements of tragedy, and these features are illuminated by the strong use of foil characters. In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Romeo’s qualities are emphasized and distinguished through the foil representations of Mercutio, Tybalt, and both households.…
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,” 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…
Amidst the pursuit of an obsession, a person can lose their perception of truth and reality, becoming ignorant and easily persuaded. This fault in character leads a person to the captivating and consuming world of jealously. Shakespeare pursues this idea in his characterization of both Othello and Iago. In the inauguration of the text “Othello”, Othello’s character is conveyed as strong willed and undefeatable, however due to his intense and passionate love for his new wife, Desdemona, Othello’s strength is weakened and he becomes easily persuaded with “honest, honest” Iago’s lies. Due to his obsessive state of mind and the true nature of obsession, Othello’s character becomes weak and malleable, with the assistance of his trusted companion, the deceiving Iago. Othello himself recognizes the jealousy that has arisen and describes it as “ jealousy so strong/ that judgment cannot cure”. This statement highlights Othello’s lose of control over his own perceptions.…
Othello is easily persuaded and this leads him to put his trust in the wrong people. He unfortunately gets ensnared into Iago’s devious plan. Othello treats Iago as a trust-worthy friend who he has known for a long period of time. When Iago realizes that Othello believes the story about Cassio’s relationship with Desdemona, Iago decides to take the scheme further. Iago places horrid images in Othello’s mind that turn Othello into a rash man. Othello’s tragic flaw ultimately leads to his destruction. Othello’s personality vastly transforms due to the madness. Othello ironically mistrusts his loyal wife Desdemona and good friend Cassio. When Othello places Desdemona on her deathbed, he states, “Be thus when thou are dead, and I will kill thee/And love thee after” (V.ii.20-21). At this moment in the play, Othello’s actions are ironic. Originally, Othello worried that Desdemona would stab him in the back, but he is the one who betrays his beloved wife. Othello is brought to this action because Iago places extreme jealousy within…
For the fact that it plays a major role in the outcome of the play. William Shakespeare's Othello is a tragic play about deception, manipulation, and revenge. The main character, Othello, is a powerful black military man who wins the love of a white woman named Desdemona. Their devotion to each other seems ideal, and it appears that Desdemona would do anything for Othello, even if it meant withstanding ridicule. The love between Othello and Desdemona, however, will be horrifyingly hindered, for the immoral Iago has plans to destroy their affection, but especially to destroy Othello himself. Iago's primary goal was to get revenge on Othello for not promoting him to lieutenant. Iago is clever. Iago is evil. In the eyes of others he is ironically perceived as honest and trustworthy, but inside he is a sinister villain. Iago is able to manipulate the minds of people into performing actions that are advantageous to him. "Honest Iago" is like a disguised wolf in the flock of sheep that guilefully pounces on each victim. Iago does not merely seek retribution against Othello in one single step, but rather, he cautiously and cleverly manipulates several people to trap the Moor. Iago uses people as if they were pawns; and he positions each one carefully, making moves that will finally corner Othello. He uses people such as Roderigo, Cassio, and even his own wife…
In Othello, Shakespeare exposes Iago’s true self to the audience, or what we think of as his true self. During the last passage in Act I Scene III, Iago is alone on stage and delivers his first soliloquy, where the character shares his inside thoughts. When Iago shares his thoughts concerning Othello, his character starts to come out more. Shakespeare characterizes Iago as someone who wants revenge on Othello and plans a scheme to quench his thirst for vengeance. Shakespeare shows us how vengeful Iago is through his tone, figures of speech and diction.…
The play Othello by William Shakespeare revolves around protagonist, Othello, as he is continuously deceived by a villainous mastermind posing as his most loyal friend, Iago. Although Othello is technically the protagonist of the play, Shakespeare takes a unique approach by allowing the reader to spend most of the play inside the mind of the psychotic Iago as he slowly destroys the life of not only Othello, but everyone who is in a close relationship with him. Many to this day are still unsure of the motives of Iago, and question his twisted pursuit of the destruction of the people around him. His actions; however, can be explained as an irrational and psychotic reaction due to the envy that he held towards those closest to him. Throughout…
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…
The focus of the play Othello is not so much Othello’s flaws and weaknesses but more Iago’s villainy.…
By analyzing William Shakespeare’s development of Othello as a volatile character in his play, Othello, it proves that Shakespeare, in his tragedies, fabricates his characters in a way that makes them incapable of…
Shakespeare’s Othello continues to engage audiences through its dramatic treatment of grand and challenging ideas. In the light of your critical study, does this statement resonate with you? Make specific reference to the text.…
In Shakespeare's Othello, the theme of jealous is evident throughout the play. Shakespeare uses techniques such as characterisation and imagery to illustrate this theme. By characterising his characters with jealousy, Shakespeare effectively emphasises the destructive power of jealousy, which corrupts the values of honour and trust. In Othello, the protagonist is characterised as a general who has a high social status, a man who is known as the "valiant," "more fail than black" moor and a respected member of the Venetian society. This is contrasted with the Moor towards the end of the tragedy, who is enraged with jealousy and utter disgust for Desdemona, even calling her an "Impudent strumpet!" Despite Desdemona's constant pleas of being innocent and faithful, Othello's mind becomes so corrupted by Iago that the once calm and honourable figure, seems to lose control of his mind, working himself up and…
Othello’s character changed dramatically throughout the play. My view of Othello morphed for the duration of the play, he transformed from a vigilant, immaculate, congenial and amorous man to naïve, imprudent, rash and violent man blinded by envy. Othello allows himself to be “led by the nose” when he believes that “honest Iago” would never lie to him.…