Preview

Iago's Use Of Figurative Language In Othello

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
619 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Iago's Use Of Figurative Language In Othello
In this scene of Othello, Othello is killing Desdemona. All of Iago’s wicked thoughts have all sunk into Othello’s mind and Othello needs no more convincing that his wife is cheating on him. Even though Desdemona has been nothing but faithful Othello still believes she has cheated and must pay the price with her life. In these lines he compares Desdemona to many different things such as a light, a rose, and a statue through the use of figurative language. At first Othello is comparing her to a statue referring to her skin as “monumental alabaster” however, he keeps reflecting on the fact that her skin is so white. He says “whiter skin” which literally means white skin. I am not sure that Othello is talking about how white her skin as a race thing or how her skin is so white almost lifeless (death). Then I also think about how white means pure and he could be calling her pure, but that would contradict his reasons for killing her. …show more content…
He mentions that if he kills her he can no longer have her and she will wilt/decay away. Then he says he can smell it on a tree which I do not really understand. Roses grow on a bush not a tree so may be this means something different. Maybe in a sense this may mean he placed the rose in the tree and like he can place her body in the ground? However, I do like that he compares her to a rose because roses are beautiful but at the same time can hurt you because they have thorns. This is truly Desdemona in Othello’s eyes. Othello did love his beautiful Desdemona and still does but cannot bear the thought of her cheating on him. But when Desdemona “does” cheat on him, we know she really does not, it hurts Othello. (The hurt can be seen as the thorn part of the rose) The hurt is so unbearable that he finds the only way to get rid of it is through the act of
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    How Does Iago Use Animal Metaphors In Othello
    • 246 Words
    • 1 Page

    How Does Iago Use Animal Metaphors In Othello

    If black rams and jackdaws are the bestial transmutations of Othello, then hens and baboons become the objects with which Iago verbalizes his misogyny. Iago’s dehumanization of the love shared between men and women adds another component to Iago’s possible queer identity: “I have never found / man that knew how to love himself. Ere I would say / I would drown myself for the love of a guinea hen, I / would change my humanity with a baboon” (1.2.355-58). Iago clearly holds the gender dynamic between the sexes in utter disdain. Like the jackdaws, the specificity of Iago’s animal metaphors also beg commentary. Both the guinea hen and baboon are creatures that are foreign to Europe, hence Iago’s insult gains an added exclusionary valence in association…

    • 246 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Summary Of Iago's Adaptation Of Othello '
    • 1068 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Summary Of Iago's Adaptation Of Othello '

    The production of Othello was put on by the Shakespeare Theatre Company, located in Washington, D.C. The setting occurred in Venice at the time of war between Venice and Turkey, later moving into the island of Cyprus. Though the play is originally set in the late sixteenth century this adaption was portrayed in post WWI. The change in the time made it possible for a changes in costume and more modernized battle scenes.…

    • 1068 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    How Does Iago Use Racial Epithets In Othello
    • 1250 Words
    • 5 Pages

    How Does Iago Use Racial Epithets In Othello

    Your house, the place you grew up in. It once was an empty building, void of life, but now it is so much more. It’s the crib where you cooed and shook a pastel rattle, where the word “ma-ma” slid out of your mouth. It’s the room where your eager face, gently lit up by Christmas lights, saw your new teal bike. It’s the drive-way, where you scraped your knee running toward your dad to welcome him home from work.…

    • 1250 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Is Iago Presented In Othello
    • 763 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How Is Iago Presented In Othello

    Shakespeare has created the character of Iago as the villain of the play. He drives the plot as he schemes and manipulated other characters. He fascinates and terrifies the audience with his revengeful plotting which he has no real motivation for.…

    • 763 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Iago's Character In Othello
    • 174 Words
    • 1 Page

    Iago's Character In Othello

    Many characters in the Shakespearian play, Othello, are deceived by the clever and flattering Iago. Early on in the play, Iago is trying to get his plans against Othello into motion. He meticulously chooses vulnerable characters to help carry out his vengeful scheme. Roderigo is one of the many susceptible characters who fall for Iago’s tricks. Iago catches Roderigo in a very vulnerable state and carefully plants his own scheme into Roderigo’s mind. Iago wants Roderigo to keep fighting for Desdemona despite her marriage to Othello. He tells him “Seek thou rather be hazed in compassing thy joy then to be drowned without her” (1.3 353-355). Iago flatters Roderigo by making him believe he has a chance with Desdemona and to fight for her using…

    • 174 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Iago's Relationship In Othello
    • 1135 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Iago's Relationship In Othello

    The only things that human beings need to survive in this world are: food, shelter, and relationships. Humans by nature cannot successfully exist on their own, for that reason they are instinctively inclined to crave relationships with others. Whether a relationship be romantic or strictly platonic, it is crucial that one develop a proper foundation before trusting wholeheartedly. The foundation of a relationship, much like any other type of foundation, protects it from threatening outside forces, such as people with malicious intentions, or simply the trials of life in general. There are a myriad of useful qualities that can make up said foundation, however, several important examples are: knowledge of a partner’s character, open communication…

    • 1135 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Iago In Othello's Jealousy
    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Iago In Othello's Jealousy

    Iago is a cruel and evil man who uses ways to ruin Othello and Desdemona’s relationship. Othello appointed Cassio, to be his lieutenant. Iago was mad when he heard about it, he believes that he should be the one for the position since he knows more. This started off with his jealousy of Cassio. When Othello and Desdemona got married without letting anyone knowing, Iago begins to plot his plan. He used Roderigo to help him throughout the process of his plan to bring down Cassio. He then told Othello lies to ruin his own relationship. He also use Bianca as his part of the plan. Iago got people into thinking he was a nice honest guy, but he uses other people's jealousy and gullibleness for his own benefit.…

    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Iago's Influence On Othello
    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Iago's Influence On Othello

    Iago’s contribution to an unstable mood shapes the theme of jealousy taking over or acting as a consumer because Iago illustrates that jealousy can be the driving force behind abhorrence as it grows bigger and bigger. Iago continues to exact revenge on Othello and other people are being affected negatively as they fall with Othello. As Iago and Roderigo are fighting, Iago steps aside and says: “ Now, whether he kill Cassio,/or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,/ Every way makes my gain. Live Roderigo,/ he calls me to a restitution large/ of gold and jewels that I bobbed from him/… If Cassio do remain,/ he hath a daily beauty in his life/ that makes me ugly. And Besides, the Moor/ May unfold me to him.” (V.I.13-22) Iago is thinking of killing Roderigo because he might be a threat…

    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Iago: Shakespeare's Sociopath
    • 1269 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Iago: Shakespeare's Sociopath

    Even though the definition of identity is the fact of being who or what a person thing is. 1…

    • 1269 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Iago In Othello
    • 1152 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Iago In Othello

    Shakespeare’s play Othello exhibits many modern Freudian psychology theories, specifically through the character of Iago. Iago is a character who shows typical characteristics of a psychopath. Iago’s behaviour and intentions can be explained through modern Freudian psychology, and emphasised through the critical writings of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Fred West, who, respectively, argued Iago’s “motiveless malignity” and Shakespeare’s “profound and accurate portrayal of a psychopath in Iago”. Through this report, I will discuss how Freudian psychology can be used to further understand how Shakespeare’s Iago can be defined as a psychopath.…

    • 1152 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Perception Of Honest Iago In Shakespeare's Othello
    • 290 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Perception Of Honest Iago In Shakespeare's Othello

    Iago has the ability to charm and convince all the characters of his loyalty and honesty “Honest Iago”. But to the audience, Iago is a treacherous manipulator always looking to help himself by using the downfall of other characters. He uses many characters to his benefit, recognizing how trustworthy and oblivious these people are. Iago cannot be relied on as he has many masks, behind which he hides. He has many disguises and secrets that he hides from everyone. “I am not what I am” (Act 1, Scene 1, line 67), Iago’s opinion and treatment of women in the play also contributes to the audiences’ perception of him as cruel and unpleasant. Iago treats his wife Emilia in a very derogatory way, “It is a common thing…To have a foolish wife” Iago’s…

    • 290 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Figurative Language In Othello
    • 939 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Figurative Language In Othello

    Mal Peet I believe has successfully transformed Othello into a 'modern day tragedy', Exposure. He uses many similar characters, with many of the same personalities/motives. The two texts also explore many of the same themes, such as the outsider, racism and reputation. Mal Peet puts a modern spin on the tale.…

    • 939 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Iago's Monologue From The Play 'Othello'
    • 1062 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Iago's Monologue From The Play 'Othello'

    Text Idea: The play Othello, Shakespeare Text Type: Monologue Purpose: providing a theoretical insight into Iago’s thoughts once he had been captured and was thrown into a prison cell. Iago: How did I end up in this rotten hell-hole of a cell? I could have sworn that I had everyone caught and under my spell. Everyone came to me, asking me what went wrong, asking for solutions, for help in their plans.…

    • 1062 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Motivation Of Iago In Shakespeare's Othello
    • 765 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Motivation Of Iago In Shakespeare's Othello

    What holds us back from being evil? What power hinders us from murdering, stealing, and hurting others? Most would say there is the sense of guilt and possible punishment, but regardless, they say that they still would never commit these offenses even with the repercussions not present. This is not true, we overestimate our actual compassion and to be evil is just a matter of being chastised; and with a lack of punishment, we would all be much more evil than we imagine. In Shakespeare's Othello, we tend to empathize with Othello, the honest Moor, in spite of being much more similar to Iago. We would like to imagine that Othello's actions are human nature, but deep down we understand Iago's behavior. Iago's motivations for monetary gain through…

    • 765 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does Iago's Use Of Dramatic Irony In Othello
    • 696 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Does Iago's Use Of Dramatic Irony In Othello

    In Othello, the play takes place in two different location. The beginning of the play is set around Shakespeare time in Venice. Venice was a prosperous Italian city that was centered in the middle of many trading networks. The second half of the play is set in Cyprus, which is an island controlled by Venice. On this island is where things start to fall apart to all the characters. Everyone goes from a very structured society to a very violent and chaotic situation. Othello is the only African or Moor in a predominantly white society and was in a romantic relationship with Desdemona, a white woman. Her father does not believe that they are in love and that Othello had bewitched his daughter. Although Othello is respected by many,…

    • 696 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics