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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…
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ACT 1IAGO I hate the Moor: And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets He has done my office: I know not if't be true; But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do as if for surety. (1.3.12)…
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William Shakespeare based his play Othello, published in 1603, on the short story Un Capitano Moro by Giraldi Cinthio, which was published in 1565. Even though the two stories have many similar points and aspects, they are quite different. The basic structure of the plot is almost the same in both stories; each author simply wrote in their own details. Both authors also had different writing styles. Cinthio chose not to name any of his characters except for Disdemona, and Shakespeare gave all of his characters actual names. Shakespeare mainly depended on indirect characterization. His characters expressed their true intentions through…
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Othello, the play's protagonist, is the most dynamic character of them all due to the fact that he is a complete foil of himself by the final act of the play. In the second act Othello is introduced as confident, esteemed general of the Venetian army and a “valiant Moor,” (1.3), but by the end of the play he becomes overcome with insecurity and jealousy because of the rumors fed to him by his general. Throughout the play the audience witnesses the subtle shift in Othello’s feelings toward his wife, Desdemona, and his former lieutenant, Cassio. Othello’s suspicion soon drives him to insanity because he cannot figure out what the truth is. He says “I had been happy, if the general camp, Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body, So I had nothing known.”(3.3) exclaiming how he would rather Desdemona sleep with the entire army without him knowing than being uncertain of her rumored affair with Cassio. The lie that Iago tells Othello ruins the Moor’s life. Othello goes from a respected commanding officer to an emotionally distraught killer. Iago had made the Moor a mirror image of himself.…
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Beginning with the character Iago, one can see his jealousy fuel a villainous plot to demonstrate the dangers of the emotion. While explaining his hatred for Cassio to Roderigo, Iago complains, “One Michael Cassio . . . that never set a squadron in the field, nor the division of a battle knows . . . had the election” (Shakespeare 5). The conflict evident in Iago’s words is used by Shakespeare to bring forth the destructive nature of jealousy. From the get go, Shakespeare establishes Iago as the villain and Othello as the victim and in doing so, pushes the audience towards feeling sympathetic towards Othello and feeling hatred towards and rooting against Iago. Additionally, the conflict Shakespeare uses characterizes the character of Iago as jealous, which also contributes to molding the audience’s opinions towards him and a development of jealousy’s notoriety. While Shakespeare first introduces the conflict between Iago and Cassio as one over status and power towards the beginning of Othello, he brings the audience’s attention to Iago’s conflict with the Moor by having Iago exclaim, “I hate the Moor, and it is thought abroad that twixt my sheets he has done my office” (Shakespeare 54). Again, in this quote, Shakespeare uses the conflict between Iago and Othello to paint Iago as overly jealous man. The goal of these portrayals was to shine light on jealousy and the dangers that come with it. By portraying Iago as the jealous villain through conflict and Cassio and Othello as innocent victims, Shakespeare sends the idea that jealousy can destroy the…
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1. There are three main reasons for why Iago hates Othello. The first being that Iago deeply believes that there used to be an affair between his wife Emilia and Othello. While there is no actual evidence to support the affair, the fact that Iago believes it happened supports the fact that he is very paranoid and might be searching for reasons to hate Othello. The second is that Othello denied Iago a promotion he believes he very much deserved. The fact that Othello gives the promotion to Cassio is what leads Iago to take out revenge on both. The third (and most obvious reason to me) is the simple fact that Othello is a Moor (black) and Iago is angry act the fact Othello has authority over him and is praised by the other characters. On line 1.3.322, Iago meant that we get to choose who we want to be and that whatever we nurture becomes our nature. Iago chose to warn Othello because he is two-faced and wants to remain on Othello’s side just long enough to take him down.…
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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…
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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…
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Question: How is the issue of conflict used by composers to express and change within and between characters?…
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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.…
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ADMIRABLE is the preparation, so truly and peculiarly Shakspearian, in the introduction of Roderigo, as the dupe on whom Iago shall first exercise his art, and in so doing display his own character. Roderigo, without any fixed principle, but not without the moral notions and sympathies with honour, which his rank and connections had hung upon him, is already well fitted and predisposed for the purpose; for very want of character and strength of passion, like wind loudest in an empty house, constitute his character. The first three lines happily state the nature and foundation of the friendship between him and Iago, the purse,as also the contrast of Roderigo's intemperance of mind with Iago's coolness,the coolness of a preconceiving experimenter. The mere language of protestation…
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William Shakespeare’s play Othello is one of his four most great tragedies. This play is “widely known as being one of the most moving and most painful with the fall of proud, dignified man, the murder of a graceful, loving woman, and the unreasoning hatred of a "motiveless" villain”. Othello is an esteemed general respected and honoured for his position despite the fact he is a moor. After promoting the Florentine Cassio, his “friend” Iago despises Othello’s decision as he believes it should’ve been him who deserved it. Othello later elopes with Desdemona, which was looked down upon due to Othello being a black man. This is where Iago, the protagonist, begins his malicious plan to bring down Othello. Using Rodrigo, who loves Desdemona, to…
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Texts are usually a reflection of the time period and the values held during that time period. When compared, William Shakespeare’s play Othello written in the 16th century England and Tim Blake Nelsons film O produced in 20th century America, accentuates the reflection, when analysing the contexts, purpose, form, audience via characters and themes arises the context which are historical, social and cultural as well as the values held during the time periods.…
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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…
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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.…
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