...Othello Notes Reputation/Honour Importance of the theme of Reputation / Honour in Othello: The significant theme of reputation and honour is portrayed frequently throughout the novel Othello. Many of the characters in the novel carefully consider the consequences of their thoughts and actions in regards to their reputation and honour, making sure that they appear noble even when their actions are irrational and selfish. Such an example is shown when Iago appears to be simply stating the obvious about Desdemona, instead of manipulating Othello to believe his own fears. Othello is dictated by his desire to live up to his reputation, achieved through years of being a general in Venice. Reputation, used in conjunction with jealousy and trust, provide the key elements which provoke Othello’s mental disintegration shown predominantly by language techniques, into a world of mistrust and assumption. It is logical to assume that Othello’s suicide was a consequence of his need to preserve any traces of reputation left from his dedicated work as a general; from the characteristics portrayed of Othello it is implied that the act of imprisonment would crush Othello – he would no longer be an honourable citizen. In a similar way to Othello’s suicide, Iago’s sudden and unpredicted vow of silence could be assumed to also be a form of self-preservation, manipulating other characters by preventing any more damage to his reputation by not accidentally admitting details of his ignobility. ...
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...Spoken by Othello, this quote allows readers to have a further insight into Othello’s past. This is something that rarely happens through the book and helps to develop a stronger character for the reader to relate to. Shakespeare uses this quote to let Othello explain that he is more soldier than lover, he has been fighting battles since he was seven years old and he does not know much about anything more than combat. This quote also foreshadows the emotional journey Othello goes through throughout the play, he starts out as a soldier with hardly any emotions showing and quickly descends into a passionate person, driven by honour and pride. He states that all he knows is fighting, but when he meets his wife and has to chose between her and...
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...The catastrophe of Othello Othello is a combination of greatness and weakness in his own words “An honorable murderer” (Shakespeare V.ii, 295). He is a general in the venetian defence forces and although a foreigner from Africa, he has won this post by excellence in the field of war. Othello is characterized by his plainspoken, honest (perhaps even naïve) nature, which, together with his status as an outsider, leaves him vulnerable to the plots of his standard-bearer, Iago, to make him suspect his loyal wife, Desdemona, of infidelity. Othello is an outsider who is intelligent and confident in military matters but socially insecure. Many of Othello's insecurities are derived from his race and from the perception that...
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...The role of women in Shakespearean plays In order to proceed in exploring the women’s role in Shakespearean plays, one should consider first the social context to which they belong, i.e. the Elizabethan society, as well as the theme and the plot in which they appear. Despite the power of Elisabeth I, women during this time had very little authority, autonomy, or recognition. Women gained their status based on the position of either their father or their husband. Even more restricting than economic rights were the social and political rights of women. They were expected to be silent observers, submissive to their husbands. Women who attempted to assert their views were seen as a threat to social order. This is significant in that the maintenance of social order was an extremely important aspect of Elizabethan society. Shakespeare is highly sensitive to his target audience in every step of the writing process. He actively plays upon the beliefs and fears of the Elizabethans. With characters such as Goneril and Cleopatra, Shakespeare demonstrates the devastating effects of female rebellion against social order. Shakespeare invokes sympathy in the audience by creating characters of extreme feminine virtue such as Cordelia, Miranda. However, Shakespeare often creates ambiguous emotions in the audience by introducing an element of intelligence and boldness in the case of Isabella and Desdemona. Despite the relative insignificance of women in Elisabethan social order, Shakespeare...
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...The Ambivalence of Human Nature Othello—one of Shakespeare’s more dreadful tragedies, tragedy of an un-heroic egotistical fool, a tragedy that shows how both good and evil are summed up within a person and how manipulation and ambivalence are stronger than love and logic together. The play opens with Othello and Desdemona, a newlywed couple in Venice and Iago, a man jealous and envious of Othello and his newly appointed lieutenant Cassio. In his jealousy, Iago destroys not only Othello and Cassio but virtually all the other characters in the play including his own wife, Emilia. The story of this play represents the classic battle between the forces of good and evil leading to the ultimate triumph of evil over good with the demise of other characters in the play. There is a pattern of good and evil closely that can be identified to the three main personages in the play: Iago with Evil, Desdemona as good and Othello as good overthrown. Iago is represented as the wrath of evil in the play. He uses his cunning, untrustworthy and selfish traits to manipulate the minds of Roderigo, Cassio and Othello and confidently moves the plot forward. Iago is jealous and envious of Michael Cassio and believes that Othello has wronged his honour by terming Michael Cassio as the lieutenant and him as the ancient of the army. He believes that Michael Cassio “that never set a squadron in the field/ nor the division of a battle knows” (1.1.22-3) is less deserving than him for the position. His...
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...LITERARY THEMES IN OTHELLO The play, Othello, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, that circles around a man by the name Othello. He is a highly esteemed general in the service of Venice. Iago is Othello's ambitious friend. Othello promotes the Michael Cassio to the position of personal lieutenant and Iago is deadly jealous. Othello elopes with Desdemona, who a gentleman Roderigo, had once hoped to marry. Iago starts to plot against the newly wed couple. Desdemona is also the daughter of Brabantio, a Venetian senator, who considers the union theft of his property and is more than convinced that Othello used magic to get Desdemona to marry him. Othello becomes jealous and suspicious of Desdemona, as Iago has managed to poison his mind by convincing him that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair. This is supported by Bianca, Cassio's significant other, being in possession of Desdemona's handkerchief, which Othello had given to Desdemona. Plots and murders ensue and Othello returns to the castle to kill his innocent wife. He then kills her on her marital bed. Emilia, Iago's wife and Desdemona's lady-in-waiting, tells Othello the truth about the scheming Iago. Othello wounds Iago and then proceeds to kill himself. Iago in turn, kills Emilia. A theme can be defined as the central topic, subject or concept that the author is trying to put across. The themes Shakespeare used in the play are as follows: 1. JEALOUSY Jealousy is a resentful and bitter feeling usually associated...
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...Hello and welcome to another episode of Othello Exposed, where we delve beneath the words and into the mind of Shakespeare to see the meaning behind his plays. As discussed in our recent episode The making of show, back in 1604 when Othello was first performed there were many racial ideologies towards black Africans–although they were not yet regarded as slaves, ‘the black race was considered inferior’ (shakespearetheater.org). Shakespeare was inspired and constantly looked to challenge his audience to reconsider cultural norms. Therefore, he wrote Othello, a play about a usurper whose hunger and craving for power eventually caused the downfall of the kingdom. This usurper, possibly the most fascinating character in the play, is known as Iago:...
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...the Shakespearean tragedy “Othello” written by William Shakespeare, the themes that’s being portrayed are honour and gender, through the play the audience if captivated by the characters choices and motives through the play. With the characters choices they help to make the play more understandable as the audience can recognise the tragic hero in both the plays. The relationships between men and women in Othello are remarked as lesser then men. Iago often refers to his wife as a prostitute - "A house wife that by selling her desires, Buys herself bread and clothes (iv.i.95)” showing what type of relationship women and men had during the late 16th century. Women were generally considered obedient, respectful, kind and warm. They were never outspoken nor were they meant to, for it could be seen as a lack of loyalty. When Othello accused Desdemona of cheating on him, he found himself in a position that he didn't want to face with. Othello was emasculated with the thought of a woman disobeying him. Men were easily manipulated into thinking the worst of woman because they were certain it would never happen. However, when the slightest things start to be pointed out the characters start to over analyse. Woman were not on the same level as men; men talked down to woman, they didn’t see them as equals nor think that they should be treated like one. This relates to Othello and Desdemona’s relationship – she “betrayed” their marriage by cheating so when Othello found out he reacted by saying...
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...and the stagnant “blacken’d waters” and “moated grange” act as an obstruction to her integration with the outside patriarchal world. This reflects the wider Victorian attitude regarding the home as “the centre of virtue and the proper life for women” and brings to light the impact that passivity in the greater context of society has on the role she plays in her private relationship. This idea of external influences is echoed much less figuratively in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ where “decreased birth rates” stimulated a change in the functioning of the governmental system and the politically organised passivity of women, creating a dystopian vision of patriarchy. A change in societal structure resulting in female passivity is also present in ‘Othello’. Desdemona’s transition from an assertive female who “challenge[s] that [she] may profess...
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...Show the social, cultural, and historical characteristics of the extract (Act 1, Scene 1) in relation to the Renaissance. The French word renaissance means “rebirth”. The Renaissance in Europe originated in the 15th century. It brought about the awakening of new interest in the old classics as it sought the revival of the enthusiastic study of the masterpieces of ancient Latin and Greek literature. The movement also gave rise to curiosity and the growth of the spirit of inquiry, which as such, encouraged an intellectual revolt against the rigid rules and traditions of the medieval period. The Renaissance prompted the release of the human mind and the birth of original thinking which led to rapid progress in all spheres of activity. Europe was freeing itself from the intellectual tyranny of the church by allowing its individual to think on his own and to stir away from the common norm of society laid down by the dictates of the church. The spirit of the Renaissance was above all secular as Renaissance scholars shrugged off the medieval preoccupation with religion and rejected the restrictions of the Middle Ages in order to develop new ideals, enthusiasm, and interests. Humanism, nationalism, a new approach to life, a new spirit in art, architecture, literature and learning, the growth of vernacular languages, and scientific investigation, all started to gather momentum during the Renaissance period. The English renaissance was particular in its preoccupation with religion...
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...since the middle ages. From Dante's Divina Commedia (1308-11) to Spenser's Faerie Queene (1590-96), purity is treated as an ideal for everybody to strive towards. It is always analogous to goodness. A character with this trait (more usually female ) is treated both by the narrative and many of the characters as being a shining example of good. Almost always beautiful, she often gives off a soft radiance that attracts people. She is almost exclusively soft-spoken, polite, optimistic, and just all round pleasant to be around. The 14th century alliterative poems Pearl , Purity ,and Patience, draws easily on the Bible for its narrative and illustrate the virtue of purity in character. In Shakespearean tragedies like Othello , Desdemona is killed by her husband Othello who thinks she was unfaithful. The gentle-hearted Ophelia, Hamlet’s unfortunate lover, lost in a world too cruel for her pure fragile soul, is driven mad and topples from a branch into her watery death.Cordelia is the epitome of goodness in King Lear , for her loving virtuous and compassionate nature and, adherence to truth, which ironically turn against her. But The Tempest is a 'dramatic romance', a world of wish...
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...a certain form, but with a certain predicate. Every specific topos gives us a general (but not formal) description of things that are supposed to be good, noble, just, etc. It also gives us a reason enabling us to argue that the things described are good, noble, just, etc. Typically, topoi refer the given description back to a generally held definition of what is good, noble, just, etc., for the objective of the negotiation. Example: The specific topos is: “What is pleasant is good, since it is desirable.” The phrase “what is pleasant” provides the general description, the phrase “since it is desirable” provides the reason. Now, at the beginning of the chapter the good has been defined as “what is desirable”. Another specific topos is “honour is good, since it is pleasant”; here the reason in question applies the previous topos that what is pleasant is good, so that the current topos is indirectly linked with the initial definition of what is good. The general description included in those Topoi enables us...
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...FAMOUS WRITERS & THEIR WORK Old English (Anglo-Saxon Period): writers: Caedmon and Cynewulf. work: Beowulf (by anonymous). 1200-1500: Middle English Period : Geoffrey Chaucer's(1343-1400) : The Canterbury Tales, Troilus and Criseyde and Book of the Duchess. Other Major Poems The House of Fame, The Parliament of Fowles, The Legend of Good Women. Prose Treatises Treatise on the astrolabe. Short Poems The Complaint of Chaucer to His Purse ,Truth, Gentilesse, Merciles Beaute, Lak of Stedfastnesse, Against Women Unconstant. Geoffrey Chaucer Thomas Malory's (1405-1471) : Morte d'Arthur. work: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (by anonymous). 1500-1660: The English Renaissance 1500-1558: Tudor Period (Humanist Era) The Humanists: Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) : Utopia, The History of King Richard the Third, The Life of Pico della Mirandola, The Four Last Things, A Dialogue Concerning Tyndale, The Confutation of Tyndale's Answer, A Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation and Sadness of Christ . Sir Thomas More John Skelton (1460-1529): A ballade of the Scottysshe Kynge John Skelton Sir Thomas Wyatt(1503-1542): My Lute Awake! Once, As Methought, Fortune Me Kissed They Flee From Me The restful place ! renewer of my smart It may be good, like it who list In faith I wot not what to say There Was Never Nothing More Me Pained Patience ! though I have not Though I Cannot Your Cruelty Constrain Blame Not My Lute My Pen ! Take Pain The heart and...
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...B.A. (HONOURS) ENGLISH (Three Year Full Time Programme) COURSE CONTENTS (Effective from the Academic Year 2011-2012 onwards) DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH UNIVERSITY OF DELHI DELHI - 110007 0 Course: B.A. (Hons.) English Semester I Paper 1: English Literature 4(i) Paper 2: Twentieth Century Indian Writing(i) Paper 3: Concurrent – Qualifying Language Paper 4: English Literature 4(ii) Semester II Paper 5: Twentieth Century Indian Writing(ii) Paper 6: English Literature 1(i) Paper 7: Concurrent – Credit Language Paper 8: English Literature 1(ii) Semester III Paper 9: English Literature 2(i) Paper 10: Option A: Nineteenth Century European Realism(i) Option B: Classical Literature (i) Option C: Forms of Popular Fiction (i) Paper 11: Concurrent – Interdisciplinary Semester IV Semester V Paper 12: English Literature 2(ii) Paper 13: English Literature 3(i) Paper 14: Option A: Nineteenth Century European Realism(ii) Option B: Classical Literature (ii) Option C: Forms of Popular Fiction (ii) Paper 15: Concurrent – Discipline Centered I Paper 16: English Literature 3(ii) Paper 17: English Literature 5(i) Paper 18: Contemporary Literature(i) Paper 19: Option A: Anglo-American Writing from 1930(i) Option B: Literary Theory (i) Option C: Women’s Writing of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries (i) Option D: Modern European Drama (i) Paper 20: English Literature 5(ii) Semester VI Paper 21: Contemporary Literature(ii) Paper 22: Option A: Anglo-American Writing from 1930(ii) Option B:...
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...MacBeth. He is also known for his poetry, especially his sonnets. (Who2biographies) * William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in 1582. Their daughter Susannah was born in 1583, and the twins Judith and Hamnet were born in 1585. Hamnet died in 1596... William Shakespeare's precise birthdate is not known; he was baptized on 26 April 1564, and over time 23 April has become the accepted date of birth, in part because he also died on 23 April in 1616.( Who2biographies) * Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories, and these are regarded as some of the best work ever produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, considered some of the finest works in the English language. In his last phase, he wrote tragicomedies, also known as romances, and collaborated with other playwrights. ( Wikipedia) Summary: * He's a moody kid with suicidal tendencies, a penchant for wearing black mourning clothes,...
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