...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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...Characterization Of Iago In William Shakespeare’s Play “Othello” William Shakespeare’s “Othello” is a tragic play that reveals the evil characteristics of a man and his intentions. Antagonist Iago is a sly man, led by jealousy and revenge to Othello, whom he pretends to love. Iago despises his own wife, desires money, and manipulates with people who trust him. He is disrespectful towards his wife and despises women. In his conversation with Desdemona and Emilia, he says that even if a woman is beautiful, wise, has self-control, and is a lady of virtue, she still is only meant “to suckle fools and chronicle small beer.” But he also despises her because he has suspicions that she cheated on him with the Moor. “I hate the Moor; And it is thought abroad, that ‘twixt my sheets H’ as done my office: I know not if ‘t be true; But I for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do as it for surety.” To Iago, Emilia is just someone he can use for his own good. He does not love her. She was useful to him when she got Desdemona’s handkerchief. But that is all his wife was to him – just a part of his evil plan. He did not even hesitate killing her, just to save himself. This proves how selfish he was, thinking only about his own good. It also shows that he had no conscience, and no sense of right and wrong. Iago is greedy and manipulates with people. Before going to Cyprus, Iago repeatedly tells Roderigo to “put money in [his] purse,” which shows Iago’s greed. And since he keeps...
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...In the play Othello none of the characters ever try to find out what's going on for themselves. Instead they listen to rumor and hearsay, this is what makes this play a tragedy. From the very beginning of the play we see the characters trust Iago to a ridiculous extent. For example Roderigo has been promised by Iago that he will use the money he's receiving to help him win Desdemona. We as the reader know he is lying, but Roderigo does not. “Tush, never tell me! I take it much unkindly/ That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse/ As if the strings were thine, shouldst know this.” (pg 15) It's very strange that he is willing to give Iago so much money without trying to find out where it is going until he has given Iago almost everything he has....
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...In Othello, language is the medium in which the action and the plot flows through. Words are given power and influence. Characters construct their identity according to their power of speech, silence or ability to silence others. The shift of power for Othello is often conveyed through his language and linguistic skills. In the beginning, Othello appears honourable and articulate; his language is persuasive, abundant in imagery and humble. His speech in Act 1.3 clearly demonstrates his mastery of oratory, when he addresses the Venetian council as “most potent, grave and reverend signors” and even proclaims that he is “rude…in my speech” as he details his service and his “feats of broil and battle”. Desdemona was charmed by his stories and Othello affirms this as he declares that she “loved him for the dangers [he] passed”. Evidently, he is a...
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...Othello “The Moor” vs. “Honest” Iago Characters within a story are meant to have their own tale, just as the characters in one’s lives have their own stories of how they came to be. William Shakespeare, the modern father of the Drama, understood this concept all too well when developing his complex, yet relatable characters. In his master works Othello, each character has their socially impacting story line with their own effect on the overall plotline that help shape the complex Venetian society in which the play is set. With their friendship at the root of evil deeds, Othello and Iago help define the writing in the play: love for one self before that of a friend. With Othello’s honest friendship, and Iago’s piercing betrayal, they help mold the storyline told in this Venetian world. With his triumph on the battlefield, Othello is sought after by Dukes and Senator, and well admired and respected within the Venetian community. He is considered an outsider from his peers, and the community based on his African descent. All the success came at the price of Othello spending his childhood under slavery, then joining the military at a young age in order to gain his presence within society. Shakespeare exemplifies this quality by showing a separation from the other characters, and usually referring to Othello in racial slurs such as “the Moor”, and references to his exotic body such as “the thick-lips” and “black.” All these strategies amplify the feeling throughout the play that...
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...The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the Italian short story Un Capitano Moro ("A Moorish Captain") by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565. The work revolves around four central characters: Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army; his wife, Desdemona; his lieutenant, Cassio; and his trusted ensign, Iago. Because of its varied and current themes of racism, love, jealousy, and betrayal, Othello is still often performed in professional and community theatres alike and has been the basis for numerous operatic, film, and literary adaptations. The play opens with Roderigo, a rich and dissolute gentleman, complaining to Iago, a high-ranking soldier, that Iago has not told him about the secret marriage between Desdemona, the daughter of a Senator named Brabantio, and Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army. He is upset by this development because he loves Desdemona and had previously asked her father for her hand in marriage. Iago hates Othello for promoting a younger man named Michael Cassio above him, and tells Roderigo that he plans to use Othello for his own advantage. Iago is also angry because he believes, or at least gives the pretence of belief, that Othello slept with his wife Emilia. Iago denounces Cassio as a scholarly tactician with no real battle experience; in contrast, Iago is a battle-tested soldier. By emphasizing Roderigo's...
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...great role in William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello. Most of the irony in the play relates to the main villain in the play, Iago, who is motivated by his jealousy. Iago is jealous of Othello’s military success and Cassio being promoted to Othello’s lieutenant position instead of himself. Iago plans to take revenge against Othello by manipulating Cassio and Desdemona, who is Othello’s wife. Iago is a well respected character in the play, so he would not be suspected to be the culprit. He tries to fake an affair between Cassio and Desdemona that would surely be tragic for Othello. The...
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...tendency, and Othello is no exception. Shakespeare stories are often about one hero, and the story builds up to the eventual death of this character. The hero often starts the story with happiness and no obvious problems, and as the story develops the character’s life begins to crumble and eventually leads to their death after everything has been lost. Othello is a prime example of this Shakespearian story line, where we see everything Othello has at the start of the story fall to pieces and end in tragedy with the character’s suicide. Jealousy and deception are central themes in many of Shakespeare’s plays, and are often what leads to the hero’s downfall. There are a number of key scenes in Othello that represent these themes of jealousy, deception and tragedy throughout the play. In Act 2 Scene 3 Iago uses different techniques in order to deceive Othello and change his opinions of Cassio. Iago says: ‘I would rather have this tongue cut from my mouth, then it should do offense to Michael Cassio.’ Iago is setting up his later deception, as he is tricking Othello into thinking that he likes Cassio and would never speak ill of him, which enables him to seem more believable when he later deceives Othello about Desdemona’s affair. This deception is confirmed when Othello says ‘I know Iago, thy honesty, and love doth mince this matter, making it light to Cassio.’ Othello is suggesting that Iago may not tell the whole truth as he wants to protect Cassio. This is ironic as Iago is actually...
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...work harder for what they want. Unfortunately, the acts of jealousy in Othello are not good and result in death. After examining jealousy in Othello, it is clear that jealousy ruins relationships and in some cases, jealousy is only satisfied by destroying others. Iago and Cassio are friends before all of the drama of being picked for lieutenant happens. Iago believes that he, himself, is a very good soldier and he should be chosen as Othello’s lieutenant. However, when Cassio gets chosen as Othello’s lieutenant, Iago becomes angry and jealous. Therefore, he wants to sabotage and destroy Cassio so that he can take his position. Iago is...
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...David Olsen Othello Essay Intro to Lit 4/14/12 Instructor: The Opinionator The handkerchief plays a central role in Shakespeare’s Othello. It was given to Othello by his mother, and then given to Desdemona by Othello. It may seem farfetched that something as simple as a handkerchief could make a person murder someone else, but when I look back at the story that is exactly happens. The handkerchief symbolizes the relationship and trust between Othello and Desdemona. This seemingly normal handkerchief has a very deep meaning to Othello, and when he finds out who has possession of it towards the end of the play he goes into a frenzy. The whole reason that the handkerchief becomes an object of evil and jealousy is because Iago uses it as a tool to persuade Othello that Cassio is seeing Desdemona. The whole circle of betrayal begins when Desdemona drops the handkerchief and Emilia picks it up. Iago had told Emilia to do so for quite some time. Once Emilia turns it over to Iago, he almost immediately goes to work in his evil ways. He plants the handkerchief in Cassio’s apartment. Cassio can’t figure out whose it is and takes it. Cassio ends up giving it to Bianca. Iago sets the second part of his plot into action when he talks to Othello later on when they are alone`. He tells Othello that he suspects Desdemona is being unfaithful to him with Cassio. Othello demands proof of the affair, and Iago informs him that he saw Cassio give the handkerchief...
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...Analytical Essay Othello is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, he wrote this masterpiece in 1603. The play mainly revolves around four central characters: Othello, the Moorish general in the Venetian army; his wife, Desdemona; his lieutenant, Cassio and his ancient, Iago. In this play, by not showing Othello at the beginning of the first scene, Shakespeare creates an uncomfortable feeling to the story. Furthermore, he foreshadows the conflicts to come later in the plot. One of the conflicts is Iago becoming the archetypal evil villain who ruins Othello and Desdemona’s relationship. Iago manipulates Othello’s weakness his jealousy; Iago hates and does not respect women which is one of the main reason of his plan for revenge against Othello. Firstly, Iago knows how to observe people and uses human psychology to manipulate people’s minds. Iago manipulates Othello’s weaknesses which make Othello feels insecure. For example, after Cassio looks for help with Desdemona, Iago gets a golden chance to talk to Othello in private. Iago starts to plant the seed of jealousy in Othello concerning Desdemona and Cassio. Iago tells Othello to “beware …of jealousy” (III/III/l.195) which makes Othello nervous and start to suspect that Desdemona is cheating on him. Moreover, Iago warns Othello to “observe her well with Cassio.” (III/III/l.228) which causes Othello believes from the bottom of his heart that Desdemona is being unfaithful to him. Furthermore, he tricks Othello into believing that...
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...play was Othello which is the second most popular Shakespeare play. Othello is a tragedy written by Shakespeare between 1601 and 1604. The main character of this play is Othello who is frame by Iago to believe that his wife Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. Othello is a Moorish general in the service of Venice. He was blinded by Iago to seek revenge against his wife and his lieutenant. The theme revenge is portrayed throughout the whole play. Such evil act is plotted and executed by the character Iago. He is focused on destroying Othello for not promoting him to lieutenant and does not care who will get hurt in the process of his vengeance. Iago main target was Othello; he was determined to take revenge against Othello by using numerous characters throughout the play. The first target was Barbantino Desdemona father followed by, Roderigo, Cassio and his wife Emilia. Revenge was the driven force that drove Iago to plot and carefully executes the tragic that ended with Othello and Desdemona life. Revenge is an unceasing theme throughout the play Othello. Iago’s character was seeking revenge against Othello. He is determined to fulfill his plans despite of who will get hurt or involve. Iago vengeance is a result of Othello Overseen him for promotion and instead his promotes Cassio to lieutenant. Such promotion is the driven force behind Iago malicious revenge and hate towards Othello. Iago has dedicated many years of service and loyalty to Othello. When Cassio...
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... In Shakespeare's play Othello, the character Iago is no different from those deceptive individuals. Behind his façade as a trustworthy ensign and friend, Iago is a multilayered, deceptive and manipulative villain, concocting chaos and causing mishaps to other characters for revenge. Iago uses his deft and astute strategic acts of manipulation to undermine each character’s weaknesses. He exploits Roderigo’s love for Desdemona, cajoles Cassio under the guise of friendship, and toys with Othello’s mind by playing on his self-doubt. Evidently, Iago manipulates the people around him by using their weaknesses: Roderigo’s naiveté, Cassio’s trusting nature, and Othello’s insecurity, against them. First of all, Iago uses Roderigo’s gullible and naive personality to his advantage. Roderigo’s obsession and lust for Desdemona renders him susceptible to Iago’s manipulation. This obsession causes him to unquestioningly believe anything Iago says in hopes of getting Desdemona. Initially, Iago dupes Roderigo of his fortune. He convinces him that the gold and jewels will be given to Desdemona as a proclamation of his love when in actuality, Iago plans to keep it for himself. Iago states: “Thus do I ever make fool my purse” (Shakespeare, I.iii. 374). Evidently, Iago takes advantage of Roderigo’s devotion by conning him of his money. Similarly, Iago uses Roderigo once more by convincing him to kill Cassio. Although Roderigo is reluctant at first, he relents once Iago insists that this will win...
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...OTHELLO In the tragedy Othello, written by Shakespeare in 1604, about a Moor named Othello who marries the beautiful Desdemona, causes much disdain and envy in the masses. A man named Iago deceives Othello and everyone else to manipulate for his own cause and jealousy and ultimately meets his doom when Iago’s wife spills the truth of Iago’s deceit. As Othello plays as the tragic hero, Iago plays out to be the villain, who is also very reminiscent of the devil. Iago reflects all that can be evil in humans and he is revealed throughout the play as the devil. Iago is scheming, untrustworthy, and cunning. He doesn’t care who he hurts or destroys as he makes his way towards his endgame. Iago is jealous of Othello, Cassio, and others because he believes Othello has had an affair with his wife, Cassio has attained a higher position as well as his superiors. This results in a plan to destroy those in power because of his insecurities and gain control over what he does not. Iago’s corruption is initially revealed as he speaks with Brabantio outside his home in the streets of Venice about how Othello is ruining his daughter. Iago is with his “friend,” Roderigo, and talks of Desdemona, “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” (1.1.91). While Iago is speaking with Rodreigo before they plan to yell up to Brabantio’s window, “For when my outward action doth demonstrate the native act and figure of my heart. In compliment extern, 'tis not long after...
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...Othello – Summary of Act I. Shakespeare's famous play of love turned bad by unfounded jealousy, begins in Venice with Iago, a soldier under Othello's command arguing with Roderigo, a wealthy Venetian. Roderigo has paid Iago a considerable sum of money to spy on Othello for him, since he wishes to take Othello's girlfriend, Desdemona as his own. Roderigo fears that Iago has not been telling him enough about Desdemona and that this proves Iago's real loyalty is to Othello not him. Iago explains his hatred of Othello for choosing Cassio as his officer or lieutenant and not him as he expected. To regain Roderigo's trust, Iago and Roderigo inform Brabantio, Desdemona's father of her relationship with Othello, the "Moor" which enrages Brabantio into sending parties out at night to apprehend Othello for what must obviously be in Brabantio's eyes, an abuse of his daughter by Othello... Iago lies that Roderigo and not himself, was responsible for angering Brabantio against Othello, Iago telling Othello that he should watch out for Brabantio's men who are looking for him. Othello decides not to hide, since he believes his good name will stand him in good stead. We learn that Othello has married Desdemona. Brabantio and Roderigo arrive, Brabantio accusing Othello of using magic on his daughter. Othello stops a fight before it can happen but Othello is called away to discuss a crisis in Cypress, much to the anger of Brabantio who wants justice for what he believes Othello has done...
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