...individuals, it seems only obvious that Shakespeare who is renowned for his exploration of universal themes chooses to explore the determents of these desires for the individuals and their relationships in his play Othello. The strive to acquire or retain authority and control is explored through the dynamics between the main male characters- Othello and Iago. Shakespeare initially employs binary characterization of these two, Iago depicted as power- hungry and the personification of evil with a strong hatred towards Othello. This characterisation is established early in the play when Iago states to Roderigo...
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...Marcus Green English 4090 Mr. Michael Parker November 29, 2004 Deconstruction the Discourse of Black and White in Shakespeare’s Othello The complex and confusing values of “black” and “white” are used to reinforce the theme of man’s tragic blindness of good and evil in Shakespeare’s Othello. Thus, one will exam the use of the binary opposition “black” and “white” and the “différance” of these words within the content of the play. Therefore, the “absence” of the meaning of words is what makes a word differ from itself, and opens discourse to its true meaning within the content of the text. Within Othello, the repeated use of the terms “black” and “white,” has various polarized meanings. Hence, the relationship of these terms within the play requires a full explication of Shakespeare’s use of binary opposition in Othello. Deconstruction is a method of textual analysis and philosophical argument involving the close reading of works within literature. Therefore, a deconstructive reading examines the use of binary opposition within the content of a text. Binary oppositions focus on the words of the text; thus, reveal the meaning of the words that are hidden within the content of the language. As a result, words within the structural discourse of language can be used to displace and reassert meaning within the relationship of “différance” (Douglas 185). According to Derrida: différance is what makes the movement of signification possible only if each element is...
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...The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice In the theatre of Shakespeare, one can encounter multiple “others” or “outsiders” when reading this text Othello `through a physco-analytic lense. Found throughout is Shakespeare desire to label Othello as “alien”, “outsider”, the stranger” and “other,” which can be seen as an unconscious, collective thought shared by members of this culture. The citizens tragically delude themselves by accepting him into their Venetian society, when in fact he is an “outsider” in ever way possible. Othello epitomizes what can be seen as an “outsider” in a white, Christian society where blacks are labeled as “strangers.” The tone of his skin is essentially what attributes to him being considered an intruder who...
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...dramatist around the world. Among all his works, many literary critics regard Othello as the peak of his tragedies. Othello is not only a tragedy of family, but also a tragedy of love. Jealous psychology of the characters ultimately leads to the marital tragedy. Iago was jealous of Cassio and Othello, so he slandered and entrapped Cassio and Desdemona, which directly brought about the tragedy. Othello’s true love to Desdemona was utilized by Iago who had an ulterior motive. Driven by jealousy, Othello readily believed Iago, and personally killed his own wife, and eventually drew his sword to cut his own throat. Therefore, the tragedy in Othello’s marriage is largely rooted in jealous psychology. We analyze the reason effect this tragedy of marriage by following the premarital objective situation and the subjective married life. Othello and Desdemona’s marriage is doomed and dysfunctional from the beginning because of acute differences in marriage and due to Othello’s flaw of characters. We analyze the reasons which affect this tragedy of marriage by following the premarital situation then Othello’s characters in married life. To pave the way for detailed analysis, it is necessary to know about two types of marriages at that time. Jessica Tvordi says in “In quarter and in Terms like Bride and Groom”: Reconfiguring Marriage, Friendship, and Alliance in Othello “In its treatment of marriage, Othello introduces and creates tensions between two models of marriage: the dynastic or...
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...often associated with virtue, courage and valour. Within Othello, Shakespeare questions the meaning behind heroism and admirability in the context of a Venetian society, in which the play is set. Through the tragic descent of Othello’s composure and his actions, the audience is left to wonder whether or not his virtue and presentation as an admirable general and hero, actually exists. Act 1 of the play presents Othello's decisions and behaviour as the epitome of virtue and valour, showing him as a high statured character - the definition of a tragic hero in Aristotelian methods, as it demands a character of greatness to suffer the greatest downfall. Although not necessarily presented as high born, he is deemed to be virtuous through his military prowess and well articulated speech; this however may be argued by the drastic change of fate within act 3 where Othello’s so called ‘valiant’ image is challenged by Iago’s ‘pestilence’ whispered with his own mind which can be seen through his brash actions and broken language, additionally it can be argued that Othello can be deemed dishonourable in his own actions in the first act of the play by his unblessed marriage to Desdemona; therefore the overall presentation and view over Othello is left to debate. Through Shakespeare’s use of dramatic methods, we as the audience are thrown straight into the action of scene 1,in the form of in media res; it is Iago that announces Othello to the audience as a ‘black ram’ and a ‘devil’, casting...
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...> Compare the way writers present the forces of destructive love in Othello, Tess of the d’Urbervilles and A View from the Bridge. > > Shakespeare, Hardy and Miller present the forces destructive love in a variety of different ways, key ways include; through the use of literary terminology, representation of characters and symbolic themes of culture/society at the time. It is often portrayed within a mixture of other categories of love; patriarchal, romantic and unrequited intertwined with the most prominent themes of fate, family and tragedy. > > In terms of form, structure and context; Shakespeare has chosen the form of a play for his story of Othello therefore being divided into Acts and Scenes which develops the undertone of drama allowing for 'cliffhanger' endings, which when portrayed in the theater is positively reviewed by the audience. For example the first known performance in November 1604 at Whitehall Palace, which then created widespread delight causing the play to move across England. Perhaps the play was so greatly beloved due to the time in which it was written, as it came into the Jacobean period (when King James I ruled England) as the period of delight during Elizabethan times (due to War Victory) was over and so the tone of the play will be keeping well with the tone of the time between the reigns. It will also be coinciding with the theme of War as the play is set in the backdrop of Wars between Venice and Turkey when in reality the Spanish Armada will...
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...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 uses them in many significant ways. He seems to be extremely sensitive...
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...Drama and the Elizabethan world view By: Magnus Hjorth Jørgensen 3.M The Great Chain of Being: During Shakespeare’s time “the great chain of being” dominated people’s perception of the world and how things was connected. Back then Christians thought that every single living thing and object had a specific rank after its importance. God was of course the most important character represented in “the great chain of being” as he is the creator of the world and Christianity is a monotheistic religion in which there only is one God. After God comes angels and then Humans. Wild animals are after humans, followed by domestic animals. Plants are next, followed by minerals and stones. Within each of these categories are things listen and categorised even further. Under Humans you have the king on top, as the king is considered appointed by God and therefore is closer to God than other humans. After the king you have other royalties, followed by priests and nobles, and then comes commoners. Under animals you also have a hierarchy within as a subcategory. The lion is the animal ranked the highest, and the worm the lowest. Under plants the oak tree is considered the most important one. Under this period of time in history, if there was to occur a disturbance, in which for example a commoner would obtain a higher rank or perhaps there was a bad king at the time, people believed that nature would try to sort things out and restore peace and calmness from the chaos. People thought that...
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...English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet. As quoted in an article,” The Romantics, in particular, acclaimed Shakespeare's genius, and the Victorians worshipped Shakespeare with a reverence that George Bernard Shaw called "bardolatry"”. In the 20th century, his work was repeatedly adopted and rediscovered by new movements in scholarship and performance, and is currently an active part of education curriculums. His plays remain highly popular today and are constantly studied, performed and reinterpreted in diverse cultural and political contexts throughout the world. It is safe to say that although Shakespearean plays were set in the Renaissance Era, they are still the epitome of English literature and are revered by theaters, performers and audiences alike due to their remarkable credibility in portraying everlasting political, social and moral issues. http://www.neptunetheatre.com/content/Shakespeare_hat_trick His plays move from romantic to tragic, humorous to serious so much so that he not only caters to all tastes but also all times by portraying the political situation of his times as well as the way of living. Even Romeo and Juliet, considered by many as a die –hard romantic scripture actually highlights political issues. One of the main political aspects of the play was when count Paris uses his political and aristocratic power to threaten Juliet if she did not marry him. The romance provided a perfect front to front...
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...there are subtle differences in the portrayal of, attempted reasoning behind and methods used to enforce this passivity, highlighted through analysis of language, structure and context. The writers symbolically use setting to explore links between different aspects of female passivity. Tennyson links public and private spaces and their promotion of female passivity to illustrate societal as well as psychological and domestic examples of passivity. In Mariana, the “rusted” and “crusted” atmosphere of decay is representative of Mariana’s psychological deterioration 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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...The Concept of the Outsider Literature often persecutes the most vulnerable, a person who lacks support and therefore power within society. Described by Terry Eagleton for The Guardian as the “literary mainstream”; these characters are often referred to as the Outsider due to their exclusion from the community in which the text is set. The characters who are referred to as Outsiders can be portrayed in different ways; their initial exclusion from society can ultimately lead to a narrative of their acquisition of power throughout the text but similarly, can portray a story of their maintenance of the minimal power they have over the course of the text’s plot. However, this is not to argue that some Outsiders presented within literature do not have power over the course of the development of the text so, as a consequence, remain excluded from the society. In this case, the text would then be considered an exposition of the character’s experience from their position in society rather than the author’s attempt of trying to integrate their character into society through their work. Furthermore, the author themselves may be considered an Outsider through their own status in society; they command their readers to be Outsiders themselves within the novel. As well as to read and observe the narrative in order to emulate the same feeling within themselves, within the reader or to have a specific impact on the issues surrounding humanity at the time. The contrast in the ways in which...
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...Abstract This paper explores the role of a father and some of the many changes that have occurred from Shakespeare’s time and our current societies’ view of a father’s role. There have been many studies conducted over the years focused on what an important role a father plays in the healthy upbringing of a child. A father in the past was looked at as a man who literally owned a daughter and was someone who should not be disobeyed. Overtime the father was looked at as a person who helped mold a child emotionally and intellectually. Recent studies show that a father is more likely to play with a child than a mother. Almost anyone who looks back on their childhood who had a father or father figure would likely say they can remember how playful their father was. This paper will also look into the plays written by Shakespeare and the father – daughter relationships within them. A Father’s Role The need for a father has stayed the same, but the role of a father has changed since Shakespeare’s time to today’s society. There are many great quotes on the father-daughter relationships that some hold on to for inspiration. Some examples are, “There is no love like a father’s love for his daughter” and “A father’s job is not to teach his daughter to be a lady. It is to teach her how a lady should be treated.” Clearly these quotes did not come from Shakespeare’s time. In Shakespeare’s time a father looked at his daughter was looked at as a subject who was owned by their father...
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...Geeta austerity TRANSLATION Austerity of speech consists in speaking truthfully and beneficially and in avoiding speech that offends. One should also recite the Vedas regularly. PURPORT ------------------------------------------------- One should not speak in such a way as to agitate the minds of others. Of course, when a teacher speaks, he can speak the truth for the instruction of his students, but such a teacher should not speak to others who are not his students if he will agitate their minds. This is penance as far as talking is concerned. Besides that, one should not talk nonsense. When speaking in spiritual circles, one's statements must be upheld by the scriptures. One should at once quote from scriptural authority to back up what he is saying. At the same time, such talk should be very pleasurable to the ear. By such discussions, one may derive the highest benefit and elevate human society. There is a limitless stock of Vedic literature, and one should study this. This is called penance of speech. Passive verb / voice desirable passive voice is desirable [derived from Theodore Bernstein: The Careful Writer. (New York: Atheneum) 1979]: > When the agent performing the action is considered unimportant or too obvious to mention. "McGregor was accused of murder": Who did the accusing is unimportant. "The mail has already been delivered": Obviously, the mailman delivered it. > When the performer of the action is indefinite or unknown: "Silk hats are...
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...points anyway. But an encouraged one will. Trust me on this. — Julie Gray PRINTER FRIENDLY PAGE Literary analysis looks critically at a work of fiction in order to understand how the parts contribute to the whole. When analyzing a novel or short story, you’ll need to consider elements such as the context, setting, characters, plot, literary devices, and themes. Remember that a literary analysis isn’t merely a summary or review, but rather an interpretation of the work and an argument about it based on the text. Depending on your assignment, you might argue about the work’s meaning or why it causes certain reader reactions. This handout will help you analyze a short story or novel—use it to form a thesis, or argument, for your essay. Summary Begin by summarizing the basic plot: “Matilda by Roald Dahl is about a gifted little girl in small town America who learns to make things move with her mind and saves her teacher and school from the evil principal.” This will help ground you in the story. (When you write your paper, you probably won’t include a summary because your readers will already be familiar with the work. But if they aren’t, use a brief summary to orient them.) Context Research the author’s background and other work. This can give insight into the author’s perspective and bias, as well as tell the reader what he might be commenting on. For example, Tolkien’s The Lord of the Ringsis about a group of friends who embark on an epic journey and fight a...
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...Beso, Luiz Miguel B. BSE EN 2-1 Literature Students are asked to write literary analysis essays because this type of assignment encourages you to think about how and why a poem, short story, novel, or play was written. To successfully analyze literature, you’ll need to remember that authors make specific choices for particular reasons. Your essay should point out the author’s choices and attempt to explain their significance. Another way to look at a literary analysis is to consider a piece of literature from your own perspective. Rather than thinking about the author’s intentions, you can develop an argument based on any single term (or combination of terms) listed below. You’ll just need to use the original text to defend and explain your argument to the reader. Allegory - narrative form in which the characters are representative of some larger humanistic trait (i.e. greed, vanity, or bravery) and attempt to convey some larger lesson or meaning to life. Although allegory was originally and traditionally character based, modern allegories tend to parallel story and theme. William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily- the decline of the Old South Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde- man’s struggle to contain his inner primal instincts District 9- South African Apartheid X Men- the evils of prejudice Harry Potter- the dangers of seeking “racial purity” Character - representation of a person, place, or thing performing traditionally human activities...
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