The definition of a tragic hero is that an individual who has a mixture of admirable qualities and a tragic flaw which proves fatal. This suggests Othello is a tragic hero, though qualities such as nobility in thoughts or actions do not consistently portray Othello throughout the play. Despite his brave reputation as a soldier and characteristics of trusting and caring initially with Desdemona, his weaknesses in both his own character and his vulnerability to IagoВЎВ¦ s lies, and the decision of killing Desdemona at last do not make Othello sufficiently noble in thought or action to attain the status of a tragic hero.
Imperfections such as pride and jealousy are signs of an insecure personality. The Othello in the beginning of the play is...show more content...
Vulnerability to other peopleВЎВ¦ s lies highlight insecurities and flaws in OthelloВЎВ¦ s character creating ignoble personalities. OthelloВЎВ¦s weakness in succumbing to IagoВЎВ¦ s lies shows his ignoble in thoughts. Othello chooses to believe the lies of Iago even though Iago didnВЎВ¦t earn his trust of becoming his lieutenant, instead of believing Desdemona, the woman he loves. This is the major fault that Othello had done. Right away after listening to Iago ВЎВҐs words Othello suspects Desdemona for her loyalty. This can be seen when Othello says ВЎВ§ I have a pain upon my forehead here.ВЎВЁ (III, iii, 286) Which means he already assumes Desdemona is disloyal to him. Another main reason Othello falls into IagoВЎВ¦ s lies and traps is because even Othello sees flaws deep inside himself because of his race, social graces, age difference and also as a foreigner of VenetianВЎВ¦s culture. This can be seen in his soliloquy ВЎВ§ Haply for I am black ВЎK I am declined into the vale of years.ВЎВЁ (III, iii, 265–268) And also what Iago said to Othello, ВЎВ§ I know our countryВЎK but keepВЎВ¦t unknown.ВЎВЁ (III, iii, 203–206) These show OthelloВЎВ¦ s insecure personalities because he is black. Othello has not really think about what is the truth and who he should believe in because all of the jealousy and insecure personality covered his noble mind and makes up the fact that
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Themes in Shakespeare's Othello
Throughout Shakespeare's play, Othello, there are many themes interwoven to describe the author's perspective of the true nature of a man's soul. Three themes critical to the play are doubt versus trust, monstrous imagery and the fallible love of man. One central theme of the play is the major contrast of doubt versus trust. For whatever reason, Othello's trust of Desdemona is too weak to resist Iago's accusations. As happens in many of Shakespeare's works, miscommunication and mistrust lead to "prepost'rous conclusions" (1. 3. 323). Othello's heart tells him that Desdemona loves him; however the critical Iago can dismantle Othello's trust in his wife by planting seeds doubt through what appears to...show more content...
3. 241). Othello fails to see that honor cannot be subject to empirical proof. Shakespeare's exploration of the concept of jealousy leads to the theme of the human mind's predisposition to favor the "monstrous." Monsters of the human psyche are self–generating, even without the prodding of an evil manipulator such as Iago. He feeds this compulsion by encouraging Othello to "behold," in his mind's eye, his wife being "topped" by Cassio (3. 3. 412). When jealousy is labeled as a monster in the play, it is used to suggest how one can be overtaken by a passion. Iago defines jealousy as "the green–eyed monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on" (3. 3. 179–80), a foul parasite that torments its host. When Emilia explains jealousy to be a "monster begot upon itself, born on itself" (3. 4. 157), she underscores its self–generating nature. "Jealous souls" do not need real events to fuel their suspicions because, Emilia explains, they are "not ever jealous for the cause" (3. 4. 154–55).
When Cassio is demoted for drunkenness, he laments that humans "transform ourselves into beasts" through alcohol that also provides "joy, pleasance, revel" (2. 3. 257–58). And for Othello, consuming jealousy transforms him into a violent predator that performs the "monstrous act," as Montano describes it, of murdering Desdemona (5. 2. 197). Iago serves as a catalyst to carry out this monstrous
Shakespeare's own personal aim was not to write a social and political reflection of his era, as many contemporary readers believe, it was; purely and simply, to entertain his audience. This does not mean that there can be no social and political reflections within Othello, it means that the reflections are there, not for the sake of social and political commentary, but for the sake of entertainment andpleasure. Aristotle explained in " Poetics" that the audience's pleasure consists not merely in observing the play, but criticizing, evaluating and making comparisons. These activities produce pleasure, thus it is not a mindless pleasure. There must be intellectual and emotional...show more content... Othello is described by Iago as being pompous and immodest, Iago is only serving Othello to "serve [his] turn upon him", this immediately shows the self–serving nature of Iago. We are quickly shown that Iago is bitter and twisted that he has not gained the rank of Othello's lieutenant, thus his estimation of Othello is not fully believed or accredited by the audience. Furthermore Iago goes on to admit to his own deceptive nature by explaining he is not what he seems to be, he explains "I am not what I am". In the first scene Iago launches into a speech of how he despises "knee–crooking knave" who serves his master for nothing but "provender" (bed and board). He then explains how he admires the servant who wears a "visage of duty" while serving no one but himself. These servants "have lined their coats" and then when they have used their master for money they "Do themselves homage". Iago, once more, confesses to being one of these self serving and deceptive men. By showing Iago's true colours, Shakespeare is casting Iago's view of Othello in a very low estimation.
Shakespeare's initial portrayal of Roderigo, is of a rather dim and naГЇve man. Firstly, he has paid a clearly dishonest self serving man, Iago, to promote a match between him and Desdemona, to her father, Brabantio. Secondly, nearly all Roderigo's conversation consists of subservient comments towards the manipulative Iago. He is constantly agreeing and
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People are not always the way you see them to be. Within the play Othello by William Shakespeare, a character named Iago displays a very good example of this. Iago who is Othello's ensign is considerate to people although at the same time manipulates their minds into thinking different things other than what had really occurred. Therefore, the victims of Iago's mischievous acts had been lured in to gullibility at every corner. In Act I, Iago had used his 'magic' on Roderigo who was very upset upon the fact that Othello and Desdemona were still able to be as one, since he was very much in desire for her. Iago had told him not to worry and that Desdemona will soon desire him. Roderigo had then believed him. He ...show more content...
Iago had shown great dishonesty and evilness to his own leader. Iago had already caused so much devious acts that he took this to another level. He had taken something that symbolized the love and compassion Othello had for Desdemona which a handkerchief. Iago had told Othello that Cassio and Desdemona have something going on after Iago had supposedly over heard what Cassio was saying in his sleep. Othello eventually becomes furious at both of them, most especially his wife because he is led to believe their marriage was false. Iago's plan worked and it yet close to his goal. He again persuades Othello in killing Cassio so he will win her back. Othello still relies on Iago's influence thinking that all his decisions are proper things to do.
As of act V, at the end Iago's own wife is the one to figure out what his whole plot is and tells Othello what he had done and this was one thing that Iago had not been able to use his skills in manipulating him. Othello stabs Iago who was the villain of this play the whole time. This play displayed the power that one person may have in order to get what they want. It also showed how much the characters had bought into Iago's thoughts and influence to cause even more damage between everyone. His power is led to believe that anyone could be gullible no matter what position you are whether it be in rank or how smart you may
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Shakespeare is prominent in his use of recurring themes throughout his works, particularly those of love, death, and betrayal. All these themes are present in Othello. Most dominant, however, are manipulation and jealousy. Jealousy runs the characters' lives in Othello from the beginning of the play, when Roderigo is jealous ofOthello because he wishes to be with Desdemona, and to the end of the play, when Othello is furious with jealousy because he believes Cassio and Desdemona have been engaging in an affair, but manipulation the prominent action that fuels the jealousy within Othello. Some characters' jealousy is fashioned by other characters. Iago is involved in much of this, creating lies and implementing confusing situations....show more content...
He is clever in his diction to avoid confrontation that can easily erupt. An example of Iago's manipulation is when he and Roderigo confront Brabanzio about his daughter. Brabanzio does not believe what the two say about Desdemona, calling it ridiculous, and he becomes angry because he has been woken up in the middle of the night. Roderigo immediately starts to explain, which only angers Brabanzio even more. Iago, on the other hand, responds by actually complimenting Brabanzio. Brabanzio yells, "Thou art a villain" to which Iago responds, "You are a senator". The father is taken aback by this surprising comment and it causes him to step back and re–examine the situation, which eases his anger and causes him to believe the two storytellers, especially when he finds Desdemona missing from her bed chamber However, along with his word choice, Iago is clever at the timing of what he says. He knows exactly what to say and when to say it to incite jealousy within anyone he wishes. He uses this particularly well with Roderigo and Othello. An example of Iago's timing of jealousy is when he speaks to Roderigo of the suspicions regarding Desdemona's love for Othello. "Mark me with what violence she first loved the Moor but for bragging and telling her fantastical lies. To love him still for prating? Let not thy discreet heart think it. Her eye must be fed". In this excerpt Iago represents Get more
Books related to Othello Othello – The protagonist and tragic hero of the play. A Moor commanding the armies of Venice, he is a celebrated general and heroic figure whose "free and open nature" will enable Iago to twist his love for his wife Desdemona into a powerful jealousy. Desdemona– The daughter of a Venetian Senator, and Othello's bride. The most sympathetic character in the play, she is deeply in love with her husband, and her purity contrasts strongly with Iago's wickedness. Iago – Othello's ensign, and Shakespeare's greatest villain. His public face of bravery and honesty conceals a Satanic delight in manipulation and destruction. Passed over for a promotion by his commander, he vows to destroy the Moor. Cassio –...show more content...
Othello's defense, meanwhile, is both eloquent and honest his nobility is never more evident than in these early speeches, which serve to balance Iago's earlier descriptions of the Othello/Desdemona marriage in crudely sexual terms. Othello's account of the courtship and his wife's confirmation testify to the authenticity of their romance which is an important theme of the play. The tragedy succeeds so well only because the audience is never allowed to doubt that Othello and Desdemona are truly in love with one another. In telling the story of how he was passed over for promotion to lieutenant, Iago says that three influential men apparoached Othello on Iago's behalf, "But he, as loving his own pride and purposes, / Evades them, with a bombast circumstance / Horribly stuff'd with epithets of war" (1.1.12–14). "Bombast" is cotton stuffing; "circumstance" is wordy rigmarole; and "epithets of war" are military terms. In short, Iago accuses Othello of using phony military reasons to give the job to Cassio, who has no military experience. However, later in the scene, after the enraged Brabantio declares that he will hunt Othello down, Iago admits that Venice
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jealousy
In the play Othello, jealousy is shown to be very evident through the actions of the characters. Jealousy is an emotion that everyone shares, and it is ultimately responsible for the tragic ending of the play. Everyone feels jealous at certain times of their lives, and this feeling can cause people to do irrational things. This human emotion also shows people to be weak in the sense that they are never happy with what they have. Shakespeare shows through Othello, Iago, Roderigo, and Brabantio that jealousy is the most corrupt and destructive emotion.
Othello is horribly jealous of what he thinks is going on between his wife and Cassio. This poisonous feeling turns Othello into a mad man and he strikes his wife. Jealousy causes...show more content...
Othello has many qualities that fit the category of a tragic hero. He falls from prosperity to suffering, but not necessarily in a material sense. His fall is from happiness, contentment, and love to unhappiness, accusations, and distrust.
. He is admired by everyone in the play, even Iago comments on what a good man Othello is. Secondly, a tragic hero can not be perfect. He or she must have a flaw of some kind. In Othello's case it is that he allows his emotions to take over. Manipulated by Iago's lies, Othello is forced to confront emotions he obviously can not handle. His wisdom and patience are replaced by anger and hate. The power of these destructive emotions ultimately lead to Desdemona's death and Othello's suicide
Without a doubt, Shakespeare's play Othello is a tragedy. The main character, Othello, is a typical Shakespearean tragic hero. Othello is good man who is deeply in love with his wife. He has one flaw, jealousy, which gets the best of him, and triggers the downfall of his wonderful life.
Othello was living a successful life, but he had one flaw: jealousy. As a result of his jealousy, his life begins to get chaotic because he no longer trusts his wife. Slowly Othello's sanity and status become questioned, and he is no longer seen as important. The last straw is drawn, and Othello murders his beautiful wife only to find out that she did not deserve to die. Othello was a good man, but he was a tragic hero because of his flaw that
"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 of this./" (I. i. 1–3) From the beginning of Othello, Iago is portrayed as an antagonist, a villain who acts out of only his own interest. The acts thatIago engages in throughout Shakespeare's Othello are erroneous acts. Iago is not insane and he can comprehend the difference between right and wrong. Shakespeare is known for his ability to focus on human flaws and teach us lessons from their misfortune. Iago's destiny with evil is due to his own flaws, jealousy, selfishness, and deceit. Because of these insecurities, Iago will stop at nothing to get even with Othello. By...show more content...
He is not at all worried and so his demise begins. Iago's jealousy is depicted early when he is suspicious of Othello pursuing his own wife, Emilia. Iago tries to have Desdemona's father do the work for him, but it does not work. Iago's rage grows and in the end of act I, he reveals his plan. "The moor is of a free and open nature/ that thinks men honest that but seem to be so;/ and will as tenderly be led by th' nose/ as asses are./ I hav't! It is engend'red! Hell and night/ must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light./" (I. iii. 380–385) Iago is filled with hate for the Moor and his whole life is now consumed with revenge. Also at the end of the first scene in Cyprus, Iago speaks of his own motivations for his deceit. He says of Desdemona, "Now I do love her too;/ not out of absolute lust, though for peradventure/ I do stand accountant for as great a sin,/ but partly led to diet my revenge/ for that I do suspect the lusty Moor/ hath leaped into my seat." (II. i. 268–272) He desired revenge for his own suspicion that Othello has gone to bed with Emilia. It is was killing on the inside and Iago would not be happy, "Till I am evened with him, wife for wife;/ or failing so, yet that I put the Moor/ at least into a jealousy so strong/ that judgement cannot cure." (II. i. 276–279) He reveals that he wants to kill Othello from the inside, make him succumb under his own power.
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A change in an individual's perspective and identity can enrich an individual's sense of belonging. Conversely, an individual's sense of belonging may be destroyed when a change in their perspective and identity occurs. An identifiable example is Othello, wherein it is perceivable that his notion of identity and strong sense of self is shattered. His 'calm' and 'collective' persona has become one that is 'unstable' and 'insecure' which, in turn, affects his sense of belonging, particularly with Desdemona, and position as a Venetian general. A demonstration of this concept is seen in Act 4 Scene 1 (Line 61–62) where Iago exclaims "There's many a beat then in a populous city, And many a civil monster." Within the quote, Iago identifies animalistic characteristics through the use of animal imagery to compare with Othello's changed demeanour....show more content... He attempts to convince Othello that animalistic behaviour is of the norm in Venice, using the metaphorical aspect that relates to Othello's collected persona that has metamorphosed into a mad and unstable man, depicting Othello's downfall and changed perspective of self. His sense of belonging has spiralled as he no longer trusts the woman he loved the most. A quote that further supports this idea is found in Act 4 Scene 1 (Line 60) in which Iago states: "A hornГЁd man's a monster and a beast". Iago challenges Othello's sense of belonging through the animalistic imagery and metaphor. Othello believes that it is his own fault he is not able to satisfy his wife's sexual desires and is dejected, referring to himself as being the "cuckold" of Venetian society. The word "horned" alludes to figurative horns that a husband 'grew' to showcase his wife's infidelity, which brought about much chagrin and humiliation to
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Othello: Themes
How many themes course through the Shakespearean tragedy Othello? Let us in this essay analyze the variety and depth of the themes in this play.
Lily B. Campbell in Shakespeare's Tragic Heroes indicates that hate is the theme on which this play opens:
It is then on a theme of hate that the play opens. It is a hate of inveterate anger. It is a hate that is bound up with envy.Othello has preferred to be his lieutenant a military theorist, one Michael Cassio, over the experienced soldier Iago, to whom has fallen instead the post of "his Moorship's ancient". Roderigo questions Iago:
Thou told'st me thou didst hold him in thy hate.
And the reply is a torrent of proof of the...show more content...
Helen Gardner in "Othello: A Tragedy of Beauty and Fortune" sees this play as a study in sexual jealousy:
Othello is not a study in pride, egoism, or self–deception: its subject is sexual jealousy, loss of faith in a form which involves the whole personality at the profound point where body meets spirit. The solution which Othello cannot accept is Iago's: 'Put up with it.' This is as impossible as that Hamlet should, like Claudius, behave as if the past were done with and only the present mattered. . . . (144)
Of course, jealousy of a different type also torments the antagonist, the ancient, to the point that he ruins those around him and himself. Francis Ferguson in "Two Worldviews Echo Each Other" describes how there is no cure for the jealous passion that rules Iago's life:
On the contrary, in the "world" of his philosophy and his imagination, where his spirit lives, there is no cure for passion. He is, behind his mask, as restless as a cage of those cruel and lustful monkeys that he mentions so often. It has been pointed out that he has no intelligible plan
for destroying Othello, and he never asks himself what good it will do him to ruin so many people. It is enough for him that he "hates" the Moor.
Act 1 Scene 1 opens with an expression of jealousy and hatred: Roderigo is upbraiding Iago because of the elopement of the object of his affections –Desdemona with the Moor: "Thou told'st me thou didst hold him
The play Othello was said to have been written in 1603/4, but no one really knows. It was first performed in front of king James I. It was very original because it had a black tragic hero and at that time it was very rare too see a black character let alone a main one. The key themes are the same in most of Shakespeare's plays (love, jealousy, appearance and reality, dark and light. The main theme isOthello's jealousy, which results in his downfall. Vital to the play is the devilish Iago, one of Shakespeare's most fascinating villains. His motives for manipulating Othello remain in mystery. However, Othello's race is vital to the success of Iago's schemes. In the rest...show more content...
Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it without a prompter"(Act I, ii, lines 22–24).
This is showing what control he has over them.
The nature of Othello's character is of a dark man. A dark man, not only because he is black, but also because his whole person is very mysterious. He is mysterious in that he believes there is magic brewing everywhere, when Desdemona loses her napkin he says to here " To lose it or give't away …… match" . With this dark side he is also very outgoing, and not very bright. He isn't observant and the schemes of Iago work well on him.
For all the dangers and encounters he has been involved in, this man is still naive of the corruptness of other individuals. Othello has a trusting nature in which he gives it all. He put all his trust in Iago during times of war and during Othello's marriage to Desdemona. This wasn't very bright of Othello; even if he weren't so trusting or more corrupt he still wouldn't realize Iago was lying. He considered Iago as honest. For example, Othello had told the Duke,
"So please your grace, my ancient; a man he is of honesty and trust. To his conveyance I assign my wife, with what else needful your good grace shall think, to be sent after me" (act I,iii,).
As well as this he calls him honest and good numerous of times.
The change over Othello's is very strong. Through the whole first act you can picture
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One of the most interesting and exotic characters in the tragic play "Othello," by William Shakespeare, is "Honest" Iago. At first glance, Iago seems to be the essence of "motiveless malignity." However, despite Iago's unquestionable malignancy, the motivation behind his actions lie more in Iago's quest for personal gain, as opposed to just being evil for evil's sake. Iago's rapacity can be validated by examining his manipulation of Roderigo, Cassio and, most importantly,Othello.
Iago's main interest is the destruction of Othello. The reason being that Othello has chosen another man, Cassio, as his second–in–command, preferring him to Iago. This resentment, accompanied by Iago's fabricated accusations of...show more content... "Thus do I ever make my fool my purse" (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 376). Roderigo eventually starts to question Iago's honesty. When faced with this accusation, Iago simply offers that killing Cassio will aid his cause and the asinine Roderigo falls for it. "I have no great devotion to the deed / And yet he has given me satisfying reason," (Act 5, Scene 1, Line 8). In doing this, Iago keeps Roderigo in the dark and continues to profit from him monetarily. Roderigo is also used as a device in both Cassio and Othello's downfall. Iago's actions demonstrate his monetary and puissance based motivations, invalidating the claim that Iago is evil for evil's sake.
Cassio, like Roderigo, follows Iago blindly, thinking the whole time that Iago is trying to aid him, when in–fact, Iago, motivated by his lust for power, is attempting to depose Cassio of his position as lieutenant. By enlisting the help of Roderigo, Iago is able to reduce Cassio to a wreck, causing him to forfeit his position as Othello's second–in–command, thus securing the position for Iago. Cassio also serves as the "middle man" in Iago's mendacity. He is the main contrivance used to rouse "the green–eyed monster" within Othello. In Iago's exploitation of Cassio, it is clear to see that, although evil in his deeds, Iago is strictly motivated by his hunger for power, not because he is the devil incarnate.
As aforementioned,