Id Ego Superego In Othello

2052 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Analysis of othello characters

Psychoanalysis is an integral part of understanding the motives of the many characters in Othello and is essential in the breakdown of character development. It can be used to dissect the reasoning behind character motivation and why certain people think the way they do. The id, ego, and superego are all responsible for the conscious and unconscious thoughts of an individual and they influence the decisions that are made. William Shakespeare created his characters with specific motivations and morals in mind and crafts their beliefs to fit those motivations. The main characters of focus for this analysis are Iago, Othello, Desdemona, and Cassio. These characters portray a range of motivations and attitudes which are derived from the different …show more content…

It is too late. (he smothers her) (5.2.94-95)

With his ego being helpless to his ever-growing superego, Othello’s ego cannot kick in and stop Othello from killing Desdemona when she exclaims that she never cheated on him. If his mind were regulated, it would have caused Othello to stop and think about her words. Instead, the superego was in control and lead to these distressing and monstrous events.

Desdemona can be characterized as someone who has a functioning ego that successfully mediates between the id and superego. Throughout the play, although she seems to be soft-spoken until the end, she is never deceitful or rude towards people unnecessarily. She tries her best to help Cassio regain his position and to maintain her marriage with Othello and has no ill will in her heart.

DESDEMONA. How now, my lord? I have been talking with a suitor here, A man that languishes in your displeasure.
OTHELLO. Who is ’t you mean?
DESDEMONA. Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord, If I have any grace or power to move you His present reconciliation take. For if he be not one that truly loves you, That errs in ignorance and not in cunning, I have no judgment in an honest face. I prithee, call him

Show More
Related

  • Act Two in Understanding Desdemona in Othello by William Shakespeare

    1076 Words  | 3 Pages

    She is madly on love with Othello and would do anything to please him. Overall our understanging of Desdemona is increased and we picture her in a different light from Act 1, where she was just a young innocent lady.

    Read More

  • Desdemona's Naivety In Othello

    73 Words  | 1 Pages

    Desdemona's naivety is the prime cause of the conflict in "Othello" because she doesn't know that Iago is depriving her in Othello's mind by using her actions against her. Desdemona loves Othello, but also is benevolent in helping anyone even if it might be practiced against her. Cassio asked Desdemona if she can help get Othello's trust back, only as Othello and Iago enters they see Cassio leave and gets a bit

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Iago

    1100 Words  | 3 Pages

    Iago, the antagonist of Shakespeare’s work, Othello, is often considered purely evil or sociopathic. At first glance, Iago appears to be a static, two-dimensional villain, but he is much more. Shakespeare, renown for his awareness of the human condition, leaves many important aspects of Iago’s life up to interpretation. In published works and critical interpretations, Iago is commonly attached to a myriad of mental illnesses and personality disorders. Because it seems that Iago’s life revolves around Othello and Desdemona, it is understandable how people may suggest that Iago is in love with Othello, or that he is a psychopath with no true motives. Shakespeare never discloses much about Iago’s past, raising the questions:

    Read More

  • The Muzzled Voice In Shakespeare's Othello

    998 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the play Othello is convinced by Iago that Desdemona has had an affair with Cassio, when really Iago is trying to bring as much misery into Othello’s life as he possibly can. At one point Othello, Desdemona, and a few others are talking with Desdemona’s cousin and everything that Desdemona says helps to convince Othello that she is in love with Cassio. Eventually Othello gets mad enough and slaps her in which she reacts in a much different manner than most women of that time period would have. “Othello: I am glad to see you mad. Desdemona: Why, sweet Othello - Othello:Devil! [Strikes her.] Desdemona: I have not deserved this (4,1,217-220).” This is not the only time we see Desdemona tell Othello that he is wrong in his actions. Later, in act four, he calls her a “whore” and accuses her of sleeping around and rather than taking the heat and dealing with the verbal abuse Desdemona speaks out. “Othello:...Impudent strumpet! Desdemona: By heaven, you do me wrong! (4,2,81-82).” Desdemona tries throughout the rest of the play to convince Othello that she is faithful to him and loves him, but as hard much as she tries Othello does not believes any of it and ends up killing her. Shakespeare has made this very vocal female character to show women that even if they were to speak their mind and try to defend themselves no man would ever believe

    Read More

  • The Manipulation of Perception in Shakespeare's Othello

    1210 Words  | 3 Pages

    This paper contains 237 words of teacher’s comments.   What one perceives is influenced by one’s environment. The setting and commentary surrounding events changes our perception of them. Any innocent gesture can be perceived in the wrong way with enough persuading from someone else. Even if someone has total faith in another person's innocence, they can be persuaded to doubt them through the twisting of events. Once just a small amount of doubt has been planted, it influences the way everything else is seen. This occurs throughout the play, Othello. In this play, Iago influences Othello's perception of events through speeches and lies, making him doubt Desdemona's fidelity. Iago uses his talent of manipulating events to exact his revenge on Othello. Iago's twisting of events in Othello's mind leads to the downfall of Othello as planned, but because he fails to twist Emilia's perception as well, he facilitates his own eventual downfall.

    Read More

  • Othello Women Analysis

    1122 Words  | 3 Pages

    He tells her, “Heaven truly knows that you are false as hell” (4.2.39). Desdemona wants to re-assure Othello that she is not lewd and wants to please him and ease these thoughts, and she tells him: “And have you mercy too! I never did / Offend you in my life; never loved Cassio / But with such general warranty of heaven / As I might love. I never gave him token” (5.2.58-61).

    Read More

  • The Inecurities Of The Character In Shakespeare's Othello

    908 Words  | 2 Pages

    Debra Winger had stated once that “Most bad behaviour comes from insecurity”, this could not hold anymore truth in Shakespeare’s “Othello” as the story progresses only due to the insecurities of the characters. For starters, Othello is the protagonist so we get to see his internal conflicts about societal standards and judgement on display. Meanwhile, Iago’s vulnerabilities as a villain are only showed during his monologues as he is hinted to having a superiority complex against Othello, and a complete reverse of Iago, Cassio’s issues are visible from the readers perspective and the characters as his reputation is slandered and used against him. These are all prime examples of how insecurity was used as a primary plot device to advance the

    Read More

  • Jealousy And Jealousy In Othello

    890 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is apparent that Othello idolizes Desdemona, through the language he uses in describing her as well as how he treats her during their interactions. While most female characters in the play are oppressed and demeaned by their male partners, Othello’s respect for Desdemona is a testament of his feeling inadequate and strive to entice her. Although he has an alterior motive of evading a conviction of witchcraft to win Desdemona’s heart, he confesses to many noblemen including Barbantio, Desdemona’s father, that Desdemona does not love him, just his war stories. Incidentally, his war accomplishments were the only way a man of his background would be able to be so close to a prestigious woman such as Desdemona in a time plagued with so much racism. In the second scene of Act V, Othello has been pushed well beyond his breaking...

    Read More

  • Dramatic Tension in Act 4 Scene 3 of William Shakespeare's Othello

    977 Words  | 2 Pages

    These behaviours allude towards tension due to their dissimilarity to the accustomed conduct of Othello and Desdemona. Desdemona’s growing fear of Othello is evident. in the precautions she takes to avoid his anger. Desdemona places the importance of Othello’s commands above her need to confide in Emilia.... ...

    Read More

  • Othello, The Moor of Venice

    1326 Words  | 3 Pages

    that completely destroys his life”("Othello"). Othello is shown he is a good man within the first few scenes of the play: “She wished she had not heard it; yet she wished That heaven had made her such a man” (1.3.162-163). This line in Act I spoken by Othello, is an indication that he is a good person although it may appear that he has stolen Desdemona away from her father. Othello speaks that although he has taken Desdemona as his wife without Brabantio’s consent, he is a good person for stating his reasons for his actions as well as standing his ground. After Othello’s marriage to Desdemona, the conflict is started when Iago insinuates t...

    Read More

  • Free College Essays - The Tragic and Serious Othello

    557 Words  | 2 Pages

    The tone of the story is tragic and serious. Meanwhile, there isn't any point of view because this is a play and a play doesn't normally have a narrator. Shakespeare lets the reader make up his/her own imagination with the characters' words and behavior. Since Othello is the protagonist, he is explained in more detail. Although Othello is a brave warrior, he is a jealous person; his jealousy also prevails over his good sense. The whole play depicts the fact that jealousy causes corruption. There are many conflicts found in Othello, and person vs. person is one of them. An example is when Iago seeks revenge against Othello and Cassio because of his anger and jealousy. Person vs. society appears when Desdemona's father Brabantio, disapproves her marriage to Othello because he is several years older than Desdemona, from a different class, and a different race. An internal conflict of person vs. himself is found when Othello is in a dilemma about whether or not should he believe that Desdemona is being unfaithful to him. Othello loves and trusts Desdemona until his jealousy is aroused by the cruel manipulations of Iago. Iago's intention was to persuade Othello to believe that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. As Iago succeeds in convincing Othello that Desdemona is guilty of adultery, it leads to the climax of the play. And so Othello must face emotions he can't deal with. His jealousy drives him insane, and his judgment is replaced with anger and hate. At this time, the reader notices that the death of Desdemona is inevitable. Othello smothers her, and he eventually kills himself when he knows that Iago falsely accused Desdemona. This also represents the tragedy of the play.

    Read More

  • Desdemona from Othello

    1373 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Greek, Desdemona means ‘the unfortunate’, perhaps reflecting an ideology that she is not meant to be liked, merely pitied for her misfortune as a tragic victim (commonly defined as someone who dies due to the faults of others). Throughout Othello, Desdemona is presented as pure and innocent – in regards to this, Auden’s comment is unusual as Desdemona is seldom criticised; indeed many critics are complementary, giving her titles such as ‘gentle Desdemona’.

    Read More

  • Desdemona's Downfall Analysis

    1737 Words  | 4 Pages

    In fact, Desdemona holds herself in such high regard that she almost seems incapable of believing that anyone else may not. Luckily for her, Othello similarly holds her in high regard, at least until Iago begins to manipulate him. Even before Othello, Desdemona’s own father, Brabantio, thought highly of her. When she elopes with Othello, he never believes that she ran away from home willingly. He believes that Othello had enchanted her until she herself says otherwise. Upon this realization, Brabantio, warns Othello against Desdemona, telling him:

    Read More

  • Othello Analysis

    1139 Words  | 3 Pages

    The tragedy of Othello, written by William Shakespeare, presents the main character Othello, as a respectable, honorable, and dignified man, but because of his insecurities and good nature, he is easily taken advantage of and manipulated by his peers and alleged friends. The dynamic of Othello’s character significantly changes throughout the play. The contrast is most pronounced from the beginning of the play to its conclusion, switching from being calm and peaceful to acts of uncontrolled venomous rage. Othello’s motivation in the play appears to be his love and concern for his wife Desdemona, which ironically, ends up being his downfall in the end.

    Read More

  • Psyche In Othello

    2256 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...e other, in Cyprus is unknown and confusing for Othello. This change in scenery, combined with Iago’s plan to destroy Othello, is what pushes Othello to eventually kill Desdemona along with himself. However, the Ego does not feature in the setting of the play. Therefore, the setting of Othello is similar to Freudian theory, but does not mirror it exactly. Furthermore, the three main characters of Iago, Othello and Desdemona are portrayed as very good examples of the Id, Ego and Superego respectively, allowing ‘Othello’ to play out as an excellent example of Freudian literature. However, the fact that Iago seeks gratification over time rather than instantly is not congruent with the Id. On the whole, Freudian psychoanalysis is extremely applicable to the text of Othello. However, there are subtle differences between Freudian theory and Othello which set the two apart

    Read More

More about Id Ego Superego In Othello

Open Document