Shakespeare's Use of Language to Show Othello's Changing State of Mind
The opening lines of the scene establish Desdemona's innocence to with
the audience. She also says: "Assure thee if I do vow a friendship,
I'll perform it to the last article." This also demonstrates her
loyalty, and that she'd die before break a friendship. This is
dramatically effective, being at the beginning of the scene because
all through the scene Othello is seen thinking and talking about how
disloyal she is. It also makes the tragedy at the end of the play more
awful, as the audience knows she really is innocent.
Iago then cunningly preys on the inquisitive nature of all humans,
including Othello, to mould his mind to thinking the way he would
like. He says unbeneficial things, dropping hints as to his feelings.
"Ha! I like it not." Iago exclaims as soon as Cassio has left the
stage. This causes, as it would anyone, Othello to enquire to Iago's
exclamation, as "it" is an ambiguous phrase to start talk; Othello
would instinctively be wondering what the "it" is. When Iago attempts
to look like it wasn't anything big, this only makes Othello more
inquisitive. Having made Othello inquisitive into what his thoughts
are, Iago can begin to adjust fact to his own want, and make Othello
believe it, if it were realistic. Iago then makes Othello think Cassio
left, guiltily, as he saw Othello. This plants the idea of Cassio
doing no good in Othello's mind, Iago working on this idea throughout
the rest of the play.
Shakespeare shows the audience Desdemona and Othello's love at the
beginning of this act by the way they talk - he calls her "sweet
Desdemon", whil...
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... has prevailed and beaten the good
side to Othello; the murderous, revengeful side to him shall dominate
from this point forth. Following Othello's oath, Iago kneels,
symbolically now Othello's equal, though both closer to hell, to which
they can be interpreted to be joining when they make a pact to kill.
Othello's mind changes drastically throughout this scene; the
invisible battle of good and evil constantly occurring, with evil most
often having the upper hand, mainly due to Iago's evil manipulation
and exploitation of Othello's emotional weak spots. At the end of this
scene, evil has won, Othello unable to change the course that his evil
will take, resulting in the manslaughter of Desdemona - I cannot be
called murder, because Othello didn't really want to do it, and
wouldn't have should Iago have not intervened.
Iago’s Use of Rhetorical Strategies to Manipulate Othello in Shakespeare’s Othello. Rhetorical strategies are continually used to get a point across, or to manipulate another. Iago uses many devices to put false accusations into Othello’s head. In lines 330-447 in Act 3 scene 3, Iago uses rhetorical questioning, imagery, and sarcasm.
Shakespeare’s use of rhetoric by his characters is clearly used effectively in Othello through Iago’s and Roderigo’s conversation with Barbantio. The two make use of double meanings, animal imagery, Devil and God comparisons, the use of sexual references, and descriptive insults to confuse Barbantio and make him angry towards Othello. Through Iago’s initial torment, continued by Roderigo, they are able to force Barbantio to do exactly as they wish.
Othello in William Shakespeare's Play Most of the characters in "Othello" perceive Othello as unclean and
Dual Nature of Characters in Othello Many of the characters in Shakespeare's tragedy, Othello, are duplicitous to the extent that how. they are perceived in public is not how they behave in private. The perception of the public plays.
The Tragedy of Othello by William Shakespeare is a great work by a great author. Shakespeare was correct in titling it The Tragedy of Othello because Othello lost so much. In the literary sense, a tragedy is the downfall of a character through that character's own flaws. The way most people see a tragedy is a story where there is much suffering and loss, and a not so happy ending. No matter way one looks at it, literary or public sense, this was a correct title. The main character, Othello, brought his own downfall upon him through his flaws, caused the suffering of many people, and he himself loss very much. All of these factors pile up to equal a big tragedy.
Speech on Othello Introduction 1) Othello is by far the most romantic figure among Shakespeare's heroes. a) He is so separated from the strange life of war and adventure that he has lived since childhood. b) He is not merely a romantic figure; his own nature is romantic. 2)
Texts and their appropriations reflect the context and values of their times. Within Shakespeare’s Othello and Geoffrey Sax’s appropriation of Othello, the evolution of the attitudes held by Elizabethan audiences and those held by contemporary audiences can be seen through the context of the female coupled with the context of racism. The role of the female has developed from being submissive and “obedient” in the Elizabethan era to being independent and liberated within the contemporary setting. The racism of the first text is overtly xenophobic and natural, whilst the “moor” is unnatural whereas the updated context portrays Othello’s race as natural and racism as unnatural. Therefore these examples show how Shakespeare’s Othello, and it’s appropriation, Geoffrey sax’s Othello, reflect the context and values of their times.
“I asked her to wear something revealing, so she showed up in a prophet's toga.”(CITE) Jarod Kintz’s words are an example of miscommunication, or failure to comprehend meaning. In this case, it is implied that one person misunderstood the message of another, but incomprehension also applies to problems other than falsely interpreted requests. Incomprehension can occur when people misinterpret another’s words or intentions, or when a person misreads situations or events. The outcome described in Kintz’s quote is unexpected and unintended, but there are instances of incomprehension that have consequences of greater severity. Perhaps a classic tragedy with a high body count falls under these parameters.
the play, it seemed that Othello was the only one who didn't know the truth.
Othello is a man of romantic nature. He fell in love with the beautiful Desdemona. He was accused of stealing her away from her father. Othello was of a different race and did not fit in with her family. Othello makes a plea for Desdemona and tells his story which wooed her to begin with. Othello tells of the love that her father showed him since his boyish days. This was like a match made in heaven that overcame many obstacles which got in their way. Othello could not understand why he was good enough to work and fight alongside of her father, but was not good enough for his daughter.
In Act 3 Scene 3, we can see that Iago's plan of revenge is on
In the first act of scene 4, we see Othello and Iago discussing Desdemona’s unfaithfulness. Othello still doesn't want to believe that Desdemona is capable, or would cheat on him. They're discussing the handkerchief, it's a very significant in the play, it's one of the first signs for Othello to believe that Desdemona is cheating on him. We usually see Othello defending Desdemona and Iago accusing her, but the roles have reversed and Iago seems to be defending Desdemona, while producing more "evidence" to condemn her. When Iago simply just says “Lie-” (Page 169, Line 33) without any further elaboration, Othello immediately assumes 'Lie with her”, which gives him more proof to condemn Desdemona and Cassio. Othello almost seems to be persuading himself that Desdemona did cheat on him when he says “Lie with her? Lie on her? We say lie on her when they belie her. Lie with her -Zounds, that's fulsome” (Page 169, lines 35-37). Right after that he falls in a trance, and Iago takes this opportunity, to make his accusation more believable. He calls in Cassio and tells him to come back again...
Shakespeare’s Othello consists of the themes betrayal, love and dishonesty. At the centre of this play is the tragic downfall of Othello at the hands of his so called friend Iago. In this essay I will be discussing the reasons for and against Othello being responsible for his downfall through looking at critical interpretations of his character and actions.
Internal and external struggles influence people to action, be it swift and daring or cunning and low. In Shakespeare's plays, the events around and within a character often combine to cause a character to act in a manner that would be considered out of character or unnatural for the person. Shakespeare uses these characters to provide the audience with a lesson or theme; to give them something they can apply to life and see learn from. In Othello, the character he uses as an example is, in fact, Othello. Shakespeare informs his readers of how doubts caused by rumors and lies can lead to the breakdown of even a once noble person.
The portrayal of gender roles in William Shakespeare’s play Othello, demonstrates the inferior treatment of women and the certain stereotypes of men placed on them by society. Both the male and female characters in the play have these certain gender expectations placed on them. In a society dominated by men, it is understood that the women are to be seen rather than heard. The women are referred to and treated much like property. If indeed they do speak up, they are quickly silenced. One woman’s attempt to be the perfect wife is what ultimately led to her demise. The expectations of men are equally stereotypical. Men are to be leaders and to be in control and dominant especially over the women. The male characters compete for position and use the female characters in the play as leverage to manipulate each other. Shakespeare provides insight in understanding the outcomes of the men and women who are faced with the pressures of trying to live up to society’s expectations, not only in the workplace, but also in the home. The pressure creates jealousy issues amongst the men and they become blind to the voice of reason and are overtaken by jealous rage, leads to the death of many of the characters.