Literary Techniques In Shakespeare's Othello

Literary techniques develop the play Othello in a complex way, though it was written in the 16th century; many elements Shakespeare uses in this play are used in present day. Othello’s not your ordinary play you’re used to seeing in present day for various reasons, even the opening act starts off in the middle of a conversation between Rodrigo and Iago which is unorthodox because many plays spend time developing certain characters. Everything from this play can be looked, examined and picked upon, including the setting, characters dialogue, and foreshadowing in some instances, even representation managed to make their way into the play. Shakespeare manages to develop various characters from the play in a successful manner but two characters certainly standout Iago, who is said to be the antagonist and the main character of the play in a careful manner Othello, whom the play is named after is an extremely odd character.
Shakespeare develops Othello who is a black high ranking general who gets little to no respect throughout the play. Othello was a general in the

Venetian defense forces, and he is also foreigner from Africa his appearance differs from many of the other characters in the play and is looked down upon. Though has courage, intelligence Characters are required to listen to his commands because he is in charge, being the lieutenant, but throughout many scenes, you can sense the disrespect towards Othello from other characters. In the opening scenes Iago and Roderigo often refer to Othello as “he,” “him,” or “the Moore” never actually saying his name. As the play unfolds, it is later unveiled who they are talking about, but when you do know who they are talking about they do it with negative epithets but Iago and Roderigo never say his actual name they instead refer to him as animals like “an old black ram” (I.i.88), and “a Barbary horse” (I.i.113) thus showing the amount of respect they have for him. For example, later on in the play when Iago is telling Roderigo about his hate toward Othello and how he should’ve been moved up in the ranks Roderigo responds by saying “I would not follow him then.” Iago responds with “O sir, content you. I follow him to serve my turn upon him. We cannot all be masters, nor can’t all masters be truly followed”. Not known to be intentional or not but Shakespeare established Iago’s hatred toward Othello and it also shows the level of respect Othello has when he isn’t present in the scene. This is also a key scene because it shows that Iago would only follow Othello just to have his turn upon him perhaps further foreshadowing future scenes.
The antagonist in Shakespeare’s Othello is Iago who is known for his villainous traits which include resentment and jealousy.

In the first scene, he expresses his anger toward Othello for not choosing him to the position of lieutenant and instead choosing the much younger and unexperienced Cassio. Jealous and resentful Iago wants everyone else to feel how he does so he plans to manipulate the other characters. He manipulates Othello by using his own fears against him and he also takes advantage of his insecurities. Iago makes groundless accusations toward Othello, for example by saying “It is thought abroad that ’twixt my sheets / He has done my office” (I.iii.369–370). Claiming that Othello slept with his wife, Emilia. Later on in the play Iago mentions that he wants to go after Desdemona because Othello went after his wife, he wants to get even he expresses this by saying “wife for wife”

(II.i.286).
Iago plans on manipulating Othello so he could demote Cassio, and afterwards bring down Othello. Roderigo, who helps Iago with his plans though he thinks Othello is gone, Iago will help Roderigo earn the affection of Othello's wife, Desdemona.