Pride And Betrayal In Othello

652 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Analyze a scene of othello essay

aIrasema Gracia
British Literature
Dr. Millan
Analysis Paper # 2
Pride and Inferiority; the Most Powerful Murderer.
Feeling betrayal from the person you love can be one of the most hurting and painful feelings somebody gets to experience in life, but the feeling of being betrayed accompanied by publicity can cause more harm to the situation. That feeling of “Everybody knew except for myself” can be extremely excruciating and can cause extreme harm like portrayed on the story written By William Shakespeare Othello. In the story Othello, we have the protagonist Desdemona and Othello who are married to each other, and the antagonist, Iago, who ruined their marriage by lying to Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him. This story ends in a tragedy as we would expect from the author Shakespeare, but the key that led to the tragedy was the theme of pride. Othello was a very powerful and prevailing male character, who believed his men above anyone including his wife. Othello wouldn’t have been able to go on with the embarrassment of knowing people believe his wife has been lying to him. Othello’s self-conscious and pride was the motive that led him to killing his innocent wife, Desdemona.
In the drama of Othello, Shakespeare shows the interpretation of how this story involves critical theories. After Desdemona is allowed to accompany Othello to Cyprus, Othello conveys to the duke, that he "assigns his wife" and implies Desdemona as his wife, is his possession. This shows and proves what the expectation of women of this time was. Women to be obedient and quiet toward their men. Act II scene 2 sees Othello devote his love to Desdemona, the tone within Othello's voice is briefly defined as slightly demanding, speaking of hi...

... middle of paper ...

...3-96. The argument between Desdemona and Othello his tone becomes violent. Othello continues his irrational obsession with the handkerchief where Desdemona unintentionally infuriates Othello’s anger and jealousy. Shakespeare's use of repetition of "the handkerchief” creates great effect in the final scene because of the power of proof the handkerchief beholds. Othello found it so hard to believe and forgive his wife Desdemona, after knowing she had also lied to her own father about marriage neither Barbatio or Othello accepted the fact they had been betrayed . Like Martha Widmayer mentions “ Infidelity is no “small vice” to Othello and Brabantio, each of ho willingly pays the “great price” of the loss of his world, Desdemona, rather than tolerate betrayal.”

.

Works Cited

Widmayer, M. (1996). Barbantio and Othello. English Studies, 77(2), 113.

Show More
Related

  • Emilias Contemporary Stand

    829 Words  | 2 Pages

    As Desdemona constantly denies his accusations, Othello becomes very angry. He asks for her forgiveness (jokingly) and says “I took you for that cunning whore of Venice” (Act IV, scene ii, line 93). Desdemona is left mad by Othello’s ridicule and listens to Emilia’s contrasting attitude.

    Read More

  • The Comment That Brought Forth the War

    1231 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shakespeare’s Othello illustrates the story of one man’s, Othello’s, self-destructive journey through vicious lies and slander surrounding his loved ones. Who is to blame for this? While the play focuses heavily on “Honest” Iago’s devious acts, Brabantio becomes the catalyst by warning Othello about Desdemona: “Look to her Moor, if thou hast eyes to see. / She has deceived her father, and may thee” (I. iii. 294-295.

    Read More

  • Stereotypes In A Midsummer Night's Dream

    993 Words  | 2 Pages

    Othello is a play that asks us to examine the position of women in society. This play explores issues such as clandestine marriage, accusations of adultery, and it includes three different social classes of women. First, we have Desdemona, this is a woman from a noble family in Venice and has the least amount of freedom. Her behavior was watched very carefully. The perception of Desdemona is created by the language that other characters use to describe her. In Act 2, Scene 1, Cassio refers to Desdemona as ‘a maid/That paragons description and wild fame’; that she

    Read More

  • Desdemona's Language Analysis

    1099 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the play, the reader was shown a loving relationship between Othello and Desdemona that was almost too good to be true. When Desdemona referred the idiosyncrasy of being loyal to her husband by using the noun “duty” and by calling her husband the noun “lord”, it further proved to the reader that she was devoted to her husband. Shakespeare chose this pattern for Desdemona’s language to substantiate to the reader how important Othello was to her and that she stayed by him every step of the way up until her death. The reader was affected tremendously by this pattern into thinking that their love was true because of the loyalty she demonstrated in her

    Read More

  • Othello's Honor

    972 Words  | 2 Pages

    In The Tragedy of Othello, William Shakespeare tells the tale of the “noble Moor” whose honor and innocence bring about his downfall. Shakespeare writes of the power of jealousy, and the art of masterful deception and trickery. The story primarily takes place in Cyprus, during a war between the people of Venice and the invading Turks. In this play Shakespeare shows the feelings of Othello’s embittered right-hand man of, Iago, who feels he is passed over for a promotion and swears his revenge. He proceeds to manipulate his friends, enemies, and family into doing his bidding without any of them ever realizing his ultimate goal. He makes Othello believe that his new wife, the innocent Desdemona, is committing adultery with his newly promoted officer Michael Cassio. After this seed of jealousy has been planted, Othello’s mind takes its course in determining the true outcome, with a little more nudging from Iago. The course of action he proceeds to follow is one that not only ends his own life, but also the life of his wife and others. In Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Othello, Othello is a man who is still truly honorable, despite the course of action he takes to resolve his perceived problem.

    Read More

  • Othello Reflects the Context and Values of its Time

    1338 Words  | 3 Pages

    Within Shakespeare’s Othello there is an analysis into the context of the female. Brabantio’s rhyming couplet “Look to her, Moor, If thou hast eyes to see/ She has deceived her father, and may thee,” demonstrates his domineering and patronising attitude, as the Elizabethan era was a patriarchal society and the role of the female was to be ‘obedient’ to their father or husband. Brabantio also endeavours into placing a seed of doubt in Othello’s mind as a result of his jealousy. Consequentially Brabantio objectifies Desdemona when he states, “Where has thou stow’d my daughter?” exemplifying how he deems her as a possession, which can be stolen like any other. Othello prolongs this objectification through asserting that he “won his daughter” portraying Desdemona as a prize to be won, and a possession to be owned and argued over by husband and father. Desdemona is depicted early on in the play as the “angel” wi...

    Read More

  • Theme Of Honour In Othello

    1062 Words  | 3 Pages

    From this point on, Othello insecurity manifests into a seemingly irrational fear of being cuckolded, and his self-perceived worth diminishes exponentially. Othello comments on the likelihood of Desdemona cheating, by explaining how it may be “for [he is] black / And have not those soft parts of conversation / That chamberers have…” (3.3.280-282) Othello’s frustration with the threat of being cuckolded puts strain on his relationship with Desdemona, and she quickly becomes a victim of domestic abuse. For example, Othello acts as an interrogator, demanding to see the handkerchief which he gave her that symbolizes faithfulness and commitment towards Othello. (Quotation) When she is unable to produce their symbol of trust, Othello’s anger manifests inside him. The audience is shown a stark contrast to Othello’s typically cool, collected and composted nature. This abrupt and irrational change in behaviour is emphasized when Othello strikes Desdemona in front of Lordovico, (4.1.245) Othello’s

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Othello

    1432 Words  | 3 Pages

    Continuing Act three, Scene three, Othello feels the beginning of a headache. Desdemona offers Othello a handkerchief to ease the pain upon Othello’s forehead. The handkerchief is a gift from Othello to Desdemona as a symbol of the love shared by Othello and Desdemona. In Othello’s pain the handkerchief falls from Othello’s hand and Emilia steals the handkerchief. Iago uses the characters of the play as pawns, including wife Emilia. Jealousy is the fuel and the handkerchief is the spark. With the handkerchief in Iago’s possession, Iago can continue to spin the web of lies and deceit. Iago plans to leave the handkerchief in Cassio’s lodgings to further support the suspicion of Desdemona’s infidelity.

    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

  • Theme Of Fidelity In Othello

    458 Words  | 1 Pages

    Shakespeare employs symbolism through the handkerchief as a token of love and faithfulness. When the protagonist is shown this token is no longer with Desdemona, rage incites within him and he strikes her out of pain and jealousy. Shakespeare uses this symbol to show that objects given in love and trust are directly connected to one’s integrity, and abuse of said trust results in broken faith. The composer uses a visual imagery metaphor in the protagonist’s dialogue stating his heart had “turned to stone” in relation to his wife. Through this change Desdemona is unaware of her alleged infidelity and so continues to act, as usual, oblivious to what it may seem like to Othello. The protagonist’s jealousy eventually drives him to murder his wife, who with her final words proclaims that she has committed suicide in order to acquit Othello from any blame. Shakespeare concludes the play with the dramatic irony of the emotive “she loved thee, cruel Moor”. This statement shows the audience that when caught up in orchestrated jealousy, one forgets true loyalty and tends to act

    Read More

  • Who Is The Innocent In The Crucible

    1318 Words  | 3 Pages

    Later on, these accusations affect her, causing her to suffer and pay for the acts she had never committed. Despite her father not approving the Moor, Desdemona takes the right step and admits her love for Othello, but goes against her father’s will. She confesses to her father, “And so much duty as my mother showed/ to you preferring you before her father/ so much I challenge that I may profess/ due to the Moor my lord.” (1.3. 215-218). By telling her father this, Desdemona proves she is still a good loyal wife, if not an ideal daughter. She is well aware and obedient of her duties as expected from an ideal wife back in the Elizabethan era. Iago grips Othello in his schemes of making Desdemona seem deceitful and unloyal. Othello is seen telling Emilia, Iago’s wife, that, “I saw it in his hand. It was a handkerchief, an antique token/ My father gave my mother.” (5.2. 255-257). At this point, Iago has convinced Othello that Desdemona had been unfaithful to him with Cassio. In Iago’s schemes, the handkerchief is is the “proof” of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness which he uses to strongly convince Othello with. Othello starts to believe this second-hand lie and and is furious with jealousy, without

    Read More

  • Jealousy, Love and Betrayal in Othello by William Shakespeare

    1748 Words  | 4 Pages

    The role of jealousy, love and betrayal play a major role in The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. The entire play is based on the human interactions of the characters as related to Othello and Desdemona. The characters’ personalities, their social status, and their relationships to each other control the story line and their fate in the play. Othello is portrayed early in the play as an outsider with animalistic characteristics by Iago and Roderigo because of jealousy. “Your heart is burst; and have lost half of your soul/Even now, now, very now, an old black ram/Is tupping your white ewe”.(531) Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, accuses Othello of using witch craft on his daughter. “If she in chains of magic were not bound/ Whether a maid so tender, fair, and happy/ So opposite to marriage that she shunned…” (535) This point is important because Othello must defend himself not only to Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, but to the entire Venetian Senate. “And till she come, as truly as to heaven,/ I do confess the vices of my blood./ So justly to your grave ears I’ll present/ How I did thrive in this fair lady’s love, / And she in mine.” (539) Othello proves himself to be an intellectual hero early in the play. He has worked hard to gain respectability and power, but because he has a different background, is from another country, is dark-skinned and is older than Desdemona, he becomes jealous very quickly of Cassio. Cassio is from the same social class, is compatible with Desdemona and is a young handsome man. Iago has also convinced Cassio to seek favor with Desdemo...

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Symbols In Othello

    650 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the devices that often a Shakespearean play uses is a love token to emphasize confinement in a relationship and the possession of one individual by another. Likewise, in Othello, the handkerchief presented to Desdemona symbolically represents the marriage bond itself. Throughout Othello, the handkerchief is “handled” by almost every character, which reflects a significant problem existing within the marriage. A number of characters are involved in the couple’s relationship, thereby interrupting effective communication between the couple to a fatal extent. The handkerchief may appear to be an insignificant object, but throughout the play the way its symbolic importance is revealed, shows that it is really very significant. The handkerchief initially is a gift given to Desdemona by Othello as a love token. It is symbolically transformed into Desdemona’s bedsheets, which she uses to reveal her true innocence and fidelity to Othello; and finally, Desdemona requests that the bedsheets be used to cover her as a death shroud.

    Read More

  • Iago's Jealousy

    306 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Tragedy of Othello by William Shakespeare, believed to be written in 1603. The story tells about a Moor general in the Venetian Army, who had been convinced that his wife, Desdemona, has been disloyal to him. Shakespeare wrote The Tragedy of Othello to examines how suspicion can poison a true love and lead to betrayal. Shakespeare is famous in his use of repeatedly themes throughout his writings, predominantly those of love, death, magic, and betrayal. Shakespeare's play of Othello present all these theme, however, it mainly focuses on the danger of jealousy and how it can be the root of all evil. Iago’s jealousy did not only lead to Othello’s downfall, but also destroyed friendships, love, and innocent lives.

    Read More

  • Aristole's View on Drama

    1362 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ealously. However when Iago reminds Othello how Desdemona was able to deceive her father, Othello’s demeanor began to change. Othello then starts to question if Desdemona could have every truly loved a moor which in turn destroyed his self-esteem. Eventually Iago provided circumstantial evidence of Desdemona’s cheating to Othello by stealing her handkerchief and planting on her assumed lover. When Othello sees this he becomes consumed by jealousy and ultimately kills Desdemona. As Desdemona laid lifeless on the bed Othello began to realize Iago’s deceit. Othello states, “Speak of me as I am… Of one who loved not wisely, but too well / Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought, / perplex’d in the extreme”. It is in this moment where the audience sees Othello recognizing that his wife had been faithful and that his fatal flaw is to blame for his downward spiral.

    Read More

More about Pride And Betrayal In Othello

Open Document