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The use of language in othello
Language in othello
The use of language in othello
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The functions of language are deeply rooted in human behavior, which allows us to construct linguistic stimuli that would then acquire control over the characters. The structure of a language affects the ways in which its speaker is able to conceptualize their world, altering affecting in their interactions with others. In William Shakespeare’s Othello, the reader is given insight to the character through their words, therefore giving words magnificent power on revealing human behaviour. In Othello, by William Shakespeare the various characters are illustrated through their dialogue and alter language patterns. Within Othello, Iago speaks in a vulgar context, while Othello charms people with his noble speeches. Also, Shakespeare portrays the …show more content…
There are a lot of similarities between the two of the female characters; Desdemona and Emilia are both loyal wives, who want to please their husbands. As Iago tempts Othello, Othello begins to believe that Desdemona is disloyal and unchaste; therefore Desdemona wants to appease his worries concerning her loyalty by reassuring him. To prove her innocence Desdemona says: "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." (5.2.60-63) She is veracious in saying that she has not cheated on Othello with Cassio, therefore trying to prove that she is loyal, despite, knowing that Iago has used her for his own benefit. Similarly, Emilia too is loyal to Iago, when Emilia finds Desdemona’s handkerchief she remembers that her husband had asked her to give it to him: "I am glad I have found this napkin.. My wayward husband hath a hundred times Wooed me to steal it… I nothing, but to please his fantasy" (3.3.293,
In Act IV, scene ii and iii, Emilia shows her contemporary views about relationships to the audience and talks to Desdemona while doing so. She believes that many men and women are commonly guilty of cheating and betrayal of their partner. At this point, Othello’s worries of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness have wholly increased, and he begins to accuse her of cheating on him. Desdemona then hopes Othello sees to her honesty and truthfulness of the matter. “I hope my noble lord esteems me honest” (Act IV, scene II line 67). Othello counters her begging by beginning his sarcasm and request for her to never have been born. He says, “O, ay. As summer flies are in the shambles,that quicken even with blowing. O Thou weed, Who art so lovely fair and smell’st so sweet That the sense aches at thee, would thou hadst ne’er been born!”(Act IV scene II lines 68-70)
The beauty of Othello is the power of words and language. The play uses articulate...
Picture this- William Harold Shakespeare, the most coveted playwriter in the history of the world, sitting at his desk, perspicaciously pondering over what shall become his most prominant and delicated tragedy of yet. Of course, given what little is known about Shakespeere displays, such deepseated imagery cannot simply be accomplished without first the propriety of haste and vinction.And yet, his very own rhetorical vibe displays allows such a vague pictoration to be concieved. Throughout the whole of Othello, the great Shakespeare remarks through an astounding displays show of pronouns, allitteration, and cacophonous diction his own resentment of both the King of Italy and the poor conditions of the said novelist.
At the beginning of the action, the two ladies relationship furthers the plot by creating a circumstance in which Desdemona’s handkerchief goes missing. Desdemona’s most valued token of Othello’s love is a supposedly magic handkerchief that belonged to his mother and Desdemona keeps it with her at all times. When she drops it Emilia swipes it to try to please her husband, Iago. By stealing the handkerchief Emilia unwittingly sets in motion Iago’s scheme that will eventually lead to the death of herself, Othello, and her beloved Desdemona. Without this handkerchief Iago’s scheme would never work because it is the only piece of substantial proof of Desdemona's infidelity can use to convince Othello. Therefore, without Desdemona and Emilia's close friendship there would be no plot. Toward the end of the play, Emilia and Desdemona’s relationship becomes crucial to the plot again. After Othello kills Desdemona Emilia is the one who puts together the facts and unearths Iago’s scheme, risking her own life to do so. After witnessing Desdemona’s death Emilia says, “O thou dull Moor, that handkerchief thou speak’st of I found by fortune, and did give my husband- for often, with a solemn earnestness he begged of me to steal ‘t”(5.2.267-272). At the threat of her own death she revealed Iago’s treachery and concluded the plot by explaining how Iago’s scheming led to the death of four different people. Without Emilia’s proximity to Desdemona she would never have been able to take the handkerchief and her knowledge of Iago and Desdemona’s natures made her the only character able to uncover Iago’s scheme. Certainly, Desdemona’s close relationship and differing characters were essential to the plot of the
Though her world was fall apart with Iago creating false images of an affair between her and Cassio to Othello, Desdemona strangely remains kind, innocent, and willing to grant grace. When Cassio approaches her for help, she quickly agrees to help her old friend. While she discusses relationships with Emilia, she rejects all thoughts of infidelity. She had every reason to fight Othello when Othello carries out her murder, yet she resist only a little, She responses, “The Lord have mercy on me…[and] mercy on you too” to Othello’s “Thou diest” (Othello 5.2.50; 71-74). When she is briefly revived and quested by Emilia as to who her murderer is, Desdemona only replies, “I myself” (Othello 5.2.152).
When Iago first sets out to deceive Othello, he tells him, "look at your wife; observe her well with Cassio" (3.3.196). He knows that if he can plant enough doubt and jealousy in Othello's mind, Othello only needs to look at Desdemona being friendly with Cassio to suspect infidelity. After this, when Desdemona asks for Cassio's reinstatement, it looks as though she is trying to get something better for her lover, as opposed to just helping a friend.
Emilia is not just in the play to be a simply friend. She is there to tell everyone the horrible acts that have happened. Once, Emilia realizes her mistress has died she starts asking questions which helps her put two and two together. Emilia finds out that Othello thinks Desdemona cheated on her something that Desdemona would never do. Emilia then asks Othello, why? The main reason is the handkerchief. Othello gave Desdemona handkerchief that represents their love and its precious. Because Othello finds out Cassio had it he thinks an affair was going on. Then is when, Emilia reveals that she gave the handkerchief to Iago because she found it. Quickly after that it’s revealed that Iago (her husband) is doing evil acts. Emilia “...That handkerchief thou speak’st of I found by fortune and did give my husband. For often, with a solemn earnestness—More than indeed belonged to such a trifle—He begged of me to steal it.” With that said, Emilia was much more than a
There are many reasons why we study William Shakespeare’s plays today. There is the insight into human nature that he knows well, allusions to old mythology and legends, and others. However, one reason stands out above the rest: his power of language. Also, this power of language is clearly shown in his play, Othello, through Iago, the antagonist of the play. Iago, who is an ensign of Othello, is furious that he was not given the promotion of lieutenancy. As a result, he uses his craftiness and his “power of language” to take revenge on Othello. Although his plan foils, he causes Othello to kill his wife Desdemona and commit suicide, all the while he deceives and exploits other characters for his plan. In Othello, Iago demonstrates his power
The means in which Shakespeare develops the dialogue between his characters allows the reader to hear the words as if they are being spoken to them personally. This helps in understanding the personality of each character. Once a reader develops a feel for each character and who they are, the audience begins to foreshadow and analyze a theme for the story. Shakespeare uses imagery and repetition of events in his dialogue to make the story easy to understand. Overall, diction place an important role in every story whether it be describing a character, developing a plot, or understanding a theme.
Desdemona's actions make it evident that the female characters in Othello are weak minded. Emilia allows herself to be abused by Iago, making her a weak woman. While she does have good intentions throughout parts of the play and is a kind hearted woman, she never defends herself to her diabolical husband. Iago constantly makes hateful and degrading insults towards Emilia. Come on, come on, come on.
The Importance of Language in Othello In the extract being analysed there are numerous instances where
Although a minor character in William Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello, Emilia exists as a vital component to revealing his views on women being obsequious to their husbands and his negative connotation on marriage. Emilia’s decision to remain silent drives the play and in the end causes it to turn tragic with multiple deaths. Desdemona and Emilia can be perceived as a foil to each other because of their different beliefs for women’s roles in marriage. Her obedience toward her husband causes her to steal the handkerchief and give it to Iago, so he can falsely set Cassio up with it. Without Emilia, Shakespeare could not have exposed his view on women’s roles and marriage, and the storyline for his tragic play Othello could not have been achieved.
Emotions have some control over our actions. However, there are other factors that influence what we do. In the play Othello though, emotions have way more power over the characters' actions. For example, the actions committed by characters consumed by love are greatly amplified. Another example of this is that the characters in the play that are consumed by jealousy go to far greater lengths than one normally would to quench their thirst for vengeance. The last instance that proves this is that the actions of characters overcome by despair are based solely on their hopelessness. These three points all help to show that in the play Othello, Shakespeare exaggerates how much our actions are affected by the major emotions of love, jealousy, and despair.
Actors are tasked with “illuminating a piece of work”(358) through appearance and how they perform their lines. For example, if a pianist adds an extra key that changes the song, the song can either sound better or worse. The pianist like the actor has control over what they will convey. Hence, it is their interpretation, appearance and how it is conveyed, that translates plain guidelines to a performance. However, it is heavily dependent on the actors ability to “edify and clarify” which is why actors only hold the potential to surpass academic scholars as interpreters. With this in mind, it is essential for actors to fully understand their characters in order to accurately display the character to the best of their ability. Particularly, Iago exists in the play Othello as one of the most complex characters at the turn of the 17 century. As Agnes Matuska writes in “An Ontological Transgression”, Iago is “present both in the drama and on the stage on several levels”(46). Iago interacts with the levels of reality by talking to both the audience and other characters in the play. Additionally, Iago creates higher levels of complexity as he interacts with each individual differently. Thus, if a role as complex and important as Iago’s is to be played well by an actor, then the actor must pertain to
When Othello first gives Desdemona the handkerchief as a gift it symbolizes his love for her. Emilia explains that the handkerchief was Desdemona’s, “first remembrance from the Moor” and that she always keeps it with her. The symbol changed drastically when Iago takes the handkerchief from his wife Emilia, who was Desdemona’s close friend and maid. When Iago gets the handkerchief he leaves it with Cassio so that Othello will find it. Iago knows that once Othello see Bianca, Cassio’s love interest, with the handkerchief he will believe that Desdemona gave it to Cassio and that they committed adultery. The handkerchief then becomes a symbol of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness to her husband. Othello becomes furious and says, “let her rot, and perish, and be damned tonight; for she shall not live,” which shows the change in the symbol of the handkerchief as well as Othello’s feelings for Desdemona (pg 1516, line 166). The handkerchief is significant because without it, Iago would not have been able to provide proof of Desdemona and Cassio’s