Othello Essays

  • General Othello in Othello

    1271 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Shakespeare gave us a most moving drama in Othello. In this play we witness the demise of a “paragon” of a wife and a “valiant Moor”, Othello. Let us consider the Moor in detail, with professional critical input, in this essay. From the text of the play a number of clues can be gleaned which round out the description of the general. In William Shakespeare: The Tragedies, Paul A. Jorgensen describes the general in Othello: Though scarcely the “barbarian” (1.3.353) he is called, the Moor

  • Othello

    1785 Words  | 4 Pages

    'Othello is a study into the potency of evil' Discuss this view of the play, paying careful attention to Iago's motives and destructive achievements (you should concerntrate on Act III Scene III though you will have to relate it to other parts of the play). Potent in its literal sense means powerful. This essay therefore is based on a statement saying that the play is a study into the power of evil. Evil is conveyed in many different ways in Othello, but they all seem to radiate from Iago. Therefore

  • Othello

    747 Words  | 2 Pages

    The role of women in Othello is a strong role. They are treated as though they are property, but yet are a man’s weakness. They are expected to follow, and worship their husband as if he is her master. “Women must think of themselves as ‘other’ and man as primary or ‘subject’” (Iyasere 70). Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca are all treated with this role in Othello, but in the end Desdemona is ultimately Othello’s weakness. The women in Othello were not treated as a man’s equal, but instead his property;

  • Othello

    708 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the story of Othello we see how the actions of one man go on to ruin the lives of multiple people. The villain Iago single-handedly creates the tragedy of Othello through his puppeteer like control of the other characters in the play. Iago captivates the audience as his plan progresses. Readers are anxious to know what will happen next in the play. What makes Iago so fascinating is his mysteriousness as a character, his fully devious ways, and how magnificently clever he is in organizing the demise

  • othello

    1500 Words  | 3 Pages

    Othello, Moorish commander of the armed forces of Venice, had secretly married Desdemona, the much younger daughter of the respected Senator Brabantio. Capitalizing on this news, Othello's ensign, Iago, who had earlier professed his desires to Desdemona without receiving her love in return, sought revenge. Also passed over for promotion as Othello's new lieutenant chief of staff, the Moor having chosen instead a loyal Florentine, Michael Cassio, Iago now devised a scheme to rid himself of these sorry

  • Othello

    977 Words  | 2 Pages

    characters Desdemona and Emilia from the play Othello. Shakespeare's, “Othello” has been thoroughly studied and read. The majority of character analyses done over the play focus mainly on the two male figures, Othello and Iago. During the time of Shakespeare, females were often treated and viewed in society as second-rate to men. Desdemona, the bride of Othello, and Emilia, the wife of the villain Iago, are the two main female characters in Shakespeare’s Othello. Desdemona and Emilia, are over and over

  • Othello

    1433 Words  | 3 Pages

    Othello Othello is a distinct and extremely debated tragic play of Shakespeare’s. Beginning even with his selection of characters, his decision to make a black man a tragic hero, at this time this was bold and original, by accent tradition blackness was associated with sin and death. Any play that preceded Othello at this time, the black character’s were generally villainous. The main characters of this tragic story are a Moor of Venice (Othello), his Venetian wife (Desdemona. Shakespeare also

  • Othello

    1151 Words  | 3 Pages

    their point in in any matter, even ones that included them. William Shakespeare, as said by Scott Guffey, manages to bring “fourth [the] highly believable and realistic” (Guffey 2) judgment and belittlement of women during the Renaissance period in Othello. Shakespeare does this by establishing societies need for women to portray the image of the perfect wife and signifying the repercussion that occur when those needs are not meet. He illustrates what happens to Desdemona and Emilia’s credibility and

  • othello

    805 Words  | 2 Pages

    sense is scrupulously careful to adhere to all known truth and right even in thought,” In order to be honest someone has to be not only verbally honest but true in their actions as... ... middle of paper ... ...was open about his sheer hatred for Othello taking his position he would surely be frowned upon for being so petty. For exampled discouraging an individual from trying something just because in their option that person isn't capably of accomplishing their goals. If everyone was honest Iago

  • othello

    773 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the dying minutes of William Shakespeare’s play Othello, the main character Othello requests of Lodovico, a Venetian messenger, “When you shall these unlucky deeds relate, Speak of me as I am.” But what is he, exactly? One of the most celebrated roles in history of the theater, Othello is a complicated and mysterious character. At various times in the course of the play we despise him, we pity him and we praise him. As a young slave he doggedly worked his way through the ranks and eventually arrives

  • Othello

    786 Words  | 2 Pages

    Othello is one of Shakespeare’s four pillars of great tragedies. Othello is unique in comparison to the others in that it focuses on the private lives of its primary characters. When researching the subject of Othello being an Aristotelian tragedy, there is debate among some critics and readers. Some claim that Shakespeare did not hold true to Aristotle’s model of tragedy, according to his definition in “Poetics,” which categorized Othello as a classic tragedy as opposed to traditional tragedy.

  • othello

    864 Words  | 2 Pages

    The play, Othello was written by William Shakespeare in the later years of his career. Giraldi Cinthios, Tale of a Moor, based Othello on a story that was a mellow Drama, about a moor and his doubts about his wife’s fidelity. In Shakespeare’s play the Moor (Othello) convinced by his jealous aid (Iago) that his wife (Desdemona) is not Being faithful. Iago’s jealousy is motivated by his anger when he learns that Cassio of Florentine has been appointed Governor of Cyprus. He felt that he deserved this

  • Othello

    650 Words  | 2 Pages

    Othello As Iago's role in the play begins to define itself, the plays main theme, which is jealousy, also begins to develop. Iago's role is unclear to the reader in the first scene. He appears to be an honest, trustworthy soldier who was angry because he was overlooked for a promotion. However, the reader later finds out that he is a "malignant and destructive plotter" and would do anything to destroy Othello and anyone close to him (Epstein 381). The fact that he is an evil character remains

  • othello

    589 Words  | 2 Pages

    Othello In this speech, Othello lets his mind take over all his self control. A usual cool tempered person Othello is inflicted with rage about the possibility of his wife sleeping with his lieutenant, Cassio. Iago has the ability to cloud the head of Othello with lies about the Desdemona and Cassio causing suffering and tragedy. A tragedy is a serious action or event that always turns out the worst way possible. Iago has setup Othello just enough for Othello to create his own disaster. The literary

  • othello

    578 Words  | 2 Pages

    Desdemona is one of the protagonists of the play contributes to the play and also fleshes out certain aspects of characterisation mainly where Othello and Iago are concerned. Thus her relevance is highlighted consistently throughout Othello, since without her ppresence, Iago would not have succeeded in manipulating Othello, and Othello's drastic transformation would not have been made evident. In Act 1. Desdemona admits that she fell in love with Othello's eloquence and harrowing adventures; 'I saw

  • othello

    738 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the Shakespear’s play “Othello” it is clear to see that the relationship between him and Desdemona is a complicated one wrought with passion and confusion which leads to emotional trauma and physical abuse. At point and times in the story of “Othello” love was transmuted different. Othello was not as gentle and kind as Desdemona when it came to his lover he a times exhibited symptoms of insanity. He also at times exhibited lack of confidence that is found in the perceived unity of marriage. This

  • Othello

    675 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The story is about Othello, who is a general in the Venetian army and is convinced by his trusted ensign, Iago that his wife is cheating on him. Eventually Othello kills his wife and when he finds out the truth he then kills himself. Most of the conflict in the play stems from Othello’s value assumption that women are not equal to men, which leads to dramatic and value irony. Othello’s relationship with Desdemona, his

  • Othello

    961 Words  | 2 Pages

    Shakespearean act Othello, the image of slavery was referred to significantly. This act was written in a period where England became involved in the slave trade. During that period racism and the opposition towards slavery arise. The word slave in this act; however, was not all about slavery. The word “slave” in Othello was not only used to describe a social practice, but it was also used as an insult and it presented subjection in certain scenes. Initially, the fact that Othello was a slave before

  • Othello

    931 Words  | 2 Pages

    Shakespeare’s Othello, dramatic intensity is and dramatic tension is felt throughout the entire drama from the first scene to the last. As you read Othello you get a feeling as if you are in the play from all of the dramatic intensity and conflict that is presented to the reader throughout the drama. We are introduced to some of that dramatic intensity you feel as we read act I scene III 128 - 220. This is one off the many great dramatic points of this play letting us see the true feelings of Othello toward

  • Othello

    645 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Othello”, by William Shakespeare, is a story of jealousy’s potential to manipulate thoughts and eventually lead to ultimate demise. The key to extremely detrimental jealousy lies within one’s ability to recognize it or deny it. It seems that the important theme of “Othello” is that if jealousy is not recognized and immediately dealt with, it receives a head start to commence the process of rotting away all normal human reason. Othello’s speech in Act III scene iii beginning with line 178 is the

  • Othello

    othello

    The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, one of Shakespeare’s most popular tragedies, was first published in 1603. The play has enjoyed enduring popularity over the centuries and, like Macbeth, has had a long history of stage performances and movie adaptations. Essays and academic papers that offer in-depth analyses of Othello too have been highly popular among students of literature and theatre.

    The play’s protagonist and hero is a celebrated black general who commands the Venetian army and has secretly married the beautiful Desdemona, daughter of the Venetian senator Brabantio. Othello is a powerful and highly respected figure in Venice with a young and attractive wife, but is prone to insecurities because of his race and age.

    The events of the play are set in motion when Othello appoints Cassio as his chief lieutenant, angering his ensign Iago who believes himself to be the right person for the job. Iago, consumed by envy and rage, vows to bring about Othello’s downfall. He conspires with Roderigo, a dissolute Venetian gentleman who has been spurned by Desdemona, to falsely implicate Desdemona and Cassio in a love affair and plant doubt about Desdemona’s loyalty in Othello’s mind. Convinced of Desdemona’s treachery, Othello strangles her, only to realise she had been faithful to him all along. Othello’s blind jealousy and self-doubt ensure his eventual destruction.

    Iago comes forth as a cynical manipulator who happily betrays Othello’s trust while maintaining a reputation for honesty. He is the antithesis to Othello’s true nobility and integrity and is considered to be one of Shakespeare’s most sinister and Machiavellian villains.

    Othello centers around the timeless themes of racial prejudice, love, sexual jealousy, revenge, betrayal and eventual repentance and has been frequently adapted for film, theatre and opera,

    Scroll down for a comprehensive list of literary essays that discuss Shakespeare’s Othello from various perspectives.