Othello Research Paper

Othello Research Paper
Carly Niedert
Dr. Helen Davis
English 120
1 December 2011
Othello
In the play Othello written by Shakespeare, the issue of racism is addressed. Othello, the protagonist of the play, is African American or black.
"According to Lois Whitney, many of Othello's specific attributes probably derive from Shakespeare's reading of Leo Africanus, whose Geographical
Historie of Africa which was translated and published in London in 1600"(Berry, 1990). Many critics have different views on this. "If Shakespeare
depended upon Leo Africanus for such details, he must have been much more interested in racial psychology than critics such as Bradley or Heilman
suggest"(Berry, 1990). One of the most prominent features of this Shakespeare play is the...show more content...
Along with critics making references to Othello's race, many characters in the play do as well. The characters that are most racist refer to Othello by
his real name less than the people who are least racist. "Othello's blackness is not only a mark of his physical alienation but a symbol, to which
every character in the play himself included must respond" (Berry, 1990). Othello does not refer to himself as African but rather as an exotic
Venetian. Other characters do not see Othello as that. Many characters call Othello numerous names other than his real one. "For Iago Othello is
an old black ram, the devil, and a barbary horse" (Berry, 1990). Many see Othello's blackness as a symbol of ugliness, bestiality, treachery, and
demonic. None of those words describe how Othello really is. Those words are the stereotypical definition of what a black man is. This stereotypical
definition puts Othello is a predicament and makes his acceptance in the Venetian society difficult. "Once such critics conclude that Othello is not a
stereotype, he tends to lose his individuality as a Moor and to become a representative of humanity" (Berry, 1990). The stereotypical image of a black
man plays an important role in the play's ending. Since this play is a tragedy and Othello is a tragic hero, his blackness does play a role in that. A tragic
hero is the protagonist in a tragedy. This play is a tragedy considering
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Othello: Themes Essay
Othello: Themes
How many themes course through the Shakespearean tragedy Othello? Let us in this essay analyze the variety and depth of the themes in this play.
Lily B. Campbell in Shakespeare's Tragic Heroes indicates that hate is the theme on which this play opens:
It is then on a theme of hate that the play opens. It is a hate of inveterate anger. It is a hate that is bound up with envy.Othello has preferred to be his
lieutenant a military theorist, one Michael Cassio, over the experienced soldier Iago, to whom has fallen instead the post of "his Moorship's ancient".
Roderigo questions Iago:
Thou told'st me thou didst hold him in thy hate.
And the reply is a torrent of proof of the...show more content...
Helen Gardner in "Othello: A Tragedy of Beauty and Fortune" sees this play as a study in sexual jealousy:
Othello is not a study in pride, egoism, or self–deception: its subject is sexual jealousy, loss of faith in a form which involves the whole personality at
the profound point where body meets spirit. The solution which Othello cannot accept is Iago's: 'Put up with it.' This is as impossible as that Hamlet
should, like Claudius, behave as if the past were done with and only the present mattered. . . . (144)
Of course, jealousy of a different type also torments the antagonist, the ancient, to the point that he ruins those around him and himself. Francis
Ferguson in "Two Worldviews Echo Each Other" describes how there is no cure for the jealous passion that rules Iago's life:
On the contrary, in the "world" of his philosophy and his imagination, where his spirit lives, there is no cure for passion. He is, behind his mask, as
restless as a cage of those cruel and lustful monkeys that he mentions so often. It has been pointed out that he has no intelligible plan for destroying
Othello, and he never asks himself what good it will do him to ruin so many people. It is enough for him that he "hates" the Moor. . . .(133)

Act 1 Scene 1 opens with an expression of jealousy and hatred: Roderigo is upbraiding Iago because of the elopement of the object of his affections
–Desdemona –– with the Moor: "Thou told'st me thou didst hold him

Themes In Othello Essay
Top Square Assignment Song is labeled "Othello.wav" in the class folder. It can also be found as a link on the "Othello Song" document in the class
folder. Centre Square Assignment 1. Themes in Othello Love– Othello says, "For know Iago, // But that I love the gentle Desdemona, // I would not
my unhoused free condition // Put into circumscription and confine // For the sea's worth."(Shakespeare, I.ii.24–27) This quote supports the theme of
love found in the play Othello by William Shakespeare. This can be seen in how invested Othello seems to be emotionally when speaking about
Desdemona. An aspect of love is already present in the fact that he and Desdemona are set to be wed, but this quote further shows that Othello is not
...show more content...
This quote alone shows just how sinister and revengeful Iago is and how representative he can be of this theme. This quote and many others exist in
the book to show the actions and words of the characters in the novel are illustrative of the theme of revenge. 2. Quotes surrounding characters in
Othello Cassio – Cassio says, "Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my // reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what /
/ remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation!"(Shakespeare, II.iii.241–243).
Iago says, "Reputation is an idle and most false imposition: oft got // without merit, and lost without deserving. You have lost no // reputation at all,
unless you repute yourself such a loser. // What, man! there are ways to recover the general again."(Shakespeare, II.iii.246–249) These quotes show just
how reputation driven the character of Cassio is in the play. Cassio acts completely and utterly destroyed after learning that he has lost his position
as Othello's lieutenant and with it his honour and reputation. He goes as far as crying out, proclaiming that he has just lost an essential part of his
being, and even going as far as pleading out his feelings to Iago. At this point in the play, we know that Iago still has use of Cassio for his 'masterful
plan', so he is trying to do whatever it takes to keep Cassio on a tight leash. The second quote goes on to show Iago consoling Cassio in sort of a
mocking

Othello Analysis Essay examples
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. In the beginning of the play Othello exhibits behaviors leading one to believe that
he...show more content...
The duke then sent Othello and some of his men to command a military patrol in Cyprus. Othello takes Desdemona with him and in Cyprus he
continued to be polite, respectful, and charming, saying things like, "It gives me wonder great as my content to see you here before me" (II.i.83). He
says this to Desdemona reassuring his love and care for her.
By the middle of the play Othello's mood and demeanor seem to shift from being peaceful and patient to very anxious, paranoid, and gullible. For
example when Othello is talking to Iago and Iago suggests that maybe his wife is not being faithful to him, it becomes Othello's obsession to get down
to the bottom of it and catch her. "I have been talking with your suitor here, a man that languishes in your displeasure / Who is't you mean / Why, your
lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord" (III.iii.41–43). In this dialog between Othello and Iago, with just two sentences Iago causes Othello to lose trust in
his wife and believe she is being unfaithful to him which grows stronger and stronger each scene of the play. Because Iago is extremely cunning and
manipulative, he is able to control almost anyone he chooses and he is in control of Othello's emotions because he knows the things Othello fears.
Iago is pretending to be Othello's friend but secretively is going behind his back and bringing him down. Iago convinces Othello that Cassio is having
an affair with Desdemona. "I humbly do beseech

Essay about Othello
People are not always the way you see them to be. Within the play Othello by William Shakespeare, a character named Iago displays a very good
example of this. Iago who is Othello's ensign is considerate to people although at the same time manipulates their minds into thinking different things
other than what had really occurred. Therefore, the victims of Iago's mischievous acts had been lured in to gullibility at every corner.
In Act I, Iago had used his 'magic' on Roderigo who was very upset upon the fact that Othello and Desdemona were still able to be as one, since he
was very much in desire for her. Iago had told him not to worry and that Desdemona will soon desire him. Roderigo had then believed him. He...show
more content...
Iago had shown great dishonesty and evilness to his own leader.
Iago had already caused so much devious acts that he took this to another level. He had taken something that symbolized the love and compassion
Othello had for Desdemona which a handkerchief. Iago had told Othello that Cassio and Desdemona have something going on after Iago had
supposedly over heard what Cassio was saying in his sleep. Othello eventually becomes furious at both of them, most especially his wife because he is
led to believe their marriage was false. Iago's plan worked and it yet close to his goal. He again persuades Othello in killing Cassio so he will win her
back. Othello still relies on Iago's influence thinking that all his decisions are proper things to do.
As of act V, at the end Iago's own wife is the one to figure out what his whole plot is and tells Othello what he had done and this was one thing that
Iago had not been able to use his skills in manipulating him. Othello stabs Iago who was the villain of this play the whole time.
This play displayed the power that one person may have in order to get what they want. It also showed how much the characters had bought into
Iago's thoughts and influence to cause even more damage between everyone. His power is led to believe that anyone could be gullible no matter what
position you are whether it be in rank or how smart you may

Othello Essay
The definition of a tragic hero is that an individual who has a mixture of admirable qualities and a tragic flaw which proves fatal. This suggests Othello
is a tragic hero, though qualities such as nobility in thoughts or actions do not consistently portray Othello throughout the play. Despite his brave
reputation as a soldier and characteristics of trusting and caring initially with Desdemona, his weaknesses in both his own character and his
vulnerability to IagoВЎВ¦ s lies, and the decision of killing Desdemona at last do not make Othello sufficiently noble in thought or action to attain the
status of a tragic hero.
Imperfections such as pride and jealousy are signs of an insecure personality. The Othello in the beginning of the play is...show more content...
Vulnerability to other peopleВЎВ¦ s lies highlight insecurities and flaws in OthelloВЎВ¦ s character creating ignoble personalities. OthelloВЎВ¦s
weakness in succumbing to IagoВЎВ¦ s lies shows his ignoble in thoughts. Othello chooses to believe the lies of Iago even though Iago didnВЎВ¦t
earn his trust of becoming his lieutenant, instead of believing Desdemona, the woman he loves. This is the major fault that Othello had done. Right
away after listening to Iago ВЎВҐs words Othello suspects Desdemona for her loyalty. This can be seen when Othello says ВЎВ§ I have a pain upon
my forehead here.ВЎВЁ (III, iii, 286) Which means he already assumes Desdemona is disloyal to him. Another main reason Othello falls into
IagoВЎВ¦ s lies and traps is because even Othello sees flaws deep inside himself because of his race, social graces, age difference and also as a foreigner
of VenetianВЎВ¦s culture. This can be seen in his soliloquy ВЎВ§ Haply for I am black ВЎK I am declined into the vale of years.ВЎВЁ (III, iii,
265–268) And also what Iago said to Othello, ВЎВ§ I know our countryВЎK but keepВЎВ¦t unknown.ВЎВЁ (III, iii, 203–206) These show
OthelloВЎВ¦ s insecure personalities because he is black. Othello has not really think about what is the truth and who he should believe in because all
of the jealousy and insecure personality covered his noble mind and makes up the fact that

Othello as a Tragic Hero Essay
Othello is a tragic hero because of his greatnesses and his weaknesses. He is a noble man who possesses all the qualities of a military leader, which
he is. He has control over himself and shows courage as well as dignity. Just as Othello is a virtuous man there are some flaws within him, these flaws
complete him ff as a tragic hero. Othello is often blinded by trust and can not see a person for who they really are. He trusts the people around him
even when they mean to afflict harm upon him. Through this, it can be seen why Othello is one of the most tragic hero out of all the characters from
Shakespeare's many plays.
To begin with, Othello is a graceful man with a valiant personality which draws people near. Although he is known...show more content...
Even in the toughest of times, he keeps his anger under control. "I will a round unvarnished tale deliver of my whole course of love – what drugs,
what charms, what conjuration, and what mighty magic (for such proceeding and charged withal) I won his daughter" (Act 1, scene 3, 90–94)
As an example. this shows how Othello deals with style and grace under fire, when accused of witchcraft by marrying Desdemona. Othello neither yells
nor screams, but explains in a way that captivates his audience and enhances the emotions in the play.
Aside from the greatnesses there also are some flaws. With Othello being a military leader for most of his life, trusting another military friend would
be common and therefore Othello had no reason to not trust iago. So it can be said that Othello has tragic weaknesses, one being too trustworthy.
Many times Othello does not see the evil acts of iago. He is used to dealing with military people on the battlefield, where you put your life in the hands
of others. In this situation trust is very important. Othello says that iago is a man of honor and trust and therefore has no reason to doubt his honesty.
Likewise another weakness of Othello's would be that he is a man who gets confused easily and cannot judge right from wrong. This can be seen when

othello Essay
jealousy
In the play Othello, jealousy is shown to be very evident through the actions of the characters. Jealousy is an emotion that everyone shares, and it is
ultimately responsible for the tragic ending of the play. Everyone feels jealous at certain times of their lives, and this feeling can cause people to do
irrational things. This human emotion also shows people to be weak in the sense that they are never happy with what they have. Shakespeare shows
through Othello, Iago, Roderigo, and Brabantio that jealousy is the most corrupt and destructive emotion.
Othello is horribly jealous of what he thinks is going on between his wife and Cassio. This poisonous feeling turns Othello into a mad man and he
strikes his wife. Jealousy causes...show more content...
Othello has many qualities that fit the category of a tragic hero. He falls from prosperity to suffering, but not necessarily in a material sense. His fall is
from happiness, contentment, and love to unhappiness, accusations, and distrust.
. He is admired by everyone in the play, even Iago comments on what a good man Othello is. Secondly, a tragic hero can not be perfect. He or she
must have a flaw of some kind. In Othello's case it is that he allows his emotions to take over. Manipulated by Iago's lies, Othello is forced to confront
emotions he obviously can not handle. His wisdom and patience are replaced by anger and hate. The power of these destructive emotions ultimately
lead to Desdemona's death and Othello's suicide
Without a doubt, Shakespeare's play Othello is a tragedy. The main character, Othello, is a typical Shakespearean tragic hero. Othello is good man
who is deeply in love with his wife. He has one flaw, jealousy, which gets the best of him, and triggers the downfall of his wonderful life.
Othello was living a successful life, but he had one flaw: jealousy. As a result of his jealousy, his life begins to get chaotic because he no longer
trusts his wife. Slowly Othello's sanity and status become questioned, and he is no longer seen as important. The last straw is drawn, and Othello
murders his beautiful wife only to find out that she did not deserve to die. Othello was a good man, but he was a tragic hero because of his flaw that

William Shakespeare Research Paper
In the world of literature, there are many popular authors that are known for their good command in the English language. They have been known for
presenting their authored work in a way that is understood by many people within the target population. William Shakespeare is one of the most
famous authors in the society today whose work is great in that it presents various thematic issues affecting people in the society. In his time, he
focused on highlighting social issues that were affecting the society. It is due to his creativity and prowess that he was able to create outstanding
literature works. According to (William, 23– 34), shakespeare is one of the dedicated writers that had the opportunity to write novels on different
topics. It is also evident that the language he uses in his work is intriguing and fascinating at the same time. Othello is one of the books that he authored
with an aim of addressing some social issues that were existent within the setting of the book. The book is written in a way that many readers have
liked the concepts presented. The simplicity of the language used, the flow of ideas also makes the reader to have a different perspective about
reading books. The selection of characters that Shakespeare uses in his books is also interesting and makes the books to be interesting to read too.
Additionally, the elements of literature should be incorporated in any piece of writing so that it can become more interesting (Shakespeare, 26–30). It is

Essay The Tragedy of Othello
William Shakespeare masterfully crafted Othello, the Moor of Venice as an Aristotelian tragedy play. The main protagonist of the play, Othello, is the
perfect example of a tragic hero. Shakespeare was influenced by Aristotle's concept of a tragic hero and used Aristotle's principles to create Othello.
William Shakespeare attempted to create an Aristotelian tragedy play with a tragic hero and succeeded in Othello, the Moor of Venice by weaving in
pity and fear into each line and action. The power of pity and fear creates the upmost tragic situation and follows in accordance of Aristotle's definition
of tragedy. Othello makes the ultimate act as a tragic hero by killing himself at the end of the play. "Othello, more than any play in the...show more
content...
This creates pity in the play as the audience may become sympathetic for the tragic hero. Lastly, the tragic hero must have a downfall. This comes
together from the protagonist being of high estate and having a tragic flaw. Othello fits perfectly into the three requirements to become an exemplary
tragic hero.
Othello is a highly respected soldier for the Venice army. He is of elevated status making him of high estate to fulfill the first requirement of being
a tragic hero. Othello's tragic fall is that he is too trusting and is quick to be jealous. He also feels like an outsider in Venice due to his race. Othello
trusts everything which is told to him which ultimately leads to his fall. He is also jealous and insecure. He takes the Iago's words instead of
trusting his wife, Desdemona. He is jealous of Desdemona's possible affair. The jealous and insecurity he feels leads to his downfall which
completes Aristotle's requirements of what makes a tragic hero. In order to fully appreciate Othello as a tragic hero, the reader or the audience must
take a closer look at each of Othello's steps which led to his demise as a tragic hero.
Aristotle's first requirement was for the protagonist to be of high estate. Most tragic heroes were of royal blood such as Oedipus in Oedipus the King
by Sophocles. However, Othello is a highly respected general. Othello is called "valiant" by the Duke of Venice. The Duke shows Othello great respect
throughout Othello's

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Othello Research Paper