Essay about Jealousy in Shakespeares Othello
The Significance of Emilia in Othello Essay
Essay The Importance of Race in Othello
Othello Analysis Essay examples
Oppression Of Women In Shakespeares Othello
othello Essay
Research Paper Outline For Othello
Othello : An Argumentative Essay
Othello: Themes Essay
Power in Othello- Character Analysis Essays
Race And Ethnicity In Shakespeares Othello
Othello Analysis Essay examples
Human Condition In Shakespeares Othello
Othello Analysis Essay examples
The Theme Of Honesty In Othello
Othello Analysis Essay examples
Essay on Betrayal between Othello and Desdemonda
Themes in Othello Essays
What Is The Theme Of Honour In Othello
Essay Morality and Immorality in Othello
Othello and His Masculinity Essay
1. Essay about Jealousy in Shakespeare's Othello
Jealousy in Shakespeare's Othello
Othello features jealousy as the dominant motive for action and therefore just as reflected in real life
we bare witness to jealousy influencing the characters of Iago, Brabantio, Roderigo, and Othello. In
this essay I shall be attempting to examine this theme in depth drawing comparison between jealousy
and the consequential action.
The dominance of jealousy as the chief causative force of action in the drama is very obvious to
most critics. In William Shakespeare: The Tragedies, Paul A. Jorgensenexposes the main motivation
in the story:
In 'roundest' terms, Othello is a story of raging sexual jealousy prompted apparently by the least
credible of motives. Othello has eloped with...show more content...
(59)
Act 1 Scene 1 opens with an expression of jealousy: 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 in thy hate.?
Iago responds with an expression of jealousy, saying that he does indeed hate the general because he
?Nonsuits my mediators; for, ?Certes,? says he,
?I have already chose my officer.??
With both Roderigo and the ancient spurred on by jealousy, they storm the home of the senator,
Brabantio, and father of Desdemona in a vain effort to have him recover the missing girl. Brabantio
is very jealous of the man who has stolen his daughter because she has been his only companion and
help in the home:
?And what?s to come of my despised time
Is naught but bitterness.?
At the head of his mob, the senator accuses the general of having ?enchanted her? with his sorcery,
and accompanies him to the duke and council. After Othello admits
?That I have ta?en away this old man?s daughter,?
2. Desdemona confesses that ?here?s my husband,? and these testimonies seem to satisfy the Duke
and council. Consider that we have experienced three serious acts of jealousy in the first three
scenes of the play, as it has misguided Roderigo, Iago and Brabantio. The last dies as a result of his
jealous grief; Gratiano later says to Othello:
?Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief / Shore his old thread in twain.?
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3. The Significance of Emilia in Othello Essay
The Significance and Dramatic Purposes of Emilia
In Shakespeare's "Othello", Emilia is considered one of the minor characters. She is the wife of
Iago and the lady in waiting to Desdemona. Emilia makes a crucial contribution to the play as a
whole. She contributes to the characterization of a couple of key characters and adds to the
dramatic irony of the play. She plays an essential role in the escalation of the dramatic action. She
also adds to some of the themes of the play. Emilia contributes to the characterization of both Iago
and Desdemona. Emilia enters the play in Act II, Scene i when she and the party arrive in Cyprus.
Iago speaks to her rudely and treats her disparagingly in front of the others; "Come on, come on!
You are...show more content...
These two instances when Emilia calls out the evil doer (not realizing she is actually referring to her
husband) also builds on the dramatic tension that is ultimately released when Emilia tells the truth
and exposes her husband in Act 5, scene ii. Emilia contributes greatly to the dramatic action of the
play. In the rising action she unwittingly gives her husband the very object that will seal
Desdemona's fate. The handkerchief she hands to Iago becomes the material evidence that convinces
Othello of Desdemona's guilt. There are a couple of opportunities where Emilia is in a position to
alter the tragic outcome. In Act III, scene iv Desdemona asks Emilia if she know where she lost
her handkerchief. Emilia states, " I know not, madam." (III.iv.23). Again, later in the scene Emilia
misses another opportunity to foil Iago's plan. Emilia sees how upset Othello gets about
Desdemona not being able to produce the handkerchief yet she does not come forth. Instead, she
blames it on men and marriage; " Tis not a year or two shows us a man. They are all but stomachs,
and we all but food..." (III.iv.103–104). She does not see the connection between the jealous husband
and the handkerchief. This dramatic device of having the character being naГЇve to information
about which the audience is aware builds tension. The audience knows of Iago's plan to use the
handkerchief
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4. Essay The Importance of Race in Othello
Throughout time, writing has evolved such that gender, race and creed have taken on a more
pivotal role in fiction. Some people argue that race in William Shakespeare's tragedy, "Othello," is
hardly an issue. However, to many people, race is everything in "Othello. The challenges that
Othello, the lead character, faces are directly attributed to his "Moor" complexion and if he were of
a different nationality, the outcome of his situation would have been drastically different. These
claims are supported by the articles of "Othello's Alienation" by Edward Berry and "Race Mattered:
Othello in Late Eighteenth–Century England" by Virginia Mason Vaughan that argue that race is a
major element in "Othello."
Within the first scene of "Othello,"...show more content...
For this reason, he, without question, believes Iago.
When Iago makes a point of including Othello's race in a conversation with a confidant, it proves
that he feels that Othello's race is the reason for his actions. There is an obvious abhorrence for
Othello based upon his race. Later in the play, Iago goes on to say "If she had been blessed, she
would never have loved the Moor" (Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum "WRAC" ). This
statement shows that Iago is jealous of Othello because he won the love of Desdemona and is cause
for insecurities on his part. Iago must now question his marriage and whether or not Othello is cause
for infidelity. These insecurities act as extra motivation for Iago's actions.
Aside from Iago, his wife Emilia, also shares in his racist outbursts. Berry clarifies that when
Othello tells Emilia that he has killed Desdemona and Emilia calls him "[a] blacker devil. " (Berry
321) she shows that she has always thought him "a black devil" (Berry 322). Her racist tendencies
are exemplified in this statement and ascertain that she has always harbored bad sentiments toward
Othello regarding his race. Even when Emilia finds that her husband, Iago, is mostly responsible for
the crimes that had occurred, she still feels hatred towards Othello for no reason other than his skin
color.
This fact once again brings on the question of whether or not Othello would have faced the same
travesties if he were white. If he were
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5. 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
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6. Oppression Of Women In Shakespeare's Othello
Shakespeare often incorporates social issues that occur during the time period into his play,
Othello. In Shakespeare's play Othello, he challenges the image of women in the during the play
period as it relates to the oppression of women. In Othello, there are three female characters:
Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca, each of which played a major role in the plot. In this essay, I am
going to discuss how Shakespeare uses this imagery of women within the play to give clues to
how society views and oppresses women within the play.He does this by attempting to rewrite
female subjectivity, touching on false accusations of adultery as a way women violate social laws,
using love as a foundation for characters' actions, and portraying women as submissive and as a
possession. Shakespeare makes an effort to rewrite female subjectivity by attempting to reveal the
oppression of women in Othello. For example, in act four scene three lines 93–97 Emilia says "Why,
we have galls, and though we have some grace yet have we some revenge. Let husbands know
their wives have sense like them: they see and smell and have their palates both for sweet and
sour, as husbands have". Emilia is complaining about how men treat the women and how she
wants to be treated equally. This passage is indicating the stereotype that women in the play
cannot have a life that is private to the public. Meaning that, women could not do things privately
or even mysteriously, basically, women had to be open to the public. The words "yet have we
some revenge", give off that point because they give clues to express the harshness of how women
were treated and want to get that respect the men have. Shakespeare touches on the idea that
women who commit acts of adultery and disobedience of men violate social laws in Othello.
Shakespeare writes about the adultery and uses the law of chastity to further show that women had
to be slaves or obedient to men. For example, in act one scene three lines 390–391, Iago says 'it is
thought abroad that twixt my sheets he has done my office". Iago wrongfully accuses his wife of
sleeping with Othello, which shows that women were often not trusted and were deemed as outlaws
in society, for just being women. In act two scene
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7. 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
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8. Research Paper Outline For Othello
1. Thesis Statement: William Shakespeare's Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy and Othello
is considered a tragic hero by the definition of Aristotle's work in "Poetics". Othello's fatal flaw leads
to his uncontrollable jealousy. His high–ranking position and stature in the royal family leaves him
feeling suspicious and betrayed and seeks the ultimate revenge.
2. Act I
A. Roderigo and Iago discuss who they are. (I, i, lines 35–45)
B. Othello wrestles with Brabantio (I, ii, lines 97–100)
C. Othello examines how his abilities will speak for themselves.
D. Every one considers Iago to be honest.
E. Othello reveals his dark side when he sticks Desdemona.
F. Brabantio's persistence on how Desdemona, was enticed by Othello versus Iago's
G....show more content...
Aristotle, the great fourth–century Greek philosopher labeled this tragedy as "an imitation of an
action of high importance, complete and of some amplitude: in language enhanced by distinct and
varying beauties...by means of pity and fear effecting its purgation of these emotions" (qtd. in
Kennedy & Gioia 885). Aristotle was portraying the epic Shakespearean drama, Othello. Aristotle
prescribed three main elements for a disastrous theater recipe: First is a hamartia, or a tragic flaw in
the main character that leads to the demise; second, catharsis or an emotional release of the
audience's sensations derived from the actors, so they seem to have felt they have learnt something
about the play; and lastly, anagnorisis or the character's astonishment of something that may have not
before realized (Kennedy & Gioia 856–857). The protagonist in Shakespeare's Othello satisfies all of
Aristotle's necessities for a tragic hero, as Othello is the character of magnificent status, which falls
from that status of power to one of shame because of his hamartia. Furthermore the plot of Othello
contains an influential katharsis through its peak and deduction, and an anagnorisis when Othello
comprehends that Desdemona and Iago are not who they appear to
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9. Othello : An Argumentative Essay
Othello: An Argumentative Essay
Inside each of us, there is a seed of good and evil since it is a constant struggle for us to determine
as to which one will win, so that is why one cannot exist without the other. However, there are some
whose emotions are unbalanced, which causes them to near towards one side more than the other
one ВВ and many times the side a lot of people prefer to lean on is evil. Shakespeare's play O thello
is set in 16thВcentury Venice and Cyprus.Othello, a noble black general from the Venetian army has
secretly married Desdemona, daughter of Venice senator Brabantio. Othello chooses inexperienced
Cassio to be his lieutenant, while he decides to give the ensign position to Iago, a malicious but very
experienced man who, with his stealth and knavery, will ultimately ruin almost everyone's life
since for a long time, he was desiring the position of lieutenant just like Cassio. At the end of the
play, Othello, Desdemona, Iago's wife Emilia, and his sidekick Roderigo die due to his revenge
against Cassio, for obtaining the position he wanted and Othello, for being the man who he hates
the most. The play ends with Iago being told that he will be punished and tortured for his actions.
However, despite the fact that Iago is punished at the end of the play for doing all of the malicious
things he did, he still manages to wear down Othello's relationship with Desdemona, get Cassio
demoted from his lieutenancy, and cause Othello to show his cowardness by
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10. "The Relationship Between Love and Hate in Othello"
A.C. Bradley describes Othello as "by far the most romantic figure among Shakespeare's
heroes"(Shakespearean Tragedy, 1). This is an unusual description of a man who murders his own
wife. However, Othello's feelings of hate for Desdemona started as an overwhelming love for her
when their relationship began. This transformation from love to hate also inflicted the characters Iago
and Roderigo and like Othello their hatred resulted in the murder of innocent people. Roderigo's
love for Desdemona was transformed into hate towards any man that he thought was loved by her.
Iago's love for his job and his wife, Emilia changed into a destructive hatred of Cassio and Othello.
As a result of...show more content...
Roderigo pays Iago for this false hope that he will be with Desdemona (1162). When he believes he
is getting closer to being with her, however, Iago tells him that it might not happen because
Desdemona is in love with Cassio (1169–70). Roderigo is greatly angered by this and resolves to do
what it takes to stop Cassio from getting Desdemona even if it means taking his life. His attempt to
kill Cassio, however, is unsuccessful, and instead he is the one injured (1175). Roderigo is no longer
consumed with thoughts of being with Desdemona. Instead he is consumed with feelings of hatred
toward those who might have her love and attention.
Othello had a deep love for Desdemona in the beginning of the play.
In Act II Scene I he tells her, "It gives me wonder great as my content to see you here before me. O
my soul's joy!" and " If it were now to die, В‘Twere now to be most happy" (Shakespeare 1168–69).
Othello implies that his life was in chaos before he met Desdemona (1186). Othello, however, is
also very insecure of Desdemona's love for him (Mabillard 1). He doesn't understand why she
would go against her father and her society by marrying a man that is black (1). The only reason
that he can come up with is that she married him for his courageous journeys (1). In Act I scene iii
he explains to the Duke, "She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'd" (Shakespeare 1157). In Act III
scene ii he tries to put his doubts to rest
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11. 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
13. Power in Othello- Character Analysis Essays
Power in Othello:
Othello:
Othello, the principle character, at the beginning seems to have power– whether it is physical,
psychological, political or military. He is portrayed to the audience as a symbol of power and
strength. As an experienced soldier, a General to be precise, Othello has had little experience with
women. Even though he is a high ranking military official, he is less respected because of his dark
skin and being a foreigner. His stature and tone of voice, along with his self–confidence and belief,
lead the audience to think of Othello as the main representation of power in the play. However,
further into the play, Othello's power seems to diminish, revealing his insecurity and susceptibility.
He is very naive and...show more content...
Iago is the antagonist of the play, and one of the most evil Shakespearean villains. Iago is extremely
clever in the way he uses unsuspecting power– especially psychological power. He gets into people's
heads in many dishonest ways– by spreading false rumours, telling lies and psychologically tricking
people and secretly controlling certain situations. His power to manipulate is a key point in the play,
as it results in major consequences and the deaths of some main characters. Iago's schemes are
multi–levelled– he conspires with roderigo, and makes him believe that Desdemona will take him
back. On another level, he leads Othello to believe his wife is having an affair with Cassio. He
uses his wife Emilia (unknown to her), to bring back the handkerchief he uses to deceive Othello.
Iago is an extremely resourceful and talented man, but he uses these resources and talents in
detrimental ways. Iago is constantly referred to by numerous characters as 'honest'. He himself also
refers to honesty. Numerous characters believe that they know and trust Iago and that he would not
lie, nor deceive them. Iago's soliloquies also provide invaluable insight into his wicked mind and
evil schemes and plans.
Emilia:
Emilia is the wife of Iago and Desdemona's maidservant. Emilia, much like Desdemona, does not
have much power but once again her presence has an effect. Her role in the play, apart from being
Desdemona's maid, is to fetch
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14. Race And Ethnicity In Shakespeare's Othello
Thesis: In Shakespeare's tragedy Othello, the title character is a 16th century Moorish general of the
Venetian army who, because of the cultural and historical background of the play's setting, the
playwright, and the original intended audience, is portrayed as both well–respected for his military
prowess and disparaged for his race. Similarly, because of how mexicans progress to a very
successful level in this country yet at the same time they get discriminated by their background race
and color. America's history of blacks and color people have been acted upon hate and unequal yet
at the same time America has been in need of these immigrants or mexicans because white
Americans didn't want such poor and hard jobs. In today's American society...show more content...
Well he is basically saying minorities that consist of immigrants are the ones responsible for all the
crime and problems society is having due to safety.
IV. Americans and society have this stereotype of minorities taking the worst jobs and working
hard for it and having to start in such a bad environment in which makes them learn lessons and
actually work for hard for what they want to have in life. The stereotype of criminals and rapist is
all towards minorities.
"It's not about you. Get out of my country."( Donald Trump kicks Jorge Ramos out of the conference
)The president of the United States Donald trump got very upset after Jorge Ramos went to his
conference and asked him a very great question about immigration and Donald Trump came back
with a very rude and unprofessional answer toward the reporter Jorge Ramos and simply because he
was hispanic or latino appearance thought in his mind he might of been an immigrant because of his
appearance
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15. 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
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16. Othello: Vulnerability Destroys Virtues Of A Great Leader
Thesis: Even though Othello considers to be vulnerable is a weakness, his temperance and prudence
should never come in conflict with his leadership principles because Iago despises Othello and
manipulates him therefore, Othello becomes vulnerable resulting in his death.
1. Othello believes that being vulnerable is a sign of weakness.
A. Othello will not expunge himself from his race and ethnicity, for he knows glorifying his
heritage is a vulnerability that could end his career as a leader.
B. Othello knows that a schism among his ranks leads to distrust and a lack of loyalty among men,
leaving him susceptible to defeat.
2. Iago despises Othello and manipulates him. A. Iago hates Othello for being passed over as his
Lieutenant and holds a grievance against him. B. Iago begins to build Othello's trust through
manipulation by exploiting the relationship of Cassio and Desdemona.
3. Othello's lack of temperance and prudence compromises his leadership principles. A. His
demeanor changes with every passing minute because he is entrenched in a battle between truth and
jealousy. B. He loves Desdemona but he is unwise.
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands
at time of challenge and controversy." Martin Luther King, Jr. In Shakespeare's The Tragedy of
Othello, the Moor of Venice, Shakespeare
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17. Human Condition In Shakespeare's Othello
Analyse how a key relationship was used to comment on the human condition in the written text(s).
Shakespeare's play 'Othello', set in early Venice, focuses on the key relationship between titular
character Othello and his wife Desdemona, to comment on the human condition through the text.
The relationship between the married couple allows us to understand Shakespeare's commentary on
human nature, particularly how humans are inherently selfish, prone to falling victim to jealousy,
and are made both stronger and weaker by their emotions.
The relationship between Desdemona and Othello in the play 'Othello' is used to express and observe
the way that humans are selfish by nature. Although both Desdemona and Othello do sincerely love
each other, both of them find great personal gain in their marriage, which clearly contributes to their
feelings for one another. Othello, who is a black leader in an overwhelmingly white, Christian
society, has come from a troubled and difficult background, being "sold to slavery" and working
in the military all his life. In finding a good Christian wife in Desdemona, he finds someone to
always support him in hard times, as evidenced in his summary of their romance, "she loved me for
the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them". This quote suggests that their love
is more self–serving than he lets on; Desdemona loves Othello for the adventures he has been on
and the stories he tells, and Othello loves Desdemona because she listens and devotes herself to
what he has to say. When Desdemona gets a chance to explain their relationship herself, she is
particularly proud of the fact that she "did love the Moor to live with him; my downright violence
and storms of fortunes may trumpet to the world". We note that she mentions her 'violence', the
way she deliberately disobeyed her father and fled his company to secretly marry a man who is
not one of her father's approved suitors. This furthers the idea that Desdemona seems to be in love
with Othello because of the adventures he has been on, and the excitement and liberty of her being
with such a man; she is seeking her own freedom in a misogynistic society by defying her father to
marry Othello. Their relationship is
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18. 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
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19. The Theme Of Honesty In Othello
Honesty is a concept that is constantly used in The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice,
although used for the wrong people. The theme of appearance vs. reality in this certain play is
easily confused due to the deception of honesty, frequently because of Iago. The notions of loyalty
/dishonesty as well as love/lust, rich/poor, and witty/dumb are also used as a dramatic irony to help
the drama progress. The characters in the play used cunning tactics to achieve their ultimate goal,
whether it was to win the woman they love or trying to bring down a powerful man. Honesty is a
term used very loosely due to the fact that no one knew what was actually happening behind the
scenes. According to the play,Othello was a Venetian general...show more content...
Although the word honesty is used decietfully in this play, it also helped make the play more
interesting. Without distrust and deception, there would be no point in this story and everyone
would be happy. Moreover, honesty has various different meanings in this play. The meaning of
honesty vary's from someone being faithful to questioning if someone is actually being loyal. For
example, on Act 3, scene 3, Othello states, "By the world, I think my wife be honest and think she is
not." In clearer words, Othello thinks that Desdemona is being unfaithful when in reality she's always
been innocent beause Iago planted seeds of doubt in his mind. Another example is on Act 2, scene
1 where Iago mumbles, ".. But I'll set down the pegs that make this music, As honest as I am.." In
other words, Iago is looking at the irony of the situation because he knows he's disloyal to Othello,
but he's the most trustworthy guy in Othello's mind. All of the situations in this play contribute to
the progression in it so conflict is essential to make it to the epilogue. Honesty's misuse and
contrasting meanings create a conflict that brings tragedy to all characters, which is the basis of
Shakespeare's creative writing. Honesty isn't the only deceptive word used in this drama. Many
other words are used deceptively that affect the play, such as good. the word 'good' is used to
describe Iago most of the time. Once more, it's being used for the wrong person because he's
anything but
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20. 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
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21. Essay on Betrayal between Othello and Desdemonda
In the play, The Tragedy of Othello, judging from the relationship between Desdemona and Othello,
seems to say that marriage based on an innocent romantic love is bound to fail. There is a common
thread of betrayal and deceit among many characters. Othello and Desdemona being the most vividly
portrayed. The two appear to love one another romantically at first, but it soon after transforms into
a secular love. This comes to pass because there is no foundation for a relationship. There is no trust,
no communication, and no understanding. Othello has spent most of his life in battle, which makes
him good at some things. Othello says "Rude am I in my speech,/ and little bless'd with the soft
phrase of peace,/ for...show more content...
Iago seems sincere enough, and he makes a concerted effort to ensure that he remains aces in
everyone's book. So when Iago begins to plant the seeds of doubt into Othello's mind, Othello has
no cause to doubt him. Desdemona is his wife, the woman that he loves with all his heart. Yet, see
how quickly he is dissuaded, and how he disparages her. "Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be
damn'd tonight, for she shall not live. No, me heart is turn'd to stone, I strike it, and it hurts my
hand?I will chop her into messes. Cuckold me!" (1167). But Othello never thinks to disbelieve
Iago. He believes Iago to be an honest man, wise and simply trying to help. So he doesn't stop to
think that maybe he should talk this over with his wife before he launches himself into a state of
panic. Othello is not hurt because of a failing love, but because of how it makes him look and hurts
his pride. This is when things get ugly. Othello puts more trust in Iago than in his own wife. This is
due, in part, to Iago's manipulative skills, but mostly to Othello's lack of communication skills,
especially with his wife. But Desdemona does not do anything to mediate the situation and lets the
condition escalate, and her self–blaming attitude only perpetuates Othello's misgiven notion that she
has been falsely accused . After Othello strikes her in front of the whole dinner party, and orders her
around like a peasant,
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22. Themes in Othello Essays
Themes in Shakespeare's Othello
Throughout Shakespeare's play, Othello, there are many themes interwoven to describe the author's
perspective of the true nature of a man's soul. Three themes critical to the play are doubt versus trust,
monstrous imagery and the fallible love of man.
One central theme of the play is the major contrast of doubt versus trust. For whatever reason,
Othello's trust of Desdemona is too weak to resist Iago's accusations. As happens in many of
Shakespeare's works, miscommunication and mistrust lead to "prepost'rous conclusions" (1. 3. 323).
Othello's heart tells him that Desdemona loves him; however the critical Iago can dismantle
Othello's trust in his wife by planting seeds doubt through what appears to...show more content...
3. 241). Othello fails to see that honor cannot be subject to empirical proof.
Shakespeare's exploration of the concept of jealousy leads to the theme of the human mind's
predisposition to favor the "monstrous." Monsters of the human psyche are self–generating, even
without the prodding of an evil manipulator such as Iago. He feeds this compulsion by
encouraging Othello to "behold," in his mind's eye, his wife being "topped" by Cassio (3. 3. 412).
When jealousy is labeled as a monster in the play, it is used to suggest how one can be overtaken by
a passion. Iago defines jealousy as "the green–eyed monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on"
(3. 3. 179–80), a foul parasite that torments its host. When Emilia explains jealousy to be a "monster
begot upon itself, born on itself" (3. 4. 157), she underscores its self–generating nature. "Jealous
souls" do not need real events to fuel their suspicions because, Emilia explains, they are "not ever
jealous for the cause" (3. 4. 154–55).
When Cassio is demoted for drunkenness, he laments that humans "transform ourselves into beasts"
through alcohol that also provides "joy, pleasance, revel" (2. 3. 257–58). And for Othello, consuming
jealousy transforms him into a violent predator that performs the "monstrous act," as Montano
describes it, of murdering Desdemona (5. 2. 197). Iago serves as a catalyst to carry out this monstrous
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23. What Is The Theme Of Honour In Othello
Discussing Shakespeare has always been an inspiring issue. But dealing with the issue of honour in
his works is even a more challenging matter. The aim of this thesis is to prove that honour has been
treated in Shakespeare tragedies as a key point which leads into his tragedies. Even though it is dealt
with it under dissimilar names, the consequences are the same. In three of his tragedies Hamlet,
Othello and Romeo and Juliet honour is displayed as a main theme and at the same time as a driving
force, usually for the worse. Honour has been analysed as the same problem but with different
features. All the main characters of these tragedises kill in the name of honour. nonetheless Hamlet
kills to avenge his father`s death, Othello kills to purify...show more content...
In this thesis, there will be dealt with honour in three of Shakespeare's tragedies: Hamlet, Othello
and Romeo and Juliet. The aim of this thesis is to deal with honour not as a positive contributor
but as a destructive element. Because in the three tragedies we will analyse honour has been the
triger towards vengeance. In the writing of this thesis consulting many Shakespearean scholars has
been necessary and vital. One of the main ones is Harold Bloom. Bloom has a deep appreciation for
Shakespeare (Bloom 1994, pp. 2–3) and considers him to be the supreme center of the Western
Canon. (Bloom 1994, pp. 24–5). He has written numeral works regarding different aspects of
Shakespeare as a playwright. In 1998 Bloom conducted a survey named "Shakespeare: The
Invention of the Human." In this survey Bloom provides a detailed analysis of each of
Shakespeare's 38 plays, "twenty–four of which are masterpieces." (Bloom, 1998). Since it is written
as a companion to the general reader and theatergoer, Bloom states that bardolatry "ought to be even
more a secular religion than it already is. (Bloom,
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24. Essay Morality and Immorality in Othello
Morality and Immorality in Othello
William Shakespeare's tragic drama Othello presents to the audience a picture of many different
shades of morality and immorality. It is the purpose of this essay to elaborate in detail on this thesis.
Roderigo's opening lines to Iago in Act 1 Scene 1 take us to the very root of the problem:
Tush! never tell me; I take it much unkindly
That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse
As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this. (1.1)
In other words, the wealthy playboy has been paying off the ancient for the soldier's intercession
with Desdemona on behalf of Roderigo. This payoff has been in progress before the play begins,
and it continues...show more content...
Later, Desdemona suspects that his influence is the reason why Cassio is awarded the governorship
of Cyprus and Othello is recalled home. Even in the first two scenes it is apparent that Iago's lust for
money has set in motion a series of events that are snowballing into something more and more tragic.
Alongside this chain of events triggered by the avarice of Iago is another chain of events springing
from innocence and morality. They center around the characters of Desdemona and Othello: She
leaves her selfish father to share her love with the ideal man. He calmly rebuts the accusations,
some prejudicial in nature, against his conduct toward Desdemona. She defends the Moor's
moral integrity and her own in front of the council; he does likewise. She unselfishly agrees to
live with another family while her husband is busied in the war with the Turks; he concurs in this
sacrifice. While waiting with Emilia and Iago at Cyprus, she heroically calls the ancient a
"slanderer" and comes to the aid of his wife, who has been repeatedly downtrodden and hit upon
by Iago. When the general's ship arrives safely into the Cyprus port, he immediately greets his wife
before anyone else, "O my fair warrior!" and "O my soul's joy!" When Governor Montano asks
Cassio if the Moor is wived he responds with: "Most fortunately: he hath achieved a maid
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25. Othello and His Masculinity Essay
l
'Be a man', how are ideas of masculinity presented in Othello.
Othello is set during the Elizabethan era, where men were considered to be the leaders and women
their inferiors. Women were often regarded as the 'weaker sex'. This patriarchal society and theme of
male superiority is portrayed throughout the play. These themes are depicted through the
relationships between the characters. Brabantio and Desdemona's relationship shows how he
believed the traditional Elizabethan view, that men were to control and dominate their wife's or
daughters. He is furious at Othello for stealing his daughter from him. Also, Othello's masculinity is
destroyed through the poisoning of his mind against Desdemona, his wife. Iago also treats his wife
...show more content...
Othello believes that Desdemona is his possession, an object in his life which is supposed to show
he honour and reputation as a man, therefore the belief that Desdemona has broken that honour and
nobility forces Othello to destroy her.
We can see the breakdown of Othello's masculinity by the breakdown of his language. At the
beginning of the play, Shakespeare uses blank verse for Othello's parts. Othello speak in iambic
pentameter, clearly and purposefully. He portrays himself and a confident and noble man when
Brabantio accuses him for using witchcraft to win Desdemona. He replies in a poetic and calm
manner, in comparison to Brabantio, who is aggressive and rude. Othello states, "Rude am I in
my speech..." he is very humble, he apologises beforehand in case he offends anyone. We
recognise him as a powerful speaker; we also know that Desdemona is seduced by his
storytelling, therefore showing him as authoritative and dominating. However, as the play moves
on and we begin to see Iago deception taking over Othello's mind, his speech turns to prose. He
begins to turn aggressive as he takes in more or Iago manipulative lies. "Damn her, lewd minx!, oh
damn her, damn her!" and regards Desdemona as "the fair devil", he speaks in hell imagery, which
is in contrast to his previous heavenly marriage with Desdemona. This shows he is weak, therefore
destroying his masculinity once again.
Furthermore, Othello is a black man in a
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