Critical Essays On Othello

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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Othello, By William Shakespeare Essay
From the play, Othello, by William Shakespeare I had concluded that, due to Iago's evil nature, he
had set–up the fate of Othello and Desdemona and this is because he wanted revenge on Othello.
Surprisingly I have found that some critics disagree with this or they contradict it with different
explanations as to why they think otherwise. As Othello is such a complex play, there can be many
interpretations and arguments between critics creating a cause for multiple meanings. The critics
that I will be discussing about will be William Marginn (1987), Bell, Millicent (1997) and Fred West
(1978) which all are at different time periods. The critics tend to have interesting observations on
Iago's motives, acknowledging insight of his character and provide a reason to explain about his
actions, which had affected both Desdemona and Othello later on tragically. All of these critics had
very independent views on the nature of Iago, which had broadened possibilities and ideas for my
understanding towards his motives, and on why he was so against Othello.
William Marginn (1987) writes about what he thinks of the character of Iago specifically about his
intentions. What he seems to argue is that ''At the outset Iago intends merely to gull Roderigo and
undermine Cassio, but that the circumstance of Othello 's marriage unfortunately presents itself as
surer means to gain his revenge.'' and ''he concludes that the most legitimate of those offered by Iago
is Cassio 's appointment to the

Critical Analysis Of Othello
William Shakespeare playwrights cleverly provide the ability to generate and develop symbolism to
another state. Shakespeare plays discuss a sense of morality and tend to focus on the psychological
state of the character that end in these misfortunate tragedies. Like most Shakespearean plays the
characters struggles with internal conflicts that are imperative to the way he or she thinks, their
personal beliefs and motives. The personal struggle these characters are face upon is conveyed
through distinct creative usages of literary language. Often characters ' decisions are motivated on
their egotistical and entitled desires, which happens to lead them into a world of self–destruction.
Shakespearean readers can see the prevalent custom...show more content...
Metaphors are figures of speech that allows the ability to associate an emotion or circumstance
figuratively with a verbal analogy. Iago responds by saying the way he is presenting his distress,
one would be led to believe he has literally experienced some form of bodily harm. Iago goes on to
say that reputation is an inoperable and bogus quality that is imposed on us by others. Iago
explains that only Cassio's opinion should influence rather he has lost his reputation. A more
literal interpretation of a metaphor can be found in the same scene," I will rather sue to be
despised than to deceive so good a commander with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an
officer. Drunk? And speak parrot? And squabble? Swagger? Swear? And discourse fustian with
one's own shadow? O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us
call thee devil!" The modern text translation, "I'd rather ask him to hate me than ask such a good
commander to accept such a worthless, drunk, stupid officer as myself. Drunk? Babbling
senselessly? Squabbling? Swaggering? Swearing? Ranting and raving to my own shadow! Oh,
wine is the devil!" Cassio is basically declaring that the spirit of wine is the devil. The consumption
of wine is what he believes influenced his inappropriate actions, therefore he

Othello Diary Essay
Rationale
In Part Four of the course, Critical Study, we studied Shakespeare's tragedy, Othello. This is a play
that comprises of enduring themes of love, betrayal, jealousy, appearance versus reality, racism, and
revenge.
I chose to write a diary for this play because we are only presented with the facade of these
characters. Throughout the play, the audience is left to wonder what goes on behind the scenes. And
the only way to achieve this is to put ourselves in their shoes in order to experience their thoughts
and feelings.
My written task is written from the point of view of Iago–villain of the play. Iago is a character who
is obsessive, relentless, and ingenious in his efforts to manipulate and deceive other characters but
he is a...show more content...
Lastly, throughout his journal, he refers to Othello as the Moor. And that was done to clearly
emphasize their relationship. Towards the end, I ensured that Iago's thoughts on paper were more
structured because his power level increase, he was in control.
Word Count: 299
Entry # 1
30th September, 1571
Dear Diary,
I am the loneliness that sits over my own roof with brooding wings. Nothing makes us so lonely as
our secrets. These secrets need to be shared and I confide in you to keep my secrets with me.
There is an undeniable rage built inside me. I do not know the cause. Whatever has caused
uncertainty in my mind has turned my heart into ice. But I Iago, will not be defeated. The only
solution to this problem is vengeance.
I will find reasons for my revenge.
Journal Entry # 2
6th October, 1572
Dear Diary,
Some fellows have some soul. That Moor gave my election to be lieutenant to that book–keeper,
Cassio. Oh what discredit! Passing a great soldier for a mere prattle without practice. Stupidity! Oh
I hate him! He has betrayed me. Taken away what rightfully belongs to me! This was my moment.

This was my chance to be chosen. Why didn't I get the position? Why? Why? It should have been
me. It should have been me! And to make matters worse, he has done my office.
From now onwards, I will not let my outward appearance show the native act and figure of my heart.
People are betrayers. But as we have heard it been said, an eye for an eye and a

Cultural Criticism In Othello
Cultural criticism is exploriing or examining the relationship of dominant role based on ethnicity,
and sexual identity of person, also a great understand of yourself. Historical is basically know the
background story before you making assumption off the text, and to better understand text lookup
time period close to the time like 1600's for Othello by William Shakespeare. To sum up the whole
play Othello, in act one Othello is Accused of using black magic, witchcraft, and etc on Desdemona
by her father Brabantio. Othello tells he that he has not using magic or witchcraft on Desdemona
she just fell in love with his war story. And also state that Brabantio used to love him and his war
story. In Othello by William Shakespeare Othello represent...show more content...
According to Kim, " A miasma of plague hangs around Shakespeare's dramatic corpus, and
Othello is a topical response to its occasional outbreak in 1603" ( Kim 1). Othello skin color was
the same response as the outbreak in 1603, known as the plague. Brabantio was acting like othello
had a disease when he found out that he married his daughter. Instead of Othello getting mad or
going on the run, about him trying to come and kill or arrest him. Othello stay calm and waits for
him, " Not I, I must be found. / My parts, my title, and my perfect soul / Shall manifest me rightly.
Is it they?" (Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 31–33). He turns a bad situation into a better one by compromise
with the farther by listening to his feelings, and telling he in a calm manner that he didn't do
anything wrong to Desdemona and that it is all willingly. In this play Othello, Othello is put in a lot
dramatic irony situation with Iago. Because Iago was always set Othello up, the audiences knew
exactly what Iago was up to but Othello

Examples Of Hubris In Othello
This audio extract from Act 1 Scene 3 characterizes Othello in many ways, but ultimately as the
tragic hero of the play. This scene sets up the tragic downfall of the protagonist and disrupts the
chain of being by exposing Othello's fatal flaw, his hubris. Othello's speech and relationship with
Desdemona are two key ways that the audio explores his hubris.
Othello's elegant and self–absorbed speech reveals his hubris, thus disrupting the chain of being.
Othello's frequent change in his tone of voice, during his speech, shows his authority and confidence.
We hear this in his sarcastic statement of "Rude am I in my speech..." This sarcasm contradicts
Othello's confidence in himself, heard in his changing tone, emphasizing the tragic hero's hubris. His
elegance of speech is emphasized through constant pauses which allow the internal audience to
absorb and contemplate his words. The silence after he says "True, I have married her...", emphasizes
his statement and manipulates the internal audience to believe his words. The 'magic' in Othello's
language puts him into a position of power which diminishes the authority of the Duke, disrupting
the chain of being....show more content...
The audio uses diegetic sounds and the romanticism Othello to express their genuine relationship.
We hear a 'sigh' in the phrase "for my pains (ooh) a world of sighs", making the audience feel
sympathetic of Othello. Othello's hyperbolic language in this phrase reiterates his hubris. Othello's
pride is affirmed as he treats Desdemona as the greatest 'war trophy' that can be achieved. We hear
this in the phrase "I won his daughter", where the word "won" is accented and emphasized showing
Othello's pride his achievement. The pride that Othello has of Desdemona will eventually result in
his jealousy later in the play, leading to the hero's tragic

Essay on Othello
Books related to Othello Othello – The protagonist and tragic hero of the play. A Moor commanding
the armies of Venice, he is a celebrated general and heroic figure whose "free and open
nature" will enable Iago to twist his love for his wife Desdemona into a powerful jealousy.
Desdemona – The daughter of a Venetian Senator, and Othello's bride. The most sympathetic
character in the play, she is deeply in love with her husband, and her purity contrasts strongly with
Iago's wickedness. Iago – Othello's ensign, and Shakespeare's greatest villain. His public face of
bravery and honesty conceals a Satanic delight in manipulation and destruction. Passed over for a
promotion by his commander, he vows to destroy the Moor. Cassio –...show more content...
Othello's defense, meanwhile, is both eloquent and honest––his nobility is never more evident than
in these early speeches, which serve to balance Iago's earlier descriptions of the Othello/Desdemona
marriage in crudely sexual terms. Othello's account of the courtship and his wife's confirmation
testify to the authenticity of their romance––which is an important theme of the play. The tragedy
succeeds so well only because the audience is never allowed to doubt that Othello and Desdemona
are truly in love with one another. In telling the story of how he was passed over for promotion to
lieutenant, Iago says that three influential men apparoached Othello on Iago's behalf, "But he,
as loving his own pride and purposes, / Evades them, with a bombast circumstance / Horribly stuff'd
with epithets of war" (1.1.12–14). "Bombast" is cotton stuffing;
"circumstance" is wordy rigmarole; and "epithets of war" are military terms.
In short, Iago accuses Othello of using phony military reasons to give the job to Cassio, who has no
military experience. However, later in the scene, after the enraged Brabantio declares that he will
hunt Othello down, Iago admits that Venice

Literary Analysis Essay On Othello
Iago reflects the ideas of feminist criticism in the book Othello because of his constant need for
control over his wife, Emilia. Iago felt he should overpower Emilia. He treated her as if she was a
servant, however Iago always made it seem as if she annoyed him. Iago felt that Emilia was not
loyal to him, so therefore he did not respect her like he should have. Iago always seemed like he
didn't care about Emilia. He was never sympathetic and he always criticized her. In Act II, Scene
I, Shakespeare wrote, "Come on, come on. You women are all the same. You're as pretty as
pictures when you're out in public, but in your own houses you're as noisy as jangling bells."
(Shakespeare 71). Iago didn't care about acknowledging Emilia, unless it was for his own
satisfaction. Iago always perceived her as a cheater, which made him have a mindset that all women
were the same. Emilia only wanted attention from Iago. She...show more content...
Iago was not influenced by any of the other soldiers. Iago chose to be evil and hateful on his own,
trying to manipulate everyone to take Cassio's position. "The split within Othello also can be
regarded as a doubleness between Othello as he chooses himself to to be and as he allows the Iago
principle that lurks within him to dominate." (Pack). Iago was not only trying to be in control of
Emilia, but he wanted to be in control everything.
Iago was a hateful, self centered and controlling person. He did not care about a woman, unless she
was able for him to use. Iago reflects the ideas of feminist criticism in the book Othello because for
his constant need for control over his wife, Emilia. Iago was a person to manipulate one's mind. He
wanted to gain their trust so he could achieve what he needed without anyone catching on. Never
did anyone suspect Iago as deceiving or manipulative but as "honest" which is why Iago made it so
far with his schemes. He was the perfect

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

Human Frailty in Othello Essay
Human Frailty in Othello
Tragedy is an intrinsically human concept; tragic heroes are damned by what they themselves do.
Othello is not so much felled by the actions of Iago, but by a quality all people possess–– human
frailty. Accordingly, Othello is not a victim of consequences, but an active participant in his
downfall. He is not merely a vehicle for the machinations of Iago; he had free agency. Othello's
deficiencies are: an insecure grasp of Venetian social values; lack of critical intelligence,
self–knowledge, and faith in his wife; and finally, insecurity–– these are the qualities that lead to his
own downfall.
Othello is the Cultural Other in Venetian society, and while he is very learned, it is probable that
...show more content...
3. 400–401).
He lacks the critical intelligence to doubt Iago, because Othello feels his masculinity is damaged
by even the mere suggestion that he has been cuckolded. His insecure grasp of social and human
values results in placing his faith in Iago, over his supposed beloved. His immature romanticism
allows passion to override his critical intelligence (as evidenced by his epileptic fits, triggered by
superfluous emotion), and results in blindness to the pitfalls that surround him. In the Anthony
Hopkins film version, Othello is foaming at the mouth, and seems to get progressively more insane.
By the middle of the play, Othello has already believed his newlywed wife has been unfaithful to
him; his only "relief must be to loathe her" (3. 3. 266–267). He strikes his chest, and it hurts his
hand, so hardened is his heart. He believes Iago so fully, that "all [his] fond love thus do I blow to
heaven/ 'Tis gone/Arise, black vengeance, from hollow hell;" this man quickly converts love into
hate, as the emotions do seem to go hand–in–hand (3. 3. 442–443). In Act III, Scene III, Iago pledges
himself to Othello "forever;" Othello is being gradually pulled down to Hell (476).
It is this unequivocal acceptance of Iago's slipshod evidence over Desdemona's vehement denials
that indicate he is not as

Othello by William Shakespeare raises the issue of how rampant beliefs and attitudes in a society
can cause a person to question their sense of self. In a society where racial equality is near
non–existent, Othello, a black skinned foreigner in the Venetian society, is constantly reminded of
his status as an outsider. Othello, however, is not depicted in a stereotypical manner and despite
occupying a highly respected position he is often confronted with blatant racism throughout the play.
The prevailing attitudes and beliefs of Venetian society towards Othello are exploited by Iago in
order to manipulate Othello's self confidence and emotional state. The fear of interracial marriage in
Venetian society is used by Iago in an attempt to alienate Othello. Othello himself acknowledges the
fact that interracial marriage is frowned upon and that racism still applies to him despite his
position. A common attitude in Venetian society is that black men and women are inhuman and
animalistic in nature; Iago capitalizes on this idea in order to aid his plan of antagonizing Othello.
Brabantio, Desdemona's father, is a prime example of the attitude of Venetian society as a whole, in
the sense that he "loved" Othello as long as he remained a servant of Venice and would rather
Othello not intermingle amongst the Venetian society. Initially Brabantio "oft invited [Othello]" to
his home and "queston'd [him] the story of [his] life", showing an admiration and sincere interest for
Othello's

Theme Of Identity In Othello
Othello's Identity, Morals, and Acceptance
Othello is perceived as one whom is lost in the novel. Caryl Phillps retells the Shakespeare's Othello.
In Nature of Blood by revisiting Shakespeare's Othello, Phillips focuses on discrimination, identity
and desire of home through interwoven stories. The novel discusses Othello's past and present
situation upon his arrival in Venice. The theme of acceptance is prominent throughout the novel.
Othello's character deteriorates as he struggles with his identity and the notion of home.
Othello is a general in the service of Venice. He is examined in the Shakespeare play as
courageous, noble qualities, trustworthy. It is obvious to feel a degree of sympathy for Othello
because he is considered an "other". He is a man that is willing to accept that he is racially different,
as he seems to recognize his status. I tend to sympathize with Othello because he easily influenced,
insecure, and a benevolent heart for Desdemona. Othello relies heavily upon engaging with the
Venetian culture and his identity as the military general. The two stories draw parallel to each other
because Othello's identity is not...show more content...
The article uses three major concepts to explain Othello's struggle. The author discusses "Black
European Success" as a reference to the book European tribe. He explains that Othello tragedy
began when he started to forget he was black. The author describes Othello as "white mask tucking
black skin away in shame" (Calbi 5). Othello is oppressed from the outsider and desires to be
accepted into the Venetian culture. The Ghost of Strangers are traumatic and messy memories that
cannot assimilate entirely. "Ghost of strangers" always arrive at a different time throughout the
novel. The notion of "home" resides in the imaginative gap between desire. Home is a place where
one's feels welcome. It is equivalent to the marginalization of a host of

In Shakespeare's play, Othello, several incidents occur that portray the purpose of Roderigo's
character. If one event is isolated from the rest, the thematic desire is lost. It is only when the
events are looked at as a whole that the actual theme is obtained. Roderigo is a minor character
who carries out a vital role in the play. Although Roderigo has very few lines, he plays a crucial role
on a thematic level.
The play begins with a conversation between Roderigo and Iago. The opening lines are significant in
that they set the tone and initiate the plot. Roderigo's thematic purpose is portrayed through Iago's
manipulation in the lines, "Tush, never tell me! I take it much unkindly/ That thou, Iago, who hast
had my purse/ As if the...show more content...
Later on in the play, Iago lies to Roderigo when he tells him that Othello will be taking Desdemona
with him to Mauritania. He suggests that if Roderigo ever wants to see Desdemona again he has to
make sure that Othello extends his stay in Cyprus. To do so, he suggests that Cassio must be killed,
"Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's place–/ knocking out his brains."(4.2.226–227). If
Othello goes to Mauritania, Cassio will be assigned Othello's place. By killing Cassio, Iago gets
his revenge and Roderigo would have a chance to win over Desdemona. Roderigo's character is
used to portray the theme of manipulation. He is persuaded into doing Iago's ill deeds. Iago is only
after one thing, to be appointed lieutenant, and he will do whatever is necessary to reach his goal.
The theme of jealousy is portrayed through various characters within the play. Iago increases
Roderigo's jealousy of Othello. By reflecting on the jealousy he bears within himself, Iago brings
out the jealousy in others. Roderigo sees Othello as an opponent, which he has to compete against in
order to win Desdemona's heart. He expresses his emotions towards Othello when he states, "What a
full fortune does the thick–lips owe,/ If he can carry it thus!"(1.1.67–68). Roderigo says that Othello
only got Desdemona out of luck and he will not be able to carry it off. It is because of this jealousy
that Roderigo continues to seek Iago's assistance. Iago tends

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

Social Context of "Othello"
On November 1, 1604, King James I and his court were the first to watch a production of William
Shakespeare's "Othello." The famous playwright was in the midst of his tragedy period, penning
such classics as "Hamlet," "King Lear," and "Macbeth." The story of "Othello" has its roots in the
historical events and cultural atmosphere of the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
It was a common practice of playwrights at the time to borrow or lift plot ideas from other
preexisting stories, and Shakespeare was no exception to the rule. The plot of "Othello" most closely
resembles a 1565 story by the Italian writer Giovanni Battista Giraldi Cinzio: a Moorish general is
tricked by one of his officers into thinking his wife has been unfaithful....show more content...
Othello describes Desdemona's supposed sullied reputation as "begrimed and black/ as mine own
face" (3.3.390–1) and seeks "black vengeance" (3.3.450). While it is actually Iago, a white character,
who stains and corrupts the pure love between Othello and Desdemona, the concepts of impurity and
pollution are described in "black" terms. To this day, "Othello" remains a challenging, provocative
play for its treatment of

Literary Criticism In Othello
Literary works that explore core human experiences are able to retain their textual integrity through a
range of contexts, despite the dynamic nature of prevalent social constructs and moral viewpoints.
Playwright William Shakespeare whose works were originally composed during the Elizabethan era
encompasses this idea, but they have been appropriated through different mediums, as the
exploration of universal concepts is still relevant to contemporary responders. This is particularly
evident in Shakespeare's "Othello" (1603).
"Othello" is a Shakespearian tragedy set in sixteenth century Venice during the Turkish and Venetian
Wars. The story follows the powerful Moor of Venice, Othello, and his tragic moral, military and
marital downfall due to the corruption instigated by his jealous ancient, Iago. Throughout the play,
the themes of womanhood, appearance versus reality, as well as prejudice in identity are explored.
Further, contemporary responders can extract individual meaning through applying the literary
criticisms.
Firstly, the patriarchal representation of women and sexuality throughout "Othello" effectively
demonstrates the movement of cultural values through historical contexts. Desdemona and Emilia
are character foils of weak and strong, and Desdemona is often subject to objectification.
Desdemona's husband, Othello, stated, "I won his [Brabantio's] daughter" (1.2.94), which
metaphorically objectifies Desdemona as an object to be "won". Bianca, a Venetian mistress, is
also degraded through her speech. She is often regarded as a "whore", with no consequence for the
men who say it. For the entire play, Bianca speaks in prose whereby there is an absence of iambic
pentameter, separating her from the nobility who speak in verse. Bianca and Desdemona effectively
reflect female isolation and dismissal within society simply because of their gender, thus
emphasising the state of women in 16th century society.
By implementing a contemporary feminist viewpoint in "Othello", contemporary responders are
able to analyse and connect with the theme of womanhood and relate it to a modern context. In A.C.
Bradley's "Shakespearean Tragedy" (1957), Desdemona is described as "the sweetest and most
pathetic of

Essay On Identity In Othello
A change in an individual's perspective and identity can enrich an individual's sense of belonging.
Conversely, an individual's sense of belonging may be destroyed when a change in their perspective
and identity occurs. An identifiable example is Othello, wherein it is perceivable that his notion of
identity and strong sense of self is shattered. His 'calm' and 'collective' persona has become one that
is 'unstable' and 'insecure' which, in turn, affects his sense of belonging, particularly with
Desdemona, and position as a Venetian general. A demonstration of this concept is seen in Act 4
Scene 1 (Line 61–62) where Iago exclaims "There's many a beat then in a populous city, And many a
civil monster." Within the quote, Iago identifies animalistic characteristics through the use of animal
imagery to compare with Othello's changed demeanour....show more content...
He attempts to convince Othello that animalistic behaviour is of the norm in Venice, using the
metaphorical aspect that relates to Othello's collected persona that has metamorphosed into a mad
and unstable man, depicting Othello's downfall and changed perspective of self. His sense of
belonging has spiralled as he no longer trusts the woman he loved the most. A quote that further
supports this idea is found in Act 4 Scene 1 (Line 60) in which Iago states: "A hornГЁd man's a
monster and a beast". Iago challenges Othello's sense of belonging through the animalistic imagery
and metaphor. Othello believes that it is his own fault he is not able to satisfy his wife's sexual
desires and is dejected, referring to himself as being the "cuckold" of Venetian society. The word
"horned" alludes to figurative horns that a husband 'grew' to showcase his wife's infidelity, which
brought about much chagrin and humiliation to

Character Analysis of Othello Essay
Character Analysis of Othello
"Othello" is a tragedy and Othello is a tragic hero. Othello is a general in the service of Venice. He
is good, courageous, brave and trustworthy. However he has some weaknesses such as insecurity; he
is too open, naГЇve, and gullible, Iago plays on his weaknesses which brings about his downfall
and he kills himself. This causes the suffering of innocent people like Desdemona, Emilia, Cassio
and Roderigo. The audience also feel pity for Othello and this creates a sense of wastage at the end.
Iago's main aim is to bring about Othello's downfall. He has many reasons for this, such as his anger
as Othello rejected him for the post of lieutenant and he hates the fact...show more content...
Roderigo says to Iago "What a full fortune does the thick lips owe". Shakespeare wanted the
audience to mainly focus on the racist comments made about Othello by other characters.
Brabantio also accuses Othello of using black magic to steal his daughter. Iago refers to Othello
as "an old black ram is tupping your white ewe". Iago also says to Brabantio that "you are one of
those that will not serve god if the devil bid you" and he also says "the moor is now making the
beast with two backs". This proves that Iago's hatred of Othello is motivated by racism. In the 17th
century the audience would sympathise with Brabantio and not for Othello because Othello is an
outsider. Shakespeare intends to shock the audience with the language Iago uses. Therefore
Shakespeare encourages the audience to criticise and dislike Iago and so sympathise for Othello.
Shakespeare wants to change as well as challenge Society's view on race.
When Othello first appears on the scene, he appears as a character disliked by others. He secretly
married Desdemona and is criticised by others before he appears on the scene. As the play moves
on, the audience are shaken in seeing his good qualities. He is good, calm and when Iago tells him
that Roderigo has been spreading foul reports about him he says "Let him do his

Rhetorical Devices In Othello
Scene 1 of Act IV of Othello is a turning point in Othello's relationship with Desdemona and in the
plot as a whole. Rhetorical devices develop a stark contrast between this version of Othello and his
demeanor in earlier scenes. This shift in character is accompanied by a shift in tone, and together
they serve to push the plot towards Othello's impending collapse. Othello's use of invective
exclamations and inferences throughout the scene create his accusatory and hostile tone while
instilling apprehension and empathy in the reader because of the play's ongoing dramatic irony. The
name–calling and violence with which Othello attacks Desdemona contribute to the scene's intense
tone. The play reaches its climax just two scenes earlier, when he kneels at Iago's feet and vows to
kill Desdemona (3.3.485–487). However, each time a new piece of "evidence" is revealed, it seems
that Othello reaches this decision all over again. Although this scene does not mark the plot's
climax, as Othello screams "Devil, devil!"(4.1.192) at his wife, the heated drama might convey to
the reader that the plot is at its peak. In fact, the use of invective language actually marks the
beginning of both the plot's and Othello's downward trajectory, contrasting all of the protagonist's
previous behavior toward his wife. The scene comes to an end as Othello sends Desdemona to bed
with intense aggression, demanding her "out of [his] sight"(4.1.195). This conflict parallels the
drunken conflict between soldiers in Act II Scene 3, but with a stark distinction: Othello's conduct
toward Desdemona directly contrasts his handling of his brawling soldiers. In fact, the resolutions
are near exact opposites; while in Act II, Othello gently leads Desdemona to bed to keep her far
from the brawl (2.3.216–218), here, he viciously orders her to bed alone. Similarly, his sharp attack
of his wife throughout the scene reveals his loss of control, while in Act II Scene 3 his words are
calm and calculated. It is clear that Othello has embarked on his downward spiral, and the shift is
alarming to the reader; Shakespeare has allowed readers knowledge of the truth about Desdemona's
fidelity, revealing the author's own empathy with and concern for Othello, and

The Importance Of Cruelty In Othello
Cruelty is an apparent theme throughout pieces of literature from different time periods, in
particular Shakespearean works as it plays a social or political factor in the plot. In Shakespeare's
play titled Othello, cruelty, commonly attached with jealousy, is the device that influences the
actions of the main characters. While the text pertains to both social and political factors, during the
Shakespearean or Elizabethan era, social standing was considered very important especially towards
(white) men as the society they lived in benefitted their gender and race. Shakespeare demonstrates
the importance and inequality of reputation while reflecting the actuality of the time period through
the main characters of his play.
The importance of reputation in a societal and political background is mainly seen through the
antagonist Iago. Iago was overlooked by Othello and was unable to ascend in ranking in the military
as a Lieutenant, and was instead brought down to an ancient as explained in Act 1 Scene 1. This
was the main action that provoked Iago to inflict revenge upon Othello so that he could also feel
the pain he felt. Hidden behind that reason exists another which is racism. Iago repeatedly refers
to Othello as the "Moor," a racial slur that sprouts from Othello's background. In society, it was
undoubtedly certain that those who are white were superior over those who are black. Because of
this, Iago does not accept the fact that he is serving a black man as it is damaging to his reputation
as dominant white male. Shakespeare puts a twist in this play by allowing an interracial marriage
between Othello and Desdemona, a white female Venetian. Their relationship was kept in secret due
to the unwritten rules in society that whites should not romantically interact those who are black.
Brabantio, Desdemona's father, is no exception to this case as he openly admits that he is against
their marriage. With Iago and Roderigo's inappropriate actions and sexualization of Desdemona,
Brabantio is made aware of the secrecy from his pure daughter, "... you'll have your daughter
covered with a Barbary horse. You'll have your nephews neigh to you. You'll have coursers for
cousins and gennets for germans" (1.1.115). With the

Critical Essays On Othello

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