Othello Analysis Essay

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
Get more content on HelpWriting.net

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

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

Analysis Of ' Othello ' By William Shakespeare
Rasheed Patrick
Ms. Milliner
EES21QH–01
01/17/17
Final Paper
In Othello every character has their own personalities that makes them the person they are. In
Othello there are characters that show true grit, a fixed mindset, and a growth mindset. Each
characters are different which makes the book even more interesting. True grit means to endure and
push through to do something better no matter what it takes. An example of grit is studying for a
long period of time for a test and enduring the amount of work that must be completed. The
definition of mindset is the established set of attitude held by someone. There are two other types of
mindset as well. There is growth mindset and fixed mindset. Growth mindset is when the person isn 't
...show more content...
Even though Iago did not become lieutenant he still believes he is worth more than what others
believe his is. This shows that Iago has a growth mindset and still believe he can be better than
Cassio. For example, Carol Dweck states, "When they are not coping with failure, they feel just as
worthy and optimistic – and bright and attractive – as people with the growth mindset"(Dweck
53).This shows that Iago is a very determined antagonist in the story and won 't give up until he
gets what he feels he deserves. He also proves he has a growth mindset in act one scene one. In act
one scene one Iago continues to talk to Roderigo about the lieutenant situation. Iago then states, "O,
sir, content you. I follow him to serve my turn upon him. We cannot be truly followed. You shall
mark Many a duteous and knee–crooking knave That, doting on his own obsequious bondage, Wears
out his time, much like his master's ass, For naught but provender; and when he's old,
cashiered"(Act one scene one). Iago states that he is only working with Othello to take advantage of
him. Iago plans on working under Othello until he is able to use him to become someone far more
bigger than he is.
Othello is the protagonist of the story, he is married to Desdemona and is general of the army in
Venice. Othello has a growth and fixed mindset simply because if he falls he'll try again to do better.
Othello shows having a

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

Analysis Of Shakespeare 's ' Othello '
An Analysis of Othello by Shakespeare
Shakespeare is known for his use of recurring themes throughout his work, including love, death and
betrayal. These themes are present in his work of Othello. However, the most fundamental issue is
jealousy. The lives of the characthers in Othello are ruined by jealousy from the beginning to the
end of the play. The telling of the story is carried out by passion, jealousy, and death. Shakespeare's
Othello reveals devastating tragic inevitability, stunning psychological depth, and compelling poetic
depth; the fragility and mysterious power of love, as well as demons of doubt, and how suspicion
can be triggered by manipulative villain (Barthelemy 12).
In the play, evil intentions destroy what we know of a pure heart as well as trust and genuine
honesty by this falsehearted deception. The agony of the tragic play is captured in a nutshell when
Othello admits to Desdemona "when I love thee not/chaos is come again." There is some
misunderstanding of tragedy of love between the two characters. Trust is misplaced, honesty
smeared out and finally, lives are ruined by denigrating fabrications and outright lies (Lupu, Jeffrey
and Westmaas–Jones 12). The tragic cautionary of Shakespeare offers a supreme warning over
jealousy which is referred as "the green eyed monster with doth mock the meat it feeds on."
At First , Roderigo is envious of Othello because he wanted to be in love with Desdemona. This is
the beginning of jealousy which runs

Othello Tragedy Analysis
The Ultimate Reason For Othello's Tragedy––Self–Contempt Speaking of the reasons of Othello's
tragic ending, the opinions have been various. Some people believe that racial discrimination
contributes to the tragedy; some deem that Othello's character defects causes the tragedy; some think
that the instability of their love leads to the tragic end...... In my opinion, many of these factors are
the by–products of his self–contempt, the most fundamental reason of Othello's tragedy should be
inferiority complex. First comes the Venetian military. Their reliance gives him the possibility to
live a normal life as a normal Venetian and even higher status. Secondly, is the senators'
compromising on his "illegal" marriage to Desdemona. It deepens...show more content...
3. 141–151). He observes every hints from Desdemona and acts upon them to win Desdemona's
admiration. Secondly, as for the content of their conversation, to some extent, he exaggerates about
his experiences on the battlefield, for the purpose of winning her admiration. This is the presentation
of being self–contemptuous. "Of being taken by the insolent foe and sold to be slavery... and of the
Cannibals that each other eat, the Anthropophagi, and men whose heads grew beneath their
shoulders" (1. 3. 136–144). According to the common sense, Cannibals may exist, but there cannot
be any creatures whose heads grow underneath their shoulders. Therefore, there is a great possibility
that Othello tells these exaggerated but vivid stories to attract Desdemona who has never come close
to such things, and he tells his sufferings to gain her sympathy and love.
Thirdly, as for the form of their marriage, it is not open and legit but in secrecy. It seems that, when
being retorted in public at the council chamber, his behavior and speech such as "Not I. I must be
found. My parts, my title, and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?" (1. 2. 29–31)
has great composure and courage. But taken from the other point of view, he has already slept with
Desdemona and, most importantly, at her will. On this condition, Brabantio would have no reason to
separate them, not to mention the

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

Literary Analysis Of Othello
in the book othello, great lengths have to come thru for a black man in the tragedy that he is
underestimated by the color of his skin. In the beginning of the of the book/play othello the moor
was judged and feared by the citizens of Venice, but as the story goes on he becomes this hero and
protagonist, he is powerful and respected by those around him. Othello, after blindly succumbing to
the diabolical scheming of his trusted lieutenant (Iago), fills himself with enraged jealousy, believes
that Michael Cassio his once trusted friend is having sexual affairs with his wife.
Othello follows through the city of venice and falls in love to drive his faith through some of the
hardest obstacles as he marries the most beautiful Desdemona and intrigues jealousy within some
of the city men as he becomes general "you told me you hated him," "By god, i'd rather be his
executioner" (Roderigo). The moor's biggest challenges was the fact that he was different he was
hated for interracial relationship to start and then hated by his enraged anger....show more content...
The type of criticism i choose was cultural criticism, to show how Othello came from great length to
achieve his reputation and the hatred that followed him through his journey. " Othello (1604) is
generally regarded as a captivating domestic tragedy that concentrates on the psychological
repercussions of racial hatred and sexual jealousy. The play recounts the tragic fate of Othello, a
Moorish general and recent convert to Christianity, who is charged by his Venetian superiors with
the defense of Cyprus from Turkish aggression. " в‡ђ this is a quote from gale's

Xavier Roberson
Ms.milliner
EES21GH–02
01/20/17
Final paper
Throughout the play Othello by William Shakespeare, we sit in on the life of an African American
military commander, or Moor, who was deceived by a jealous under officer named Iago. Iago's only
motive for deceiving the Moor was animosity because Othello did not promote him to Lieutenant.
With the help of a passive man named Roderigo, Iago was able to convince Othello that his wife had
cheated on him with the man Othello did promote to Lieutenant, named Cassio. After convincing the
Moor of his wife's "adultery" Iago was able to coerce Othello into murdering his wife Desdemona.
All of the characters attempted to achieve major and minor goals using their own set of tactics. Four
...show more content...
People with this mindset don't take stumps in the road as red lights. They view them as stop
signs. They slow down, look around, and keep moving. Roderigo is a hopeless romantic who
tragically fell in love with Desdemona. With her status as Othello's wife it is obvious that his
love was not returned. Unluckily for Roderigo he has a fixed mindset. After Othello married
Roderigo's love interest he felt as though his life was meaningless. He took is misfortunate love
life as a direct reflection of who he is. With his love interest absent from his life he thought he
should be as well. In Act one scene three, after Desdemona professes her love for the Moor to her
father, Roderigo faces the fact that he may never have her. He sadly approaches Iago to ask him
what he should do with his life. Disapproving of Iago's answer to just sleep Roderigo replies, " I
will incontinently drown myself/...It is silliness to live when to live is torment;/ and then have we a
prescription to die when death is /our physician"(1.3.300–305). Roderigo believes that because he
failed at gaining the heart of Desdemona, he has failed at life and does not deserve to keep living,
thus displaying his fixed mindset. Cassio on the other hand was fortunate enough to have the growth
mindset. After falling into Iago's trap, Cassio gets drunk and has an uncivil fight with Montano, the
governor of Cyprus. This drunken mistake costs Cassio his position as lieutenant.

Othello Character Analysis Essay
Hugo Baptiste
English Comp 102
Professor Berry
12/12/2017
A Character Analysis of Othello in William Shakespeare's "Othello"
The main character, Othello, in the Shakespearean play Othello, is a man of many strengths, but
also a man of great weakness. The play is center around Othello's downfall despite Shakespeare
presenting him as a distinguished and respected soldier. He is also depicted as courageous and
loving to his wife Desdemona. However, Othello starts to show his insecurities and weaknesses
during the play. Indeed, Othello becomes a belligerent, aberrant and jealous husband who brutally
strangles his wife. The cause of such a disaster is one of his lieutenants, Iago, a precarious and
jealous soldier.
This piece is a tragedy that...show more content...
Othello's race is brought to the forefront by an angry father's distain. Even as General, his ship
arrives last to Cyprus, the audience may take this as a symbol of Othello belonging to a lower class.
The more jabs that are made towards Othello, the more uncomfortable, nervous and stressed he
becomes. When Iago arrives to supposedly help, Othello starts to believe everything Iago says,
including the lie that Desdemona is cheating on him.
Desdemona is innocent with Cassio, but Othello is convinced by Iago that she is cheating. To
paraphrase Hacht, there is a huge passion between Desdemona and Othello, but the insecurities
that Othello shows drives him to madness. When Othello loses control, he begins to speak in
prose which displays a break in his outward facade. "It's possible? Confess! Handkerchief! O devil!"
(Shakespeare 1, 2, 47). Indeed, he feels dishonored by Desdemona and because of this dishonor,
Othello makes an enormous decision after he killed Desdemona:
Then must you speak
Of one that loved not wisely but too well,
Of one not easily jealous but, being wrought,
Perplexed in the extreme; of one whose hand,
Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away
Richer than all his tribe; of one whose subdued eyes,
Albeit unused to the melting mood,
Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees
Their medicinable gum. Set you down this,
And say besides that in Aleppo once,
Where a malignant and a

The amount of torture presented in the play Othello opens up the discussions of how deep does
this torture go. Was Othello the only one to be tortured throughout the play and what kind of
torture is this considered when Iago doesn't touch a single person until the end of the play. Iago's
behind the scenes and not so behind the scene multiplication moves the play along at a pace that
makes it impossible not to place on the blame on him. The question is not if he is at fault by the
end of the play; the question ends up being how many deaths brought on by a psychological torture
caused by Iago is actually his fault.
Timothy Turner introduces the idea, that "the effectiveness of a different kind of coercion, described
[is] a psychological...show more content...
It sets up a sense of foreshadowing in the play of what's to come for anyone who crosses Iago's path.
Brabantio calls out:
Strike on the tinder, ho! Give me a taper, call up all my people! This accident is not unlike my
dream, Belief of it oppresses me already. Light, I say, light (Shakespeare, 1.1.144–148)
In this case, Iago torturing Brabantio is easy, simply, because this is every father's worst nightmare
coming to life. Brabantio is voicing that he's dreamt this might happen. It's the one thing any father
dreads their little girl doing. Desdemona loving and marrying Othello gives Iago all the pull he
needs. If not for their marriage everyone in this play might have come out safe, of course this is not
the case. Brabantio's suffering comes to an end pretty quick only because Desdemona puts it to an
end as she explains to her father she wasn't spelled and that she is choosing Othello over her father.
Though this isn't the first twisting of words Iago's thrown out onto someone and watched the
disaster take its shape.
Which now brings us to Roderigo. Iago's planted the seeds within

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

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

Othello Analysis
The tragedy Othello is filled with a complex web of separate conflicts that are connected with
each other. The external conflicts are very obvious, such as Iago trying to replace Cassio as
lieutenant and Othello's belief in Desdemona's affair. In addition to these conflicts, however,
many characters in the play also face their own internal conflicts in which they have to make a
choice between two opposing forces. An excellent example of this internal conflict can be found in
analyzing Roderigo. Roderigo's love for Desdemona creates conflict because he faces the choice of
going back to Venice since he has no money left, or staying in Cyprus because he wants to pursue
Desdemona. In more general terms, Roderigo deals with the conflict of...show more content...
When Roderigo confronts Iago with these words, it is evident that his conflict has progressed. In
the quotation previous to this one, Roderigo is telling Iago that the plan to win Desdemona over
was simply not going to work. The next time around, however, Roderigo makes a direct attack on
Iago saying that Iago is purposely tricking Roderigo. This signifies that Roderigo is beginning to
realize that he has been manipulated. While Iago is able to persuade Roderigo to give it more
time, Roderigo doesn't completely trust Iago as he did before. He even threatens to "seek
satisfaction" with Iago if he finds out that Iago is lying. Unfortunately, Roderigo's decision in
giving Iago another chance is one chance too many and ends in Roderigo's death. While
Roderigo's internal conflict can be analyzed in its own sense, it can also be used in portraying the
play's main theme which is that complete trust is an invitation for betrayal. Iago's manipulation is
successful in swaying Roderigo to choose Desdemona over his common sense because Roderigo
decides to keep trusting Iago even after he becomes suspicious of Iago's intentions. Roderigo's
situation, along with the theme of the play as well, is ironic because trust is often seen as a positive
attribute. In this case, we find manipulation in the presence of trust and see that trusting others can
be a dangerous thing. Roderigo's conflict relates

Othello Analysis
Othello Analysis Othello is a story of jealousy and manipulation. The story of a man who believes
that he deserves to have everything he wants. If anything gets in the way he may ridicule,
manipulate or even fight to move it. Othello uses several different types of elements in the drama.
Symbolism, Irony and Conflict are all elements that can be found in Othello. We will discuss each
in detail later in the essay. The audience views characters in Othello in many different ways
especially when dramatic irony causes the reader/audience to view a character differently than what
another character in the drama may thing of them. Othello is very diverse play in which is holds
many different elements but also gives the audience a chance...show more content...
As for emotions and feeling being hidden, no. I do believe that things tended to be written out on
how characters felt and even how the audience should feel. There is power struggle between
Othello and Iago as characters. Othello is the main character but with most of the drama surround
Iago it seems that he way want the spotlight. My personal conclusion as a reader would have to be
that if people want something bad enough they will let their emotions get the best of them. Some
things just aren't to be and being a person and being okay with what you have already is a big part
if life. Being content is a struggle but only fight for what yours when it comes around and don't take
anyone else's fame, it's not yours. If your patient yours will come around. References Shakespeare,
W. (2005). Othello [electronic version]. Retrieved from the William Shakespeare SiteMap:

In examining the character of Othello's Emilia as constituting the definition of feminist or even
proto–feminist, a few challenges present themselves. Few things are quite as difficult, arguably
even impossible; to discern as the mind of an author when all one has to interpret their thinking is a
piece of artistic work. When this difficulty is compounded by hundreds of years of distance from the
author's time of existence, it easy to transmit ones desired meanings and intentions on an aspect of a
work that the author had not even an inkling of desire to put forth. Nevertheless, arguments can be
made, tested, and broken with what little knowledge one possesses. Shakespeare no doubt had little
conception of what "Feminism" in any modern or even outdated sense is. However, in presenting
some of his morality through the character of Emilia and her interactions with the men in her life he
may have foresaw some of its patterns if not it's resolutions. Emilia's first scene introduces her
alongside her husband Iago. After Cassio shows her courtesy by kissing her, Iago reacts by
implying that she is unworthy of such courtesy as she is too talkative for a proper lady. This could
be interpreted as an expression of jealousy, of claiming Emilia's inferiority while asserting ownership
of her. Emilia objects with Desdemona showing some solidarity and Iago responds by emphatically
insisting on her duplicity of nature and crudely referencing her sexuality. Iago then lapses into what

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

Analytical Essay Othello
Shakespeare is prominent in his use of recurring themes throughout his works, particularly those of
love, death, and betrayal. All these themes are present in Othello. Most dominant, however, are
manipulation and jealousy. Jealousy runs the characters' lives in Othello from the beginning of the
play, when Roderigo is jealous of Othello because he wishes to be with Desdemona, and to the end of
the play, when Othello is furious with jealousy because he believes Cassio and Desdemona have
been engaging in an affair, but manipulation the prominent action that fuels the jealousy within
Othello. Some characters' jealousy is fashioned by other characters. Iago is involved in much of this,
creating lies and implementing confusing situations....show more content...
He is clever in his diction to avoid confrontation that can easily erupt. An example of Iago's
manipulation is when he and Roderigo confront Brabanzio about his daughter. Brabanzio does not
believe what the two say about Desdemona, calling it ridiculous, and he becomes angry because he
has been woken up in the middle of the night. Roderigo immediately starts to explain, which only
angers Brabanzio even more. Iago, on the other hand, responds by actually complimenting
Brabanzio. Brabanzio yells, "Thou art a villain" to which Iago responds, "You are a senator". The
father is taken aback by this surprising comment and it causes him to step back and re–examine the
situation, which eases his anger and causes him to believe the two storytellers, especially when he
finds Desdemona missing from her bed chamber
However, along with his word choice, Iago is clever at the timing of what he says. He knows
exactly what to say and when to say it to incite jealousy within anyone he wishes. He uses this
particularly well with Roderigo and Othello. An example of Iago's timing of jealousy is when he
speaks to Roderigo of the suspicions regarding Desdemona's love for Othello. "Mark me with what
violence she first loved the Moor but for bragging and telling her fantastical lies. To love him still
for prating? Let not thy discreet heart think it. Her eye must be fed". In this excerpt Iago represents

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

Othello Analysis Essay

More Related Content

Similar to Othello Analysis Essay

More from Cheap Paper Writing Services

Recently uploaded

Othello Analysis Essay