Language Features Used In Othello By William Shakespeare

What Shakespeare does here as well is give validity to McDonald’s arguement about assigning the tragic flaw. “In Shakespeare’s particular treatment of the mode, the poignancy of the action derives from the dramatic irony: it’s the tragic figure’s talent that leads to destruction.” (86) Othello’s progency as a military commander has been stated throughout the text and indeed it is inherent that a man who fights constantly for territory would indeed make him prone to jealousy. A fact which Iago plans to exploit in this passage; “Or failing to do so, yet that I put the Moor at least into a jealousy so strong that judgement cannot cure.” (79)

Shakespeare was very specific, in 1603, about his choice of words when he wrote the play, “Othello”. The three language devices – “words as power”, “words as character” and “words as conversation” with the audience – are used to create characters’ identities and fates, and also to drive the plot of the play (Krieger, 2012).

Shakespeare’s Othello is a play consistently based on jealously and the way it can destroy lives. One is quick to think this jealously is based on Othello’s lack of belief in Desdemona’s faithfulness to him or his suspensions over Desdemona’s affair with Cassio, Othello’s honorable lieutenant. Upon closer inspection of the jealously that exists throughout the play it becomes clear that his jealously is not the sole start and reason for all of the destruction that occurs. Iago, a good friend of Othello, is not who he appears to be. Iago’s own jealously of those around him pushes him over the edge. He begins to deceive all those who believe he is a true, honorable, and faithful man. Throughout Othello, Iago incites his own jealously in

Evil appears through the menacing Iago and his devilish undertakings in Shakespeare’s Othello. Perceived as a sociopath, Iago antagonizes and fuels conflict. Through an interpretation by Ralph Berry, the literary critic identifies a “fairly clear-cut pattern of good and evil that can be closely identified with the three main personages: that is, of evil, personified in Iago, struggling in the soul of Othello for possession of the goo, Desdemona” (3). The conflict throughout the story is fueled by the good versus evil narrative. Firstly, evil shows its presence when Iago manipulates Othello into thinking his love, Desdemona, cheated on him. In response to Iago’s insinuation Othello speaks, “Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw/the smallest

The relationships in Shakespeare’s plays are never simple and even less so when one narrows the field to his tragedies. In the case of Iago and Othello this complicated relationship is made more so by the interwoven theme of appearance verses reality. The idea of Iago, the wolf in sheep’s clothing, fighting both for and against his master that permeates the play. Othello, however, a seasoned warrior being unable to see through the guise is a flaw his companion takes advantage of. Iago’s hatred is the biggest mystery of this play, making the reader wish Shakespeare had written a prequel.

William Shakespeare’s Othello would not be a dramatic tragedy if the smiling villain, Iago, were a deaf mute. There is no doubt that the destruction of each character can be blamed on jealous Iago. The theme of jealousy helps propel the plot naturally and demonstrates the consequences of being morbidly jealous. The circumstantial evidence Iago provides acts like a lethal poison, which surrounds Othello in suspicion and envy but also turns him into an inhuman murderer. Jealousy is the ‘monster’ that unresonably conducts the great suffering in the story.

Shakespeare explores themes that are still as relevant today as they were during the Elizabethan era. As humanity's flaws haven’t changed, there are still attitudes that conform to racist stereotypes and the greed for power and control .These concepts that are portrayed throughout Othello are of a timeless nature.

The corrupting nature of jealousy and isolation in the play Othello by William Shakespeare and adapted film O directed by Tim Blake Nelson expresses the negative effects on relationships, society and the individual. Shakespeare explored the corruptive power of jealousy and isolation as an inhuman flaw or issue that should be fixed, while Nelson offers a more sympathetic view for a modern teenage audience. These two texts are influenced by their context and differ depending on their target audience, further revealing the values and beliefs of our modern audience and an Elizabethan audience. Language and film techniques are what effectively portray the transformation of each character in their appropriate context and expose the influence of jealousy

In Act “Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy! /It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock/ The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss/Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger,/But, oh, what damnèd minutes tells he o'er/Who dotes, yet doubts— suspects, yet soundly loves!” (3.iii.170-175). Through Iago’s witty nature he is able to nonchalantly set his malignant plan into motion by planting a suspicion in the mind of Othello. Iago harnesses in on the envious agony he endures and uses it as a weapon on the man he is envious of, leading to the destruction of him. Iago knows the ability of jealousy, and with this he knows he can manipulate Othello and make him feel the same discomfort he himself feels. This reveals the enormous amount of preparation Iago has put into his plan and the true evil that is brewing beneath the surface. Iago's loss of self respect and his loss of respect for others have led him to be an evil scheming beast with no account for the lives of others.

Evil is appears throughout the story through the menacing Iago and his devilish undertakings in Shakespeare’s Othello. Perceived as a sociopath, Iago antagonizes and fuels conflict. Firstly, evil shows its presence when Iago manipulates Othello into thinking his love, Desdemona, cheated on him. In response to Iago’s insinuation Othello speaks, “Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw/the smallest fear or doubt of her revolt” (III.III.218-219). Evil indicates its presence due to the creation of doubt in Othello’s conscious.

Many examples of symbolism and motifs are prominent in William Shakespeare’s Othello. The most significant are those that represent a large element of the play. Together they help create an interesting story and contribute to the understanding of the themes in Othello. Among these are the handkerchief that Othello gave to Desdemona, the island of Cyprus, and the symbol of the willow tree. Many of the issues surrounding the characters of the play are symbolized in these examples and reflect the most important areas of Othello.

Throughout Shakespeare's play, Othello, the theme of jealousy is portrayed throughout the love affairs of each character which lead them into betraying each other. From Roderigo wanting to be loved by Desdemona to Othello being filled with anger because he thinks Cassio and Desdemona are sleeping together. In the play, Iago manipulating many charters into thinking the Moor is evil coupled with Iago trying to kill Cassio reveals that the Jealousy is a major theme of the play. Iago was once the right hand man of Othello until he was denied a promotion leading him to manipulate many characters into thinking Othello the Moor was a evil person. Iago states, “ I hate the Moor, And it is thought abroad that twixt my sheets” (1.3.374-395).

In today’s society lies and decits are very common, the characters in Othello showed a whole lot of lies, jealousy and hatred. Meanwhile, the role of Jealousy does have tragic consequences in William Shakespear’s Othello. Jealousy signifies the hate that someone has towards what a person has or have in the characters of Othello. To Illustrate this, One can examine Iago’s reaction after speaking to Rodrigo, about his hate towards the moor, and how the moor secretly slept with his wife.

Iago himself says that “[jealousy] is a green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on, III.III.168-169” denoting that Iago is no stranger to jealousy, understanding how jealousy feels. It is not unreasonable to infer that Iago believes his jealousy of Othello can be fixed by destroying Othello, something he attempts to achieve throughout the play. While Othello must also deal with the conflict of his wife’s so-called unfaithfulness, it is Iago who conjures this conflict, proving once again that without his presence, the play would have no material. Moreover, Iago’s presence is highlighted by his ability to stir the pot while at the same time

The common fact is that actions speak louder than words; however, in literature, speech often reveals contrasts between a character and their motivations. In the play Othello, William Shakespeare does this through varying between patterns of vocabulary and natural voice. These patterns reveal the contrast between appearance and reality of the main characters, influenced by direct and indirect manipulation. In Othello, dialogue patterns that highlight the underlying nature of evil in the characters reveal a tension between appearance and reality.