Miscommunication And Dramatic Irony In Shakespeare's Othello

In “The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet”, Shakespeare adds dramatic irony throughout the story to add suspense and tension. Dramatic irony is when the readers know what is going to happen but the characters, however, do not. While reading, readers tend to become irritated at the characters actions because they know how the play is going to end. In Act IV, Shakespeare adds multiple situations of dramatic irony that makes the readers feel a sense of displeasure. What the characters don't know, is that their misinterpretations of the situation will lead to a sorrowful outcome.

In Shakespeare’s Othello, the lack of a narrator, empowers the words spoken by the characters to such an extent that it directs the drama to the desired destination of the play. This essay will serve as proof as the power of words will be discussed by, firstly, explaining the effect that words, and the lack thereof, have on characters and ultimately on the plot. Thereafter, the use of certain words to form perceived impressions of characters will be argued. Lastly, an elaboration on how words are used to involve the audience in the play.

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.

In the play Othello, Shakespeare uses many literary devices to help the reader understand the theme of the story. One of those many literary devices used in the play, is the wide range of irony. Throughout the pages of the book the reader will see the use of dramatic, situational, and verbal irony. Shakespeare does not use irony in an understated way, it is very direct, and can be found on almost every page of the book. The use of irony creates suspense, and adds interest as to what will happen.

A word’s connotative meaning can have an emotional effect upon an audience; the audience can respond in different ways (emotionally rather than intellectually) when hearing a word rather than reading a word (Taflinger, 1996). Powerful words are used in Othello to ask the audience for a response about their feeling towards the characters in the play. The characters talk directly to the audience through the use of soliloquy. “I’ll have our Michael Cassio on the hip / Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me” (II.ii.300,303). Iago makes the audience his friends by speaking to them immediately, sharing his secret plots, -motives and -inner thoughts which he keeps secret from the other characters; he makes the audience laugh because he is funny and asks for help when he is in trouble. “How am I then a villain, to council Cassio to this parallel course directly to his good?” (II.iii.239-241). The language device, words as conversation with the audience, also emphasises “dramatic irony” for the audience knows what is going to happen in the play (Krieger,

Since the beginning of time, heroes and villains have been well known throughout history and literature. In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, the tragic hero, subconsciously falls under Iago's plan to ruin his love for his wife, Desdemona. The surrounding of one’s environment can change an individual’s perception. Any innocent gesture might be viewed negatively with persuasion from another person. Even if a person trusts another person’s innocent ways, the individual can be persuaded to doubt the other person through lies. The thought that one doubt can influence how a person views everything else is quite scary. This change in perception takes place throughout the play, Othello. I will be examining the psychological analysis on the perspectives of each main character Othello, Desdemona and Iago.

Language and words are powerful tools that can be used to communicate with other people, and share our inner thoughts or destroy the happiness of others. A few words can cause the monsters of fear and doubt to protrude a person’s mind and rescind their happiness. “Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt (Shakespeare). This can every so often destroy the serene mindset of a person once the slightest bit doubt is placed before them. Iago enjoyed twisting his words to fabricate a story to achieve what he desired. He begins to make his hatred for Othello known once the general promotes the inexperienced Cassio as lieutenant instead of himself. By expressing his talents for understanding, manipulating and taking advantage of the desires of his friends proves that he is an austere character. Iago lied to everybody for his own selfish ways. Lying goes against the very nature of man and destroys the relationship between men. “Since it violates the virtue of truthfulness, a lie does real violence to another. It affects his ability to know, which is a condition of every judgment and decision. It contains the seed of discord and all consequent evils. Lying is destructive of society; it undermines trust among men and tears apart the fabric of social relationships” (CCC

The play Othello, written by Shakespeare deals with many elements that contribute to the unique culture present within the scene setting. In regards to this singularity, language can be attributed as well. Shakespeare’s language can be considered one of its own; allusions could cause multiple interpretations of one idea to be made. Archaic and obsolete words also add to the prominence of the discourse seen. Lies connecting to trust, and women each greatly contribute and add shape to this oneness present.

without using one shred of proof or any real basis. This is a man who

Shall out-tongue his complaints.” Othello’s eloquent fluidity of speech and almost musical rhythm contrasted with Iago’s harsh, uneven language emphasises his thoughtful, tactful and tranquil manner. This would come as a shock on stage as the audience have been given the impression that he is a villain. He is sure of himself and has a refreshing eloquence about him, which can be compared with critic C. Bates;’ comment that ‘Othello’s best sword is his words’. The actuality of this statement would be made obvious on stage as Othello’s confident and tactful speech would be clear to the audience compared to the, so far, hysterical discourse of the other characters.

Dramatic irony is a powerful tool used for storytelling. It is often present in a fiction or drama to create tension and occurs when readers knows more about the situation than the characters. Sophocles and William Shakespeare are two well-known tragedians who outlasted their time. They use dramatic irony in plays, such as Oedipus the King and Romeo and Juliet are used to emphasize tragedies since the reader knows about the heartbreaking ending. Oedipus the King is a tragedy that tells a story about Oedipus and his journey in finding the murderer of the former king, Laius.

In the most figurative of senses, Othello says that if a person has been robbed without noticing anything, it is the same as if they have not been robbed at all. This assertion by Othello serves to highlight the moral issue of what stealing is. Although being robbed literally is not good, Othello’s assertion actually implies an opinion on the age-old question of if ignorance is bliss. Othello is correct since if you can stay ignorant about the missing item forever, the robbery never happened to your mind in the first place.

Turmoil is indicated through the form of love along with abhorrence and vulnerability; it can often intertwine with the two. When analysing Othello, Othello himself is a character who represents that love can descend into turmoil. Contrary to popular belief it is not Desdemona who causes this, but the unfaltering love that Othello holds for Iago; and due to Iago’s conniving nature he is able to manipulate Othello into his little puppet through persistent usage of questions; “But how? How satisfied, my Lord? Would you the supervisor, grossly gape on? Behold her topped? […] What then? How then? What shall I say? Where’s satisfaction?” [p72] Shakespeare employs these questions in order elicit the message that Iago is a smart character and, due

The play Othello by William Shakespeare is a portrayal of jealousy and deception. The two characters Cassio and Roderigo play a vital role throughout the play in portraying Shakespeare’s theme of how ignorance, whether it be words of advice from others or just indications, can lead to one’s downfall. Cassio and Roderigo both play an essential role in showing how being persistent—ignoring everything that could be signs of warning—to attain what we want is not always the correct approach.

    The Shakespearean tragedy Othello contains various irregularities of time and occurrence which cause the audience to scratch their head in wonder and doubt. Let us analyze some of these shortcomings in this essay.