The Young Wolf and the Barbary Horse:
A Comparison of Robb Stark and Othello Since the very beginnings of literature authors have borrowed from each other. One of the most copied authors is William Shakespeare. Modern fantasy author George R.R. Martin is among the names of those who are inspired by Shakespeare. In Martin’s epic saga, A Song of Ice and Fire, many characters share similarities with others in the works of William Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s Othello and Martin’s Robb Stark are two of each respective author’s most identifiable characters. Othello: a fearless warrior who is unmade by his actions off of the battlefield. Robb Stark: a leader of an undefeated military force who is murdered for breaking a promise. Both Othello and Robb Stark share common traits and each man can trace his downfall to one thing: vulnerability to manipulation. Robb Stark and Othello are used by those who they consider to be friendly because they appear to be vulnerable. Strengths and weaknesses are made apparent to all who observe. While both men are skilled warriors, they both admit their naivety on
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Othello is a fearless warrior who possesses such skill in battle that “the Senate… sent out about three several quests/ To search [Othello] out” (1.2.45-46). Othello is desirable enough to be searched for on three different occasions. His skill is sought in the middle of a brutal war between Venice and the Turks; while fighting such as powerful force as the Ottoman Empire, the Venetians need all the help that they can get. Unfortunately, for all of Othello’s military skill, he lacks the skills that are needed outside of the battlefield. Othello claims his shortcomings in the beginning of the play, stating, “Rude am I in my speech,/ And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace” (1.3.80-81). Othello knows his strength lies while commanding men in war and not while he is in the relative peace that regular life
The play begins with the introduction of the confident and well-respected general of the Venetian army, Othello. This version of Othello is calm, brave, and fairly unaffected by any racial prejudices against him. He speaks with great sophistication and respect to others, which indicates both his intelligence and rationality. When he elopes with Desdemona, the
In literary works, cruelty often functions as a crucial motivation or a major social or political factor. In the play Othello by Shakespeare cruelty functions as a crucial motivation, creating a theme of being careful with who can be trusted because, you never know if they’re telling the whole truth. Throughout the play, diction, dramatic irony, and characterization were used to further emphasis the theme.
As a character, Othello is tough, noble, and virtually fearless. He is recognized for his hard work as a soldier but at the same time manages to remain humble. Shakespeare makes him out to be a hero from the start of the play. For example, in Act One, Othello says, “Let him do his spite./ My services which I have done the signiory/ Shall out-tongue his complaints” (1.2.17-19). I think that this quote displays that Othello is confident enough with his value and importance to the city of Venice that he really is fearless of getting in trouble for marrying the one he loves, Desdemona. As the play progresses, Othello’s humility comes to the surface via the words he elects to use in order to explain his marriage to Desdemona. In Act One, Scene
Shakespeare is universally revered for his characterization of flawed and psychologically unstable protagonists. Hamlet is a crazed, murdering prince, Lear is narcissistic, senile, and a verbally abusive father, and Macbeth is a murderous traitor to his king and country. These unfavorable and evil attributes serve Shakespeare's main characters by presenting them as realistically written men, and there always seems a degree, however small, of sympathy associated with their respective downfalls and tragedies. Othello, however, is an anomaly.
The relationship of an outsider to society is also explored through Othello himself, as he recognises the differences between him and those around him. While describing his and Desdemona’s love, Othello tells (about himself): “Rude am I in speech/ And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace.” In these words, Othello is able convey that he is a little awkward in speech, and not a smooth talker, with the unspoken understanding that others in the room are. Othello goes on, “For since these arms of mine had seven years pith/ Till now some nine moons wasted/ …in the tented field/ … little of this great world can I speak.” Here the reader learns that Othello, unlike the assortment of senators and the Duke, has spent most of his life in battle, and therefore has not had a lot of life
These instances heighten his nobility as a character. He is in great demand by the duke and senate due to his honorable qualities. This is evidenced by Cassio's comment that the senate "sent about three several quests" to look for Othello (I.ii.46). Othello is a noble man who is well known and respected for his position as a general. He is experienced in battle and shows great courage and demonstrates high levels of dignity. Othello shows immense respect for his fellow man, we see this in his initial relationships with Casio an Iago. Othello's valiant personality is a major part of his success in the military as well as with his marriage, to Desdemona. Because of his exotic qualities, he is able to woo his wife in an art of story telling, reflecting his nobility and honor. Such a storey seduces Desdemona, causing a strong bind to Othello made from a mixture of love and lust. The Venetian government trusts Othello enough to put him in full martial and political command of Cyprus; indeed, in his dying speech, Othello reminds the Venetians of the "service" he has done their state (V.ii.348). However noble or revered by his peers Othello may be, it is his honor, aided by his naivety and insecurity that lead to his destruction.
In William Shakespeare’s Othello, Othello is the tragic hero. He is a character of high stature who is destroyed by his surroundings, his own actions, and his fate. His destruction is essentially precipitated by his own actions, as well as by the actions of the characters surrounding him. The tragedy of Othello is not a fault of a single villain, but is rather a consequence of a wide range of feelings, judgments and misjudgments, and attempts for personal justification exhibited by the characters. Othello is first shown as a hero of war and a man of great pride and courage. As the play continues, his character begins to deteriorate and become less noble. Chronologically through the play, Othello’s character
For starters, Othello has been through countless dangerous adventure; his experiences make a great contribution to his nobility. Specifically, he talks about his traveling through “rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads touch heaven” (1.3.157). This means Othello has been to many different dangerous places throughout his life. He has experienced many deadly incidents; after countless times he has been between the realm of life and death, he is disciplined enough to become a fearless hero. His bravery to face harshness and roughness in life is a main part of his personality that creates his greatness. Finally, his courage to admit his sin of jealousy and willingness for redemption is very honorable. In particular, when he realizes his foolishness for misunderstanding his wife and kills her, he ends his life by his own hands “to die upon a kiss” (5.2.412). This is evidence of the fundamental truth that Othello kills his wife over his jealousy, his craziness, and his foolishness; so he kills himself to redeem his crime. For a man to admit his fault is a very hard thing, yet Othello, as a great general, forgets his pride to admit his flaw; it is even harder for one to kill himself to ask for forgiveness. He kissed his wife before he killed her, now he kisses her again before he kills himself; he makes an end to what he started the same way fair and square. Othello’s action show his inconsolability, as well as majestic remorse; his rue is priceless. Othello’s gallantness in acknowledging his mistake and his bravery to punish himself shows his nobility. Hence, his hardship experiences, and his sincere remorse make a major contribution to his
*INTRO*The character Oedipus in the play Oedipus the King by Sophocles, and the character Othello in the play Othello the Moor of Venice by Shakespeare are both tragic characters. Oedipus ends up killing his father, and marrying and having children with his mother, whereas Othello ends up mistrusting and killing his wife. These two individuals have similarities and differences in several aspects such as the roundness of their characters, the retribution that they incur upon themselves and upon their respective wives whether directly or indirectly, and their horrors.
Othello has spent most of his life in battle, which makes him good at some things. Othello says "Rude am I in my speech,/ and little bless'd with the soft phrase of peace,/ for
The quote exposes Othello as being unworthy of his noble title and reputation of being trustworthy and moral, both domestically and in profession as a soldier.
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 first shown as a hero of war and a man of great pride and courage. As the play continues, his character begins to deteriorate and become less noble. Throughout the play,
world; and that much ‘new knowledge’ lay follow or was treated in a merely superficial manner because of this.” (Hunter 50) Even though Othello fulfills his duty as a general and he is appreciated by the authorities in Venice and earns a respected position, he is not embraced by the society enough to marry a Venetian girl.
Othello is a military hero, widely respected and admired by most. Even his enemies have a grudging respect for him. He has taken the loveliest lady as his bride, and has a seemingly great life. He is seen as a very good man, as proven by the words of the Duke of Venice: “..If virtue no delighted beauty lack, your son in law is far more fair than black.”(Page 47, Line 285-286). Despite all this, Othello does have a fatal