The Tragedy of Shakespeare's 'Othello'

What is a tragedy? A tragedy is a drama in which the protagonist is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances. In the play Othello, William Shakespeare uses the literary device characterization in sequence to convey that Othello’s tragic flaw is the main reason that brings Othello to his downfall --- death. The causes of the tragedy of Othello are Othello’s gullibility to Iago, jealousy of Desdemona’s affair, and male pride.

Starting off, Othello allows Iago to tamper with his mind and does nothing to stop it. Othello puts all of his trust in him, but Iago is just hiding behind a mask and only wishes to torment Othello. Othello is not aware of his surroundings and the people there, making him vulnerable. If he paid more attention to Desdemona and not Iago than he would not have thought to kill his loyal wife. Othello jumps to conclusions too quickly

When pairs of texts are considered together, their universal themes and ideas lead to greater understanding, appreciation and insight of both the old and the new. The texts Othello, William Shakespeare (1600) and Othello, Geoffrey Sax (2001), ring true for this statement. Despite the differing contexts and ages, the universal themes of racism and betrayal bring new meaning to each of the texts. The primary meaning from the juxtaposition of the two is that of the human condition, and how the problems faced in the 17th century are faced in modern times.

Desdemona is the last frontier between Iago and Othello, and Iago puts everything at stake to ruin her reputation.

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 William Shakespeare’s classic Othello, it has remained relevant for the years since it was written. Not only because of the universal themes seen throughout, but due to its enduring value which has been seen in the exploration of issues that we as a society still face today. Othello as a character is portrayed as an outsider compared to the Venetian upper class society due to his different ethnicity, this classically reflects the views from Shakespeare’s time and still today reflects from issues seen recently. The recurring instances of social injustice and racial bias both in the text and in society today show that we as society still have not grown and continue to be bias to people due to things they cannot change. The nature of villainy shown through the antagonist, Iago, as he explores the need of power and how power or the want of

He fears the exposure of his actual character and wants to execute his plan by keeping other individuals believing that he is an honest and a trustworthy man. Firstly, Iago undermines Emilia not to say another word in regards to the handkerchief that he utilizes as a major aspect of the arrangement to devastate Othello. He advises Emilia to “Be wise and get you home.” (Act 5.2.221). Emilia disagrees with what Iago says and soon after, Iago draws his sword. This shows Iago really thinks about his personality and notoriety, his trepidation of presentation is fierce to the point that it drives him to execute his own particular wife. Also, there is not a single line written in the play, which uncovers Iago presenting his reality to someone else. In spite of the fact that everybody makes sense of Iago's two-sided personality towards the end of the play, despite everything he doesn't have the quality to uncover his actual two- sided character or translate why he has done such offensive deeds. When Othello demands Iago for a reasoning behind his actions, he responds back saying, “Demand me nothing; what you know, you know. / From this time forth I never will speak word” (Act 5.2.300-301). Iago's instability of character is powerful to the point that is prohibits him to talk up and give a sensible reaction to Othello regarding why he has done such malevolence activities. Identity, as well as reputation, is what a man is acknowledged for, a wide range of wrong decisions will destroy this part of Iago

In the article “An Essence That’s Not Seen: The Primal Scene of Racism in Othello,” Arthur L. Little Jr. contends that Desdemona plays a vital role in Othello’s rise and fall as she is his reason for being as well as the reason he destroys himself. As Little argues, race is intertwined with Othello’s love for Desdemona as racial prejudice makes Othello instantly suspect that his life is not nearly as spotless as he would like to believe (Little 306). Shakespeare focuses on how Iago is determined to use Othello’s love against him as he acknowledges that Desdemona embodies Othello’s ability to belong in a foreign society. Iago desires to take everything that Othello holds near and dear including his military prestige and love life: “But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor, / And it is thought abroad that ’twixt my sheets / He’s done my office. I know not if ’t be true, / But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, / Will do as if for surety. He holds me well” (1.3.323-326). “That chamberers have, or for I am declined / Into the vale of years,—yet that's not much— / She's gone. I am abused; and my relief / Must be to loathe her” (3.3265-269). In the article “Slaves and Subjects in Othello,” Camille Wells Slights contends that Othello’s view of European society reflects how Europan society has not yet developed into a society that embraces the rights of people from other backgrounds. Iago

Othello and Desdemona have peculiar relationship to say the least. While the story of Othello does not give us many insights on their relationship, throughout the story, we begin to question the concept of their relationship as a whole. The audience mostly blame the story of Othello ending in a tragedy on Iago, but as critical thinkers, they should consider the flaws of Othello and Desdemona’s relationship. Along with flaws, Othello and Desdemona had relationship issues already in areas of behavior and backgrounds. It seems more likely that their relationship was going to fail regardless of the actions of Iago.

She begins the play as a independent and thoughtful person, but she must struggle against all odds to make Othello believe that she is not too independent. Desdemona is a symbol of innocence and helplessness. However in the beginning of the play, she seems to be mature and quite insightful of events around her. Iago often tells Othello that she is unfaithful. It seems that she refuses to accept what Iago is doing. She has a tendency to be sympathetic towards other people's situations, like Cassio. This also further inspired Othello's jealousy when Iago pointed out that Cassio and Desdemona were speaking in private. She often pays attention to other people’s thoughts, yet remains distrustful if they differ from her own. She has a loyalty to her husband in all aspects of life,

After reading and studying William Shakespeare’s classic story of Othello, I have concluded that Iago sabotages Othello’s relationship with Desdemona because he was jealous of him. While analyzing different critics’ opinions and views on Iago’s motives, I found many contrasting ideas and discovered that not all are aligned with my initial hypothesis. What I am going to examine is: Why did Iago sabotage Othello’s relationship with Desdemona? How did Iago sabotage Othello’s relationship with Desdemona? And what were the effects of him sabotaging Othello’s relationship with Desdemona? Through my chosen critics’ analyses and my own reading and studying of the text, I hope to prove my statement is correct. I expected my research to prove that Iago’s

Iago’s revenge plan started because he wanted a higher position in the army. The position that Iago wanted was the one that Cassio had. So he knew the only way to get this was through the “easy prey” (spark notes) Othello. Iago saw Othello as an easy target because of his insecurities of marrying Desdemona and his trusting nature. Othello was insecure because he was a man

In The Tragedy of Othello, Shakespeare constructs the character of the war hero and “noble Moor,” whose sense of honor and justice is compromised and brings about his downfall. The story is set in the island of Cyprus, where war has broken out between Venice and the invading Turks. Othello is respected and his military skills coupled with a charismatic and self-reliant character made Desdemona fall in love with him. He measures his self-worth and honorability based on his valor and his treasured wife, who had rejected other nobleman to be with him, despite him being older and dark-skinned which were traits that were tragically used to undermine his reputation. The main antagonist in this play is Iago. His resentment for Othello comes from being passed over for a promotion and he swears his revenge. He makes Othello believe that his new wife innocent wife, Desdemona, committed adultery with his newly promoted officer Michael Cassio. His proceeding actions leads Othello to take his own life after his wife’s. . In Scene 2 of Act 5, Othello claims, “For naught I did in hate, but all in honour.” Shakespeare shows that it is not the action Othello takes, but his inner nature that plays the compromising role of honor.

"The Tragedy of Othello Written by Shakespeare" highlights a variety of ways in which males and females reacted to intense situations. Emotion became the key factor to the cause of a majority of each characters' action in "The Tragedy of Othello Written by Shakespeare.” Iago formed the shift of emotions, majority of the characters in the book were his victims. Such as how he told Brabantio that Othello was using “magic charms” to force Desdemona to desire him. (Shakespeare: Act I, Scene 2, Page 4, Line 66.) Iago’s main victim was Othello, who went from conveying love for Desdemona in Act 1 and Act 2, to conveying hate for Desdemona in Act 3, 4, and majority of 5. He did not figure out his wife was not a cheater until he killed her which caused

Shakespeare shows the readers and viewers of the play, The Tragedy of Othello, an impression on what love really is and how it can have different meanings to different people. Love takes many different forms and can change over time. There are many different examples of love that is seen throughout this play, there is Othello and Desdemona, Emilia and Desdemona, Emilia and Iago, and Michael Cassio is in love with Desdemona. Love plays a large role in this play, it is what brings the characters together but it is also what kills them in the end.