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. The characterization of Othello contributes to theme in many different ways. Othello is someone who everyone seemed to trust. “This only is the witchcraft I have used. Here comes the lady. Let her witness it.” (pg.41). This quote analyzes how Othello is honest, he is proving that if others were asked about a certain event, they would …show more content…
Othello trusts Iago and now Iago is trying to take his wife from him for someone else. Furthermore, “He takes her by the palm...sir in.” (pg. 71). Iago watches Cassio and Emilia because he thinks they had an affair he watches them carefully so he can figure out how to convince Othello that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair. Another example involves the plan to help Othello kill Desdemona. “Do it not with poison. Strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated” (pg. 185). Othello believes that Iago is most honest, thus he believed killing his wife Desdemona was the right thing to do. Iago brainwashed Othello into believing the wrong thing was the right thing. The characterization of Iago is created by the use of dramatic irony. The audience knew how devious Iago is, but the characters fell for his mischievous acts. There are many more examples that use dramatic irony to further support the theme and prompt of revenge. “I hate the moor...will do as if for surety” (pg. 55). This is one of the reasons that Iago gives for justifying his revenge against Othello. Another example, is when Emilia believes that somebody is telling Othello lies about Desdemona. “The Moor’s abused...scurvy fellow” (pg.203). Emilia wants to get revenge on who may be telling lies to Othello about Desdemona. Which is ironic because, it is her own husband. Lastly, “I kissed thee ere I killed thee...to die upon a kiss” (pg.265). Othello obtained revenge for killing his wife
Othello’s love for Desdemona was so deep he could not bear the thought of another being with her; “If she be false, O! Then heaven mocks itself. I’ll not believe’t.” Iago uses the characters of Cassio and the obsessive Roderigo as his weapons in his cunning plan. Iago drives the idea into Othello’s mind that Desdemona has been unfaithful, inciting him into a state of jealousy. “Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul, but I do love thee; and when I love thee not, chaos is come again.” Othello growing insecurities about his wife’s faithfulness only adds to his psychological suffering which in turn acts as a catalyst towards the suffering of other characters involved in the play.Iago tells these lies with the intention of driving Othello insane as well as establish his dominance and influence the situations of those characters close to Othello. Evidence of this comes in one of Iago’s soliloquies from act two, scene one; “That Cassio loves her, I do well Believe’t: That she loves him, ‘tis apt and of great credit.” This section shows that he is trying to convince himself that his own manipulative lies are true and is trying to reassure his motives by justifying his own actions. By convincing Othello
Othello has been described as one of William Shakespeare’s most popular plays because the play focuses on its themes of good and evil, military, politics, love and marriage, religion, racial prejudice, gender conflict, and sexuality; but the controversy and debate surrounding Othello is “Why is Othello a qualification for a tragedy?”
It accentuates that the nobility of Othello, and the favour and love towards his wife, Desdemona. Othello has many positive character traits as he wants to make his own way in the world. He had idealist beliefs and his beliefs stem from believing the truth, and his belief is noble. Both his social status and character traits demonstrate his nobility and presents him as a sympathetic character.
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
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.
Othello is an easy target in this drama, because Iago already knows that he is a very insecure person. With that stated, it will be easy for Iago to use Othello’s jealousy to trick him into thinking that Desdemona is an unfaithful wife. Iago will manipulate the way Othello sees things in order to convince him that what he sees is innocent acts between Desdemona and Casillo. Iago’s starts to plant the idea in Othello’s head of an affair after Othello sees Casillo rush leaving Desdemona in a manner that looked as though he is guilty (1223). Alone with Othello, Iago begins to make Othello feel threatened by Casillo and Desdemona’s apparent relationship by bringing up the fact that Casillo served as Desdemona’s and Othello’s go-between during the time of their courtship. The conversation ends with Iago asking Othello to watch carefully of Desdemona and Casillo, and Iago exits giving Othello time to question the accusation of Iago (1225-1228).
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
In the wake of perusing the events that surrounded Othello, his bride, and others that it is evident the best strategy would have been for the main character to have controlled his feelings from the beginning; however, this was not the case as he let the images in his mind defeat him. During this story, the degree of lies that are premeditated will show how a controlling person can devastate the lives of innocent victims.
In the play, Othello is a larger than life character. He is a well-respected general in the army and had earned himself a high place in society. He was known throughout Venice. He is also noble and virtuous. He seems like the perfect character, but he is not.
The play “Othello”, by William Shakespeare and film adaption by Oliver parker explores the idea of how an individual’s sense of identity affects their actions and how this can be manipulated to create conflict. Shakespeare uses techniques such as soliloquies, dramatic irony, imagery, foreshadowing, and symbolism to show us how tragedy occurs from counteracting to patriarchal rules and stereotypes.
Overall, Otello illustrates more plainly the destructive qualities of various emotions while Othello tells a story of jealousy and betrayal while addressing issues of racism and sexism. This film enhanced my understanding of the emotions felt by the characters and the impact of these emotions both mentally and physically on both the individual and those around them. However, the film lacks the political commentary and overall meaning that Othello holds. In the end, the film and book are best in conjunction to bring out the strengths in
He gloats about the easy in which he can manipulate Roderigo (the fool) into giving him money. Directly after this, you hear of Iago’s feelings towards Othello (the Moor). You learn of Iago’s suspicion about his wife having an affair with Othello. This gains pity from the audience, because you feel that Iago is a man deeply distraught over the idea of his wife cheating on him. Iago then begins to contemplate how he would seek vengeance on Othello and gain his title. Iago plans to use Othello’s trust and opinion of him to his advantage. He speaks about how he will use Cassio as his pawn to lure Othello into believing his wife, Desdemona is being unloyal to him. Iago discloses that Othello’s character is naive and will be easy to manipulate. As his closing statement he states that, with a little help from the devil, his monstrous plan will be a success.
To begin with, Othello is a graceful man with a valiant personality which draws people near. Although he is known
Shakespeare’s Othello peels back the layers of society’s underlying feelings regarding people who lie outside of the perceived standard norm. It digs into the heart of society and reveals the damage that is placed upon individuals who are considered outsiders, even if they manage to achieve success. In this particular play, the audience is able to see how the subtleties of racial bias slowly destroy a person’s psyche. Throughout the play, the audience examines Othello cast in both negative and positive positions. Othello is both a great general of the Venetian army as well as, just “the moor” who used “magic” to trick his wife, Desdemona, into a marriage. Through harmful racial language Othello is constantly reminded of his outsider status. The destruction of his character through blatant and subtle criticisms cause Othello to doubt his self-worth and ultimately leads to his self-destruction.
In the life of every tragic hero, with a promising future, there is a damaging flaw that takes over and possesses their life. This is a flaw that is possessed, by all heroes. From the place of honor, the hero will fall and the character of Othello is no exception. He is a genuine character that is determined to prove his worth as husband and a soldier, by speaking of his exploits. He is easily misled by others and therefore his honor is affected by that awful demon, jealously, which will be his downfall.’ When there is conflicting emotions, suspicious natures and feelings of betrayal, this will lead to revenge; the hero is full of promise and falls victim to his own mistakes and downfalls. This will inevitably be his destruction (enotes.com).