To What Extent Does Shakespeare Challenge the Aristotelian Views on the Unities in Othello?

First, Iago cunningly deceives Roderigo into giving Iago all of his money by telling Roderigo it would win over the girl he loves Desdemona. Roderigo is an innocent weak man who falls in love with a women and trusts the wrong person to tell. In the very beginning of the play Iago already puts his plan in action, "Thou art sure of me.

CITEDShakespeare, William. Othello. The Riverside Shakespeare. Ed. G. Blakemore Evans. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1974. Print

    William Shakespeare’s tragic drama Othello presents to the audience a picture of many different shades of morality and immorality. It is the purpose of this essay to elaborate in detail on this thesis.

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.

In Othello, Shakespeare forms the villainous character, Iago through his complex language. Iago shows his evil nature towards Roderigo through his use of demeaning animal imagery. Iago also uses an extended metaphor to try and trick the ignorant Roderigo and (unknowingly to Roderigo), insults him. Lastly, Iago uses repetition to beguile Roderigo to keep paying him. Iago’s slyness is clearly seen through his deceiving language towards the end of Act I.

The play begins with a conversation between Roderigo and Iago. The opening lines are significant in that they set the tone and initiate the plot. Roderigo’s thematic purpose is portrayed through Iago’s manipulation in the lines, “Tush, never tell me! I take it much unkindly/ That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse/ As if the

Roderigo is a co-conspirator with Iago but is not equal in developing a web of lies and jealousy designed to ensnare others. “Thus do I ever make my fool my purse (Shakespeare)”. Iago takes advantage of the desperate former suitor of Desdemona and controls his emotions like a puppeteer pulling strings. With the line, “But for my sport and profit”, it is clear that Iago sees enriching himself off Roderigo’s envy as an amusing task with such an easy mark (Shakespeare 1473). Roderigo is a simple-minded fool who believes that by giving money to a lowly ensign he can win the love of Desdemona, have her marriage to Othello dissolved, and restore her virtue.

The play began as Roderigo and Iago were blaming Othello for their problems for him existing. He caused Roderigo problems as he was

In the first scene, Iago was seen in the middle of a conversation with Roderigo. This opening scene sets forth the key elements to understanding Iago’s basic character and the play’s conflict. The scene revealed Iago’s deep resentment toward Othello and his outlook on himself as a soldier. “And I of whom his eyes had

shall firstly do a summery of the play and give a basic image of what

Of course, catharsis isn?t the only element prevalent in a tragic success by Aristotle?s rules, and many of his other teachings indicate a far more structural approach to creating successful tragic theatre. Perhaps the most famous of his rules is the employment of the ?Three Unities?. That is, the unity of time, place and action. Well known modern critic, Tariq Hayat Las (2006) wrote that ?The unity of time limits the supposed action to the duration, roughly, of a single day, unity of place limits it to one general locality, and the unity of action limits it to a single set of incidents which are related as cause and effect, "having a beginning, a middle, and an end." This definition, essentially, is an abridged translation of what Aristotle originally wrote himself, and thoroughly, yet succinctly outlines what the three unities are all about. Medea, with relevance to these unities, is particularly adherent, in the sense that the location does not change, the time is apparent in its constraints and every action serve as a reaction to what came previously in the text.

Iago uses a gamut of devious methods to achieve his means. His use of Roderigo is a masterly move. From being "a Venetian gentleman," Roderigo becomes Iago’s gull. In the very first scene he gets him to confront a sleepy Brabantio and give him the news of his daughters escapades with the Moor.

   The Shakespearean tragedy Othello contains a number of themes; their relative importance and priority is debated by literary critics. In this essay let us examine the various themes and determine which are dominant and which subordinate.

Throughout time, the tragedy has been seen as the most emotionally pleasing form of drama, because of its ability to bring the viewer into the drama and feel for the characters, especially the tragic hero. This analysis of tragedy was formed by the Greek philosopher Aristotle, and also noted in his Poetics (guidelines to drama). As a playwright, Shakespeare used Aristotle’s guidelines to tragedy when writing Othello. The play that was created revolved around the tragic hero, Othello, whose tragic flaw transformed him from a nobleman, into a destructive creature, which would inevitably bring him to his downfall. This transformation follows an organic movement of the complex plot from the beginning, middle, to the end of the drama while

Iago makes a complete fool out of Roderigo. In fact, as play starts Iago is taking advantage of Roderigo. Roderigo remarks, "That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse as if the strings were thine." [Act I, Scene I, Line 2]. Throughout the play, Iago leads Roderigo by the collar professing that he "hate(s) the Moor" [Act I, Scene III, Line 344] and telling Roderigo to "make money" [Act I, Scene III, Line 339] to give Desdemona gifts to win her over. During the Iago keeps the gifts that Roderigo purchases for Desdemona for himself. Roderigo eventually begins to question Honest Iago, saying "I think it is scurvy, and begin to find myself fopped in it." [Act IV, Scene II, Line 189]. When faced with this accusation, Iago simply offers that killing Cassio will