Themes from Othello by William Shakespeare
At times Shakespeare can become to complex, but in Othello he seems to simplify a number of his themes. The four themes or ideas that will be discussed are easily explainable. Jealousy, brotherly love, the handkerchief, and reputation and honor are very important topics Shakespeare approaches.
Jealousy is a prominent factor in Othello. It is first shown when Iago is
overlooked for a promotion. Iago shows his jealousy of Cassio being made a
Lieutenant. "Preferment goes by letter and affection, and not by old
gradation…" (1.1.37-38). Iago also complains that he was the Moor's "ancient" and should not have been passed up for the promotion.
Iago also shows his jealousy for Othello. "For that I do suspect the lusty Moor hath leaped into my seat, the thought whereof doth…gnaw my innards…" (2.1.296-298). This quote from his speech shows that Iago thinks that Othello has slept with his wife. He goes on to prove is jealousy by saying he will take him "wife for wife".
Along with jealousy, Shakespeare uses brotherly love as a theme. "Whether I in any just term am affined to love the Moor." (1.1.40-41). After saying he loves the Moor, Iago goes on to say he is going to use that love for his own deeds. "Do well thrive by them, and when they have lined their coats, Do themselves homage…such a one do I profess myself." (1.1.54-57)
In contrast to this selfish, pretend love, Brabantio shows his love for Othello before Othello marries his daughter. This love comes out in Act one scene three when Brabantio accuses Othello of stealing Desdemona by poisoning her or using magic. "Her father loved me, oft invited me, Still questioned me the story ...
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...s jealous tendencies toward Cassio and Othello. This jealousy leads to his death. Iago is again present when brotherly love is brought up, but Iago's love for Othello and Cassio is an imaginary love. This love he uses for his own benefits.
While Iago has a pretend love, Othello has a genuine love for Iago and Cassio. This love is what tries to bring the characters together. The handkerchief is a clever object used to put a twist in the story. When Desdemona accidentally loses it, she is technically sentenced to die. Lastly reputation and honor is used along with appearances and reality. Iago has a good reputation with no true honor, hence his appearance against what is reality on the inside. Reputation is needed to succeed in this time reference. All of the above elements have an importance and that importance is what makes this a great piece of work.
Another reason Iago has massive jealously is he has a suspicion that Othello slept with his wife. Iago says, "I hate the moor: and it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets, he has done my office: I know not if't be true; but I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety." (1.3.12). Even though he is uncertain that Othello and Igao's wif...
Through his suggestion to Cassio, Iago can now be certain that Cassio will entreat Desdemona to petition for him with Othello. Cassio does implore Desdemona and she responds, “Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do all my abilities in thy behalf” (Act III Scene III). Iago manages to obtain the handkerchief that Othello gave to Desdemona that had strawberry patterns on it form Bianca. He then tells Othello to ask for the handkerchief and if she doesn’t produce it, than she must be cheating on him. Iago also manipulates the undeserving devotion of Emilia. We learn at the end of the play that Iago “begg’d of me to steal it” of Emilia. Like Desdemona’s good nature, Iago exploits his own wife for his malicious revenge. The handkerchief was the final straw for
In the light of the various descriptions of an unstable person, Iago is a psychopath with his manipulative choice of words. He tells people things that they want to hear and he says it in a manner that makes him appear exceptional. “ I humbly do beseech you of your pardon, For too much loving you.” (3.3.106) In act three, Iago pretends to be Othello’s confidant, and he wants Othello to suspect his wife is having an affair. Iago has a pseudo relationship with Othello the entire duration of the play.
The topic of betrayal and manipulation is a common theme in the play Othello. A numerous amount of characters in the play betray others, and also themselves. From planning affairs that ruin marriages and friendships, to not trusting their significant other. Ways that the play Othello brings out the theme of betrayal is Othello and Desdemona being the one’s who were most affected by Iagos betrayal with their marriage, Iago plotting to put the handkerchief with Michael Cassio, and the death of those who either betrayed, or were betrayed.
Desdemona is more in love with Othello than he is with her. She shows her love in the scene that involved him attempting to kill her then when he attempts to smother her. Even though she knows she is going to be killed by Othello she was serene with the thought about it, she knew he was deceived and she acknowledged and accepted it.
Brabantio also endeavours into placing a seed of doubt in Othello’s mind as a result of his jealousy. Consequentially Brabantio objectifies Desdemona when he states, “Where has thou stow’d my daughter?” exemplifying how he deems her as a possession, which can be stolen like any other. Othello prolongs this objectification through asserting that he “won his daughter” portraying Desdemona as a prize to be won, and a possession to be owned and argued over by husband and father. Desdemona is depicted early on in the play as the “angel” wi... ...
Characters in the play fail to comprehend Iago’s true nature until it is too late. Those interacting with Iago fall into the belief that Iago is loyal to his superiors, when Iago is actually focused on bringing them (Cassio and Othello) down. Iago constructs a false impression of his loyalty to Othello through ...
Iago is one of the most complex characters in William Shakespeare’s Othello. To most of the characters, he is “Honest Iago” (Shakespeare, 5.2.73). however, the audience knows that Iago is the furthest thing from honest. Iago is a devil bent on destroying the lives of everyone around him. At the beginning of the play, the audience learns that Iago is determined to ruin Othello’s marriage to Desdemona. He has appointed a new lieutenant, Michael Cassio. This angers Iago because he feels that he has much more military experience and should be the lieutenant. Iago has also heard rumours that both Othello and Cassio have slept with his wife Emilia. He concocts a malicious plan to ruin the lives of all who have wronged him, and consequently establishing
Above all, at the pivotal point in the play, it is Othello, ultimately who determines the outcome of his raged jealousy. But, his anger towards Desdemona and Cassio, leaves him very little of another option, but to continue his plan. Othello demands that he will "make me to see 't” (3.3.364) “or woe upon thy life!" (3.3.366) and this expresses his emotions, such as his love for Desdemona. Furthermore, when Othello says “when I love thee not” (3.3.91) “chaos is come again" (3.3.92) , it can be seen as how Othello feels towards his insecurity due to his race. Iago uses Othello 's position of a "stranger from here and everywhere" (1.1.136-137) to exploit his insecurities; he says that "in Venice they do let God see the pranks” (3.3.202) “they dare not show their husbands" (3.3.203). As Othello is not a Venetian, he cannot defend himself from this accusation of his wife. Therefore, jealousy might be a result of the insecurity that he is feeling, but also caused by Iago who takes advantage of
'” (III,3,2092) This psychological strategy angers Othello to no end. Othello has been jealous of Cassio (who is everything that Othello is not: white, Christian, young). This shows that Iago is very clever: he first uses psychological plants before he moves to physical evidence. When Othello demands ocular proof, Iago brings out the handkerchief, the magical symbol of Othello 's manhood and source of his jealousy: “I know not that; but such a handkerchief I am sure it was your wife 's--did I to-day
Jealousy is his first motive. He then tells Roderigo (a former suitor of Desdemona) that Othello and Desdemona are getting married. The two of them then go and tell Desdemona's father, Brabantio, that Othello and his daughter have just eloped. This infuriates Brabantio and his family. Soon after, Brabantio gets a gang after Othello.
Iago’s initial jealousy of Cassio led him to seek revenge, thus moving the entire plot. He also fuels his hatred of Othello by convincing himself that Othello slept with his wife. His jealousy initiated many of the other characters’ jealousy, which resulted in multiple negative consequences. This included the death of Brabantio, Roderigo, Desdemona, his wife Emilia, and finally Othello. He was also punished for his jealousy. He is arrested and it is implied in the passage that he not be killed, but instead, tortured until he talks.
Othello doesn’t realize Iago doesn’t care towards him and never did after Iago wasn’t promoted to lieutenant. Iago plays the as the main director of what happens in Othello’s life. Othello doesn’t realize it thought. Iago is able to hide his emotions towards others. Which allows Othello not to notice he is faking every emotion of helping Othello. Iago is always at ease when in the eyes of his peers. “He moves jovially and at ease among the gentlemen of Cyprus, even as he sets up Cassio for a drunken fall” (Barnes 15). This shows how committed Iago was to strike revenge against his foes. Only a psychopath could hide their feelings in front of the people you want to hurt. “Iago refuses to show the "outward action" which would "demonstrate / The native act and figure of [his] heart / In complement extern" (“Where Iago Lies” 19). Because of Iago, Othello creates his own anxiety. He has anxiety because he now worries that Desdemona may be cheating on him with Cassio. Iago creates Othello’s fear by twisting his words to have different meanings. “Iago: O, beware, my lord, of jealousy/ It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock/ The meat it feeds on” (Shakespeare 1816-1818). Iago is manipulating Othello into believing that Othello shouldn’t be jealous, which tricks Othello into being jealous. The green-eyed monster is another term for jealousy. It is Othello though that allows him to get trapped in anxiety. Iago exploits him to bring Othello to a tragic
I would like to touch on the impact Iago’s actions had on Othello. As the book shows Othello was not a jealous man by nature. As I stated before I think we all have a little bit of jealousy in different situations, but it is also common sense and our natural
Brabantio is very upset to hear this and accuses Othello of bewitching his daughter and using magic on her. Othello is then called away to discuss a crisis in Cypress but Brabantio is still upset and he wants justice for his daughter because he believes that she has been taken against he...