Analysis Of Othello
analytical Essay
1444 words
Drama Essay - Othello
Othello is noble, tender, and confiding; but he has blood of the most inflammable kind. Unfortunately, Othello was naïve enough to be swayed by Iagos misplaced trustworthiness and the accusations cause the entire play to unfold. Once someone brings up a sense of all his wrong doings, he cannot be stopped by considerations of remorse of pity until Othello has extinguished all that fuels his rage and despair. Othello is described as a “Moor” by his critics (Brabantio, Iago). A “Moor” is a slang word used for the dark skinned appearance of the Muslim people from the northwest part of Africa.
Othello starts out as a very nice, considerate person. He calmly takes on whatever comes his way and does not like confrontation. He verbally recognizes that he is an outsider, whether because he is proud of or self-conscious and defensive about his difference from other Venetians. For example, in spite of his articulacy in Act I, scene iii, he exclaims, “Rude am I in my
…show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how othello was nave enough to be swayed by iagos misplaced trustworthiness and the accusations cause the entire play to unfold.
- Analyzes how othello's eloquence suffers because of the increasing strain coming from iago. he is a racial and cultural outsider in venice, but his proficiency is valuable and necessary to the state.
- Analyzes how the duke of venice respects othello and is the first person to address his name in the play. when cypress is threatened by turkish forces, the duke and the senate want him.
- Analyzes how brabantio confronts othello and accuses him of bewitching his daughter in act i. the duke proves that their marriage contains no witchcraft, only love.
- Analyzes how othello is duped by iago into believing that desdemona has been adulterous with cassio.
- Analyzes how othello's doubtful struggle between conflicting passions, though dreadful, doesn't continue for long, and the story gets more interesting by the alternating climax
- Analyzes how othello regains his composure and seduces onstage and offstage audiences with his words. the tension between his victimization at the hands of a foreign culture and his own willingness to torment himself makes him tragic rather than just iago's ridiculous puppet.
In the continuance of the play, Othello’s eloquence suffers because of the increasing strain coming from Iago. Othello is introduced in …show more content…
When Cypress is threatened by Turkish forces, Othello is wanted specifically by the duke and the senate, as evidenced by Cassio’s comment that the senate “sent about three several quests” to look for Othello (I.ii.46).Othello became Governor of Cypress in Act I, Scene III, but his fortunes promptly change and not for the better. Othello has a reputation for courage in battle along with wonderful judgment when it comes to serious decisions about the military. The Venetian government has enough faith in Othello to put him in full martial and political command of Cyprus. In his dying speech Othello reminds the Venetians of the “service” he has done their state
Related
- analytical
- The Character of Othelloanalytical essayThe Character of Othello Shakespeare's Othello is not simply a play which embodies the conflict between insider and outsider. The paradigm of otherness presented in this play is more complicated than the conclusion, "Othello is different; therefore, he is bad. " Othello's character is to be revered. He is a champion among warriors; an advisor among councilmen; a Moor among Venetians. Yes, Othello is a Moor, but within the initial configuration of the play, this fact is almost irrelevant.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how iago's emphasis on othello’s simplicity and honesty contrasts with his skillfully-crafted towers of lies and bejeweled misrepresentations.
- Analyzes how othello possesses base characteristics such as jealousy, self-pity, murderous intent, but they are not symbols of his otherness.
- Analyzes how iago transforms the perception of almost every character in the play, from cassio to roderigo, to the opposite of what it had been.
- Analyzes how iago is able to play so well on othello's insecurities for they are his own.
- Analyzes how othello's breakdown into self-questioning mirrors that of richard iii who became entangled in the oppositions of his character.
- Analyzes how othello's unfortunate psychological movement coincides with his actual journey to cyprus, which becomes a metaphorical representation of the transformation he endures.
- Analyzes how iago is villianized, speaking in the prose shakespeare reserves only for ne'er-do-wells.
- Describes bloom's modern critical interpretations, othello ed. harold bloom.
- Opines that snyder, susan, "beyond the comedy: othello", modern critical interpretations, harold bloom, new haven, ct, 1987.
- Analyzes how shakespeare's othello is not simply a play which embodies the conflict between insider and outsider.
- Analyzes how othello's inability to recognize that the trap by which cassio has been consumed is only the precursor to his own destruction foreshadows his eventual consumption by iago’s maneuverings.
- Introduces barthelemy, anthony g., in critical essays on shakespeare's othello.
- Describes the critical essays on shakespeare's othello, including jones, eldred, and neely.
2133 wordsRead More - Five Questions on Othelloanalytical essayOthello has a variety of strengths in his dual roles as a man and as a leader of men. Those traits for which he is most recognized in Venice are those that make him an excellent military commander. Othello’s generalship is greatly respected due to his expensive experience fighting against the Turks. He has been a career warrior for decades, accumulating many tales that he then conveys to Desemona, regaling her with “the battles, sieges, fortunes, / That I have passed.” (1.3.132-133) It is also certain that his military career has been one of significant success, as he seems sure that “[m]y services which I have done the signiory / Shall out-tongue [Brabantio’s] complaints,” even against such a serious charge as stealing away a valuable virgin from a Senator’s household (1.2.18-19). These “services” are what endear Othello so greatly to the Venetian Senate, but the means by which his victories were achieved are his personal virtues of leadership. One of these is Othello’s great self-control. He is always slow to anger, and does not take rash action when leading his men. In the audience’s first view of Othello as a leader, during his confrontation with Brabantio, Othello is not provoked by the angry father’s insults, instead calmly inquiring “[w]hither will you that I go / To answer this your charge?” (1.2.85-86) Brabantio has outright impugned Othello’s honor, accusing him of sorcery, and yet he stays his sword and those of his men. He respects the Venetian rule of law and due process and volunteers to go to a trial, demonstrating his control of his emotions and setting an example for his men.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how othello has a variety of strengths in his dual roles, including being an excellent military commander and self-control.
- Analyzes how othello has a distinct set of strengths. he is unawed by dignitaries and unelated by honours; he trusts cassio and iago, who have weathered battles.
- Analyzes how othello fulfills the requirements of a tragedy by having in him one tragic flaw, which ultimately leads to his unfortunate end.
- Analyzes how the eponymous moor's race serves as a primary cause of conflict between him and other characters, primarily by antagonist iago.
- Analyzes how iago continues to use othello's race to drive a wedge in his relationships.
- Analyzes how iago brings up several fundamental differences between the two, inducing niggling doubts into othello's mind.
- Analyzes how iago establishes that desdemona shows herself to have a capricious nature and changeable will. othello is forced to wonder what prevents her will from changing again.
- Analyzes how othello dismisses iago's unsettling words, and wonders what might drive desdemona to be unfaithful. he admits he is aging, while cassio is still a spry youth.
- Analyzes how othello, the noble general of venice, strikes his wife without provocation, leaving lodovico perplexed.
2033 wordsRead More - Othello Analysisanalytical essayThrough studying Shakespeare’s and Cinthio’s Othello, I explored the concept of ‘The Moor’. ‘The Moor’ is a disrespectful and racist term , often used by white Europeans referring to arabs and blacks, and people of other races with relatively dark skin, such as Othello. During Shakespeare’s time, blacks are considered to be outsiders and are inferior to white people. In Cinthio’s work, it stated that moors are hot-headed as evident in this quote ‘you moors are of so hot a nature that every little trifle moves you to anger and revenge’ which is evident that moors are hot-headed. In scene 1 of the play, Iago told Desdemona father that his daughter was robbed by a thief, Iago uses metaphor to describes Othello as a “black ram”. Desdemona’s father was shocked that his daughter will fall in love with a black man. He believed that Othello must have use some magic to make his daughter fall in love with him; as there is social class difference at that time and it is unimaginable that a white woman will love a black men.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how shakespeare and cinthio explored the concept of 'the moor', a disrespectful and racist term used by white europeans referring to arabs and blacks.
- Analyzes how the description of othello's appearance by iago makes him look inferior to the others. desdemona father and roderigo both believed that.
- Analyzes how iago manipulates othello to think that desdemona has an affair with cassio because he doesn't have enough confidence.
- Analyzes how othello's anger and jealousy make him murder his wife, desdemona, and let the ensign brutally beat her with a sand-filled hose.
- Explains that anti-stereotyping is a term used to describe work or evidence to go against the normal stereotype, denying anyone or anything from the same group symbolizing the meaning.
- Analyzes how the stereotypes and anti-stereotypes of 'the moor' focused on the behaviour and the actions of the character.
760 wordsRead More - Othello: Summaryanalytical essayOthello: Summary *Othello is a tense, closely-knit play, with an ever-increasing emotional scene. The character Iago, Othello's ancient, is the cause of all the tragedy which comes to pass as the play progresses. He is a manipulator, opposing Othello not directly, but through other characters whom he tricks.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that act one, scene one is the most important because it is based on his schemes.
- Analyzes how the man appears to help when he says, 'i am not what i am' (i,i).
- Analyzes how othello chose cassio to be his lieutenant in the end of scene.
- Analyzes how iago gives advice to othello at the beginning of scene two of act one.
- Narrates how iago convinces roderigo about the second act.
- Analyzes how i ago tricked into a drink in act ii, scene iii, knowing that he had low blood pressure.
- Analyzes how iago makes it seem that he doesn't want to discredit cassio.
- Narrates how roderigo goes to cassio as a helpful friend, and then leaves.
- Analyzes how iago plays roderigo's accomplice in scene ii of act iv.
- Narrates how iago stabs himself and dies. he flees, but only to escape.
- Analyzes the use of possessive love in the sense of a love which will not even tolerate the idea of possession.
- Narrates how roderigo ambushes cassio, who wound him, while i ago stabs him in the leg and runs off. he returns as a dutiful guard to save
928 wordsRead More - Othelloanalytical essayOthello is portrayed as a well-respected citizen within the Venetian society. He can be seen as an intelligent and heroic military leader whose skill is indeed very valuable and necessary to the state and he knows this. His military success has promoted his position within Venetian society, and as a ‘Moor’ within the white dominated society, he has a strong desire to maintain his social standing, and is prepared to sacrifice anything which threatens his reputation, which leads to the eventual death of Desdemona. Othello is trusted by everyone in Venice being called, “valiant Othello” and “brave Othello” and described as “...more fair than black” (I, iii, 286). He has been given full martial and political command of Cyprus and is a figure of high standing and esteem within the Venetian community.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how othello's stature as a tragic hero is severely compromised by the alacrity with which he turns against his wife, and by his failure to achieve any real self knowledge.
- Analyzes othello's egocentric nature and alienation in society, which leads to his manipulation by iago.
- Analyzes how iago pours "pestilence" into othello's mind, creating ideas and images that his wife desdemona is unfaithful towards him.
- Analyzes how othello's stature as a tragic hero is compromised by his failure to achieve any real self-knowledge before he takes his life.
- Analyzes how othello's stature as a tragic hero is severely compromised by the speed and ease with which he turns against his wife desdemona.
- Analyzes how othello never accepts his tragic flaw as self-knowledge, nor does he accept responsibility for the death of his innocent wife desdemona. he is unable to see himself as a member of the venetian society.
1106 wordsRead More - The Character of Iago in Shakespeare's Othelloanalytical essayThere may have been many great Negroes around in those days but there were none in Venice. Othello was the only member of his race in Venice. Many of the people who lived in Venice had never seen a Moor. To the people of Venice, Moors were different and feared, they were seen as an evil spirit. Some people thought that they were witches or devils that walked the earth. Included in a text written by Stephen Greenblatt, Roderigo and Barbanizo believed that "Othello used magic to win Desdemona."(Norton Shakespeare, pp. 2091). You also see many references in the play where a character will refer to Othello as being a devil or beast.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how iago is a secretive villain throughout the play. he hates the moor and despises the fact that othello chose michael cassio as his lieutenant.
- Analyzes how iago is an insecure man who believes that his wife emelia had an affair with othello. his insecurity questions his ability to trust, which leads the reader to the conclusion that he does not have anyone to befriend.
- Analyzes how iago's feelings for othello are argumentative, but there is no argument for his feelings towards women. emelia shares her bitter input of how men chew up their women and then spit them out.
- Analyzes how iago held a deep resentment for othello and cassio. racism, jealousy, pleasures, and self-fulfillment drove him to hate.
- Describes di yanni, robert, and clarice swisher's readings on the tragedies.
- Analyzes how the character iago plays a paramount role in the destruction of othello and all of those around him.
- Analyzes how iago sees cassio as a threat and intends to frame him in an affair with desdemona.
- Analyzes the freudian belief that iago was not jealous of othello and wanted him for himself.
1618 wordsRead More - Reputation and Image in William Shakespeare´s Othelloanalytical essayIn William Shakespeare’s Othello, unspoken fears of being an outsider and concerns about his public image contribute to the downfall of a tragic hero named Othello. Othello, a general in the Venetian army’s, final monologue reflects the importance of reputation and the conformity needed to fit his surroundings. He is seen as an outsider of the Venetian culture; he is frequently referred to as “the Moor” and is called an abundance of racial slurs by the Venice born natives. Although Othello never voices his internal struggle to feel accepted by the people around him, his image and physical appearance are some of major issues he faces. Even in the moments before he stabs himself, Othello is more concerned with the legacy he is leaving behind than with the death of his wife, Desdemona. Shakespeare uses Othello’s transformation from a heroic military soldier to a tragic figure to warn of the dangers of obsessing over one’s reputation and the need to feel accepted by society.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how othello prays to be remembered as is, but when he starts to describe himself as "one not easily jealous," his jealousy led to the death of his wife.
- Analyzes how othello's concerns are with his reputation as an upstanding citizen and memorable soldier, and his need to feel accepted by society.
- Analyzes how othello is revered as a well-respected man in the army, but in last moments of his life is left with nothing but tarnished reputation.
- Analyzes how othello's final monologue reflects the importance of reputation and the conformity needed to fit his surroundings.
870 wordsRead More - A Play of Love Turned Bad: Shakespeare's Othelloanalytical essayShakespeare’s famous play Othello is a play of love that has turned bad by the unfounded jealousy of the protagonist character Othello. Arguably the contribution of Othello’s susceptibility to manipulation, his weaknesses and the manipulation of other characters tactics such as Iago each contribute to the downfall of Othello. However, to the extent of which each is more significant varies and this is what will be analysed in this essay.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how shakespeare's famous play othello is a play of love that has turned bad by the unfounded jealousy of the protagonist character.
- Analyzes how each of shakespeare's tragic plays has to have a tragic hero. each of these tragic heroes would have their tragic flaw, they were all noble class and would face their tragedy with dignity.
- Explains that othello is responsible for many events and circumstances that contribute to his downfall in the play, including his ethnicity and his relationship with certain characters.
- Analyzes how shakespeare created the character of othello to be a ‘hero of the ancient world’, but there are certain circumstances beyond his control that contribute to his downfall.
- Analyzes how othello's racist attitude exposes him to the racist predigest from roderigo and brabantio who refer to him as an ‘old black ram’ and a ‘thick-lip owe’
- Analyzes how othello's relationship with desdemona and iago plays a vital role in the downfall of otello.
- Analyzes how the friction between iago and othello was evident from the start of the play, because in act 1 scene 1 otello promoted cassio, a promotion which infuriated the actor.
- Analyzes how iago sees othello's love for desdemona as a weakness of his character, and plants doubt into his naive mind.
- Opines that othello's naivety to the manipulation of iago is not entirely his fault, as he was very cunning and sharp when making sure that people saw him as ‘honest
- Analyzes how iagos' soliloquy in act one is a bitter speech of hatred and revenge to be taken out on othello.
- Analyzes how othello's mind has been corrupted by iago as he calls him a 'villain' and asks for visual proof to prove his disloyalty.
- Analyzes how othello starts to believe iago over his wife — he says ‘damn her’ and calls her a ‘lewd mix’. desdemona tries to change the subject by saying ‘talk me of cassio’, adding to his suspicions.
- Analyzes how othello and iago set up an arranged conversation about cassio's'relationship' with desdemona to reinforce the allegations made.
- Analyzes how scene 2 is the final scene of both desdemona and othello's lives.
- Analyzes how othello discovers that iago had set everything up and that desdemona was innocent all along. he then kills himself.
- Concludes that othello's jealousy is the one flaw that brings him down the most as he succumbed to the pernicious influence of revenge embodied by the character iago.
1534 wordsRead More - Human Frailty in Othelloanalytical essayOthello is the Cultural Other in Venetian society, and while he is very learned, it is probable that he is not fully aware of the social and cultural mores that govern Venice. As a Moor, Othello was reared outside Venice, and thus remains separate and exoticized. Although a great military man, and accepted by the elite of Venice, there is still a foreign-ness to him. The characters in the play, for the most part, call Othello "the Moor" (1. 1. 37, 1. 1. 161, 1. 2. 56). By calling Othello "the Moor," his proper name is taken away and he is left as an object. He is only accepted because of his military prowess, and seems to be used almost as a commodity; he is sent to Cyprus, with little warning--almost at the whim of the Duke. It is only because he is valuable to Venice that he is not punished for marrying the white Desdemona; Brabantio's anger is a clear indication that miscegenation is not an acceptable practice. Therefore, being a stranger to Venetian society, even a vague inkling that he is only a body used to fight may lead to insecurity that only exacerbates the deep-seeded, pre-existing ...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how human frailty in othello tragedy is an intrinsically human concept; tragic heroes are damned by what they themselves do.
- Analyzes how othello is the cultural other in venetian society, and argues that he is not fully aware of the social and cultural mores that govern venice.
- Analyzes how othello's insecure grasp of social and human values results in placing his faith in iago, over his supposed beloved.
- Opines that othello's blind faith in people, first in desdemona, then replaced by iago, indicates his goodness in life.
- Analyzes how othello's claim that he loved not wisely, but too well, is unacceptable to excuse his behavior, nor should his epilepsy be used as justification.
- Analyzes how the handkerchief othello gave to desdemona is left forgotten because he was so irate, and iago would use it to damn her to death by her husband's hand.
- Analyzes how othello's violent slap to desdemona shocks all witnesses, especially in the hopkins version, where he is almost an animal, growling and making grandiose gestures
- Analyzes how desdemona and othello together serve as a startling contrast to iago- almost the complete antithesis.
- Analyzes how othello's wickedness, naivete, and helplessness in the face of an evil like iago is horrifying.
- Cites barthelemy, anthony g. "introduction" critical essays on shakespeare's othello.
- Cites j. adelman and eldred jones' critical essays on shakespeare's othello.
1530 wordsRead More - Lack of Reason in Shakespeare's Othelloanalytical essayWilliam Shakespeare presents the character Othello as an excellent leader in the play, Othello. The hero has strength, charisma, and eloquence. Yet Othello cannot reason. The battlefield and Senate are, at least in Othello, depicted as places of honor, where men speak truly. In addition, the matters of war and state are relatively simple; no one lies to Othello, all seem to respect him. He never even has to fight in the play, with the enemy disappearing by themselves. This simplistic view does not help him in matters of the heart. His marriage is based on tall tales and pity and his friendships are never examined; he thinks that anyone who knows him love him. Thus the ultimate evaluation of Othello must be that, although he leads well and means well, he lacks good judgment and common sense. This becomes most plainly obvious in his final two speeches, where even though the play ends properly, and in a dignified way, Othello never fully realizes or takes responsibility for what has happened.
In this essay, the author
- Explains armstrong, edward allworthy, and shakespeare's imagination: a study of the psychology of association and inspiration.
- Analyzes how shakespeare presents the character of othello as an excellent leader. the battlefield and senate are depicted as places of honor, where men speak truly.
- Analyzes how othello believes that a malignant turk has taken over the good venetian within him, but he doesn't see his faults exploited by iago and used against him.
- Explains gardner, helen, and wilson, h.s., on the design of shakespearean tragedy.
1277 wordsRead More