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Character analysis of the play othello
Character analysis of the play othello
Plot of othello and how characters have shaped the plot
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Epithets in Othello
An epithet is an adjective or adjective phrase that characterizes a person or thing. Epithets can often consist of abusive or contemptuous words such as those directed by the professionally offended Iago in Shakespeare's Othello. Iago refers to Othello with damning epithets to suggest the Moor as a lust driven animal that is violating the innocent Desdemona. For instance, he calls Othello, "an old black ram" who is "tupping" Brabantio's "white ewe"(Act I, Scene I: 90-91). He is referring to the fact that Othello is a Moor, or dark skinned man. Iago is also making the insinuation that Othello is, at this moment, copulating with Brabantio's innocent daughter, Desdemona. In addition, Iago warns Brabantio that if he does not rescue his daughter, the "devil" will make Brabantio a grandfather (Act I, Scene I: 93). Again, he is suggesting that Othello is demonic and comparable to a wild animal. He continues erupting insults shouting that a "Barbaray horse" is mounting Desdemona and that Brabantio's nephews will "neigh" and cousins will be "coursers," or strong horses (Act I, Scene I: 113-114). Yet again, Iago is suggesting that Othello is animal-like and that this quality will arise throughout Brabantio's family. It is important to note that in the play production Iago speaks such crude and obscene language while hiding behind several clustered poles below Brabantio's window. This gesture reveals Iago's attempt to remain an "honest man" in the eyes of the other characters while carrying out a plan of revenge. Although Iago's insults toward Othello appear to be racial, it does not make the entire play racist. Iago is so consumed by revenge against Othello, for passing him over for the promotion that he will say or do anything to attain his "peculiar end" (Act I, Scene I: 62).
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were both strong presidents who kept a stabile nation, but they differed in their methods of doing so. Adams was a federalist so he helped establish a stable government by focusing on forming a strong central government. Jefferson being a democrat-republican worked to establish stability in the US government by promoting state’s rights. They both worked for stability in different but successful ways. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson brought many different viewpoints and strengths after the establishment of the Constitution but they both put the nation’s stability first and wanted to preserve the wellbeing of the people first by Adams ending the Quazi war and Jefferson making the Louisiana Purchase.
Republicanism brought change to America, but called into question was the way this change was brought to America. James Madison through the Virginia Plan proposed a republic nation. The formation of the Republican opposition in the 1790’s continued the legacy of the American Revolution. Even though a republican government meant everyone in America would be under the same government it took away the “individual” freedom they fought for in the revolution but this government is representative of the people. Madison had a vision of an “extended republic” that would include everyone, however he would need a lot of support in order to get this republic. “Over the course of 1790’s, Jefferson and Madison would help turn their objections to Hamilton's
After the extreme partisanship of 1800, it was expected by supporters and foes alike that the presidential administration of Thomas Jefferson would pioneer substantial and even radical changes. The federal government was now in the hands of a relentless man and a persistent party that planned to diminish its size and influence. But although he overturned the principal Federalist domestic and foreign policies, Thomas Jefferson generally pursued the course as a chief executive, quoting his inaugural address “We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists.” With true republicans warming most of the seats of power throughout the branches, except in the Judiciary, he saw the tools of government as less of a potential instrument of oppression and more of a means to achieve republican goals.
In the opening scene, while Iago is expressing his dislike, or rather hatred, for Othello for his having chosen Michael Cassio for the lieutenancy, he contrives a plan to partially avenge himself (“I follow him to serve my turn upon him”), with Roderigo’s assistance, by alerting Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, to the fact of his daughter’s elopement with Othello. Roderigo shares Iago’s prejudiced attitude toward Othello: “What a full fortune does the thicklips owe / If he can carry't thus!” The word thicklips is a disparaging reference to a facial characteristic of many members of the black race. David Bevington in William Shakespeare: Four Tragedies describes how racism is obvious from the very outset of the play:
Othello's identity in the Venetian society is his role as "the Moor". Few people use his real name when talking about him. When speaking the given quote, Othello is telling the Venetians how he won Desdemona's heart by telling her the story of his life, and he now retells it to the Venetians. This tale-telling is a way of employing the linguistic system to reshape for himself a new identity with more positive connotations than "the Moor" can offer. "The Moor" is an expression the Venetians connect to other expressions in the linguistic system which all have a negative value. Examples are such expressions as "old black ram...
The standout views and beliefs are what made Malcolm X one of the most prominent and fascinating civil rights leaders of the 1950's and 1960's. He was a man who told everyone exactly how he felt and reached a large audience of people. He was also very interesting in the sense that he was able to change his views after traveling out of the United States and realizing that it wasn't just white versus black but it was problem within American society as a whole. His message of equality is one that, although not immediately effective in his lifetime, helped pave the way for African Americans to live their life with many of the same advantages as what he considered White America.
With Roderigo, someone he commands control over, Iago employs pathos, allowing his plan to appeal to Roderigo’s sensitive emotions about Othello. Roderigo and Iago discuss about how each of them despise Othello when Iago says, “If ever I did dream of such a matter, / Abhor me” using pathos to confirm his hatred towards the General (1.2. 5-6). The play commences with Iago employing direct rhetoric and partnering up with Roderigo to enhance a sense of comradery. Harsh language such as “Abhor me”, exemplifies the hateful emotions Iago feels toward Othello as well as enhances the emotions Iago wants to appeal to in Roderigo (1.2. 6). Affecting Roderigo more influentially, Iago uses deeper, more personal pathos, by highlighting the seemingly good qualities in Roderigo. Iago contrasts Roderigo to Othello pointing out, “Let not they discreet heart think it…manners and beauties: all which the/ Moor is defective in” (2.1. 215, 219-220). Firstly, Iago weighs Roderigo’s positive qualities against Othello’s negatives ones, convincing Roderigo to feel more confident with Iago and following along with his scheme. Secondly, Iago alters this rhetoric to include Roderigo’s love interest, Desdemona. By exemplifying a more personal and sensitive side when talking about “manners and beauties”, Iago can create a bigger impact in
As for Malcolm himself, his few achievements perhaps could have been greater had his life not been but short by his assassination as well as his time in jail. The powerful message he gave set small precedents for future leaders. As long as the issue of civil rights is apparent, Malcolm will always be remembered for his devotion to the cause “by any means necessary”.
Arriving in Harlem in 1916, her doctor warned her of high blood pressure and demanded that she take a six week vacation. She returned to Harlem after her well-needed vacation in Arkansas and participated in protests against lynching and the social injustices to black Americans. She realized that her wealth status gave her a voice people would listen to, so she became more outspoken on political issues and disenfranchisement. In late 1916, Walker built her dream house in a wealthy community north of New York City. Her purchase made head-line news in the paper, and shocked many white residents. To help
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.
Texts and their appropriations reflect the context and values of their times. Within Shakespeare’s Othello and Geoffrey Sax’s appropriation of Othello, the evolution of the attitudes held by Elizabethan audiences and those held by contemporary audiences can be seen through the context of the female coupled with the context of racism. The role of the female has developed from being submissive and “obedient” in the Elizabethan era to being independent and liberated within the contemporary setting. The racism of the first text is overtly xenophobic and natural, whilst the “moor” is unnatural whereas the updated context portrays Othello’s race as natural and racism as unnatural. Therefore these examples show how Shakespeare’s Othello, and it’s appropriation, Geoffrey sax’s Othello, reflect the context and values of their times.
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. His difference is not constructed as “otherness.” Othello, by his nature, is not an “otherized” character. Besides being the dark-skinned Moor, Othello varies in no real way from the other characters in the play. Further, Othello and Iago can be seen as two sides of the same destructive coin. With Iago as a foil and subversive adversary, Othello is not faulted for the indiscretions he commits. It is the invention and projection of otherness by various characters in the play, especially Iago, which set the stage for the tragedy of dissimilarity which is to ensue.
As you can see, Iago doesn’t waste any time starting to discharge his emotions toward others for his disliking for Othello. Voicing his opinion, Iago calls Othello an “old black ram” but then again he also calls the citizens “snorting” which calls for his abhorrence personality.
The audience at this point know nothing of Othello that is gained by their own opinion, instead we are lead to believe from Iago’s race related description that Othello is a threatening and evil moor, whose beastial sexual appetite, conveyed by Iago’s cries to Brabantio, telling him that ‘an old black ram is tupping’ his ‘white ewe’ (1.1.89), is something of a rapist. Iago’s coarse animal related language conveys Iago’s feelings against Othello’s marriage in a much more pronounced way. The image of an ‘old black ram’ gives the audience nothing but negative images of Othello, especially when this ‘old black ram’ is being associated with the innocence of a ‘white ewe’. Iago then associates Othello with the image of ‘the devil’ (1.1.92) because of Othello’s colour, Iago warns Brabantio that he has ‘lost half [his] soul’ now that Desdemona is married to Othello. Iago here emphasises the biracial nature of the marriage, already showing his ability to manipulate people, in this case he is manipulating Brabantio, to believe in Iago’s own opinions and in theory to eliminate all thoughts that Brabantio might of had of his own about the marriage.
Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little May 19, in 1925, he was the fourth of eight children born to Louise and Earl Little. Malcolm X father was a member of the Universal Negro Improvement Association his mother was a homemaker. Malcolm X experienced racism while in his mother s wound. At the age of 4 Malcolm X remembered hooded Ku Klux Klan members destroying their home. Racism continued to over shatter their lives. Therefore, his father decided to move the family from Omaha to East Lansing.