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Othello and miscommunication
Why is communication important in supporting positive relationships
Critical analysis of characters in othello
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Communication in a relationship is very important for very many reasons. Throughout the play Othello, William Shakespeare suggests that without communication a relationship will most likely fail. When relationships fail, it leads to a very sad and bad break up. Whether the relationship is with a parent, sibling, family member, friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, coworker, or boss the failure to communicate will lead to a failure in the relationship.
Othello and Desdemona are a perfect example of failure of communication in a relationship. Othello believes every lie Iago is telling him which makes Desdemona look really bad. Othello doesn't ever go up to Desdemona and ask her about the handkerchief or about her recent, secretive relationship with Cassio. Othello just assumes that Iago is right about it all and doesn’t even bother to talk to Desdemona or Cassio. “Sweet soul, take heed, take heed of perjury. Thou art on thy deathbed.” (5.2.239). He decides he is now going to kill Desdemona because of everything she has done, or he thought she did. He could've prevented all the killings and drama from happening by having a single conversation with Desdemona and maybe even putting a little trust in her. Failure to
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Though Cassio was not the one who got himself drunk or started a fight with Montano, Othello decided to believe what Iago was leading him to believe. But Othello decided to believe everything Iago told him and never gave Cassio a chance to redeem himself. If Othello should have communicated with the others about Cassio or waited until Cassio was sober enough to defend himself. If he would have done that, his friendship with Cassio would still be present, Cassio would still be lieutenant, and their friendship would have been better than ever. (3.3.117). Again, failure to communicate in a relationship will lead to a failure in the
Even before Iago exerts his influence over Othello, we can observe the inklings of Othello’s insecurity and the doubt he has regarding his relationship with Desdemona. During his audience with the Duke, Othello describes the circumstances by which he became acquainted with Desdemona. He says on the occasions that he told Brabantio of his life stories, he would also tell Desdemona the same stories. Then, Othello self-consciously proposes that the sole reason why Desdemona loves him is because she pitied his misfortunes: “She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them” (I.iii.193-194). Othello feels way because as
Desdemona's naivety is the prime cause of the conflict in "Othello" because she doesn't know that Iago is depriving her in Othello's mind by using her actions against her. Desdemona loves Othello, but also is benevolent in helping anyone even if it might be practiced against her. Cassio asked Desdemona if she can help get Othello's trust back, only as Othello and Iago enters they see Cassio leave and gets a bit
The death of Desdemona is a result of the lies and manipulation of Othello and Cassio by Iago. 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 from Bianca.
Throughout the play Othello is convinced by Iago that Desdemona has had an affair with Cassio, when really Iago is trying to bring as much misery into Othello’s life as he possibly can. At one point Othello, Desdemona, and a few others are talking with Desdemona’s cousin and everything that Desdemona says helps to convince Othello that she is in love with Cassio. Eventually Othello gets mad enough and slaps her in which she reacts in a much different manner than most women of that time period would have. “Othello: I am glad to see you mad. Desdemona: Why, sweet Othello - Othello:Devil! [Strikes her.] Desdemona: I have not deserved this (4,1,217-220).” This is not the only time we see Desdemona tell Othello that he is wrong in his actions. Later, in act four, he calls her a “whore” and accuses her of sleeping around and rather than taking the heat and dealing with the verbal abuse Desdemona speaks out. “Othello:...Impudent strumpet! Desdemona: By heaven, you do me wrong! (4,2,81-82).” Desdemona tries throughout the rest of the play to convince Othello that she is faithful to him and loves him, but as hard much as she tries Othello does not believes any of it and ends up killing her. Shakespeare has made this very vocal female character to show women that even if they were to speak their mind and try to defend themselves no man would ever believe
Iago talks about jealousy and deception in this same scene, but never gives any proof or direct descriptions of Desdemona's betrayal. Yet we know that Othello's perception has been sufficiently influenced to make him angry and sick by the end of this conversation. He tells Desdemona he has a headache, but he refuses any help from her. When she puts her handkerchief to his head, he pushes it away saying, "your napkin is too little" (3.3.285). This takes on more significance later on in the play when we find out that this handkerchief is the first token of love Othello ever gave to Desdemona.
Desdemona pleads with him and tries to convince him that she would never betray him and that she has never proclaimed love, neither physically or verbally, to Cassio. No matter how much she tries to convince Othello, all fingers point to Cassio because they find the handkerchief in his possession.
Another key element that was used was courtly love, where Shakespeare mocks by how he wrote the interactions between Othello and Desdemona. After further researching the term courtly love and the concept of the courtier, it confirmed my original understanding of the interactions between Cassio and Desdemona; which can likened to that of a lady and her knight of that of who hold no actual desire for physical romance between them. As well as added more depth in how the relationship between Othello and Desdemona and how it may have formed. The story of “Othello” can be truly said to be a tragedy, but many lessons can be learnt from
The most important relationship displayed in the story is between Othello and Desdimona. Shakespeare uses many examples to illustrate how the bond between them shines in the beginning and then fades as the play progresses. At the opening of the play they are being married without Desdimona's father's consent. In this time period a father owned his daughter in a way, and held the right to choose her husband. When her father ( Brabantio) learns of the news he is furious.
“Communication to a relationship is like oxygen to life without it…it dies.” This quote, once said by Tony Gaskins, a motivational speaker and author, relates to Shakespeare 's play, Othello, because the lack of communication between Othello and his wife, Desdemona, causes him to kill her. Othello’s motivation to kill his wife was manipulated by Iago’s manipulation into believing she was having an affair with Cassio, Othello’s second in command in the military. Iago’s relationship with his wife, Emilia, also contains this similar lack of communication because he believes Emilia has been unfaithful to him multiple times. The men not communicating their beliefs to the women around them, leads the men into believing other’s rumors. This miscommunication
Iago chooses Cassio as his prey because he is the one that benefitted from Othello's overlooking of Iago. Who better to bring down? Cassio gained the position that Iago wanted, felt entitled to. Cassio was also everything that Iago was not. Cassio came from a financially comfortable background, Iago did not. Cassipo received a good education, Iago did not. Cassio's promotion to the lieutenancy was the straw that broke the camel's back.
“And what’s he then that says I play the villain? When this advice is free. I give and honest, probal to thinking, and indeed the course to win the Moor again? For tis easy Th’ inclining Desdemona to subdue in any honest suit; she’s framed as fruitful…”(2:3:295-300).
All Iago had to do was hint at Desdemona being unfaithful and Othello’s becomes very bothered it and eventually starts believing it. The author of an essay does an analysis on Iago and says “He slowly poisons people’s thoughts, creating ideas in their heads without implicating himself. Iago even says himself that the advice he gives is free and honest and thus, people rarely stop to consider the possibility that Iago is fooling them.“ (Shakespeare’s Othello – Honest Iago). So Iago would hint at something going between Desdemona and Cassio so that Othello would become bothered and ask him what he means by that, it was like a game that Iago was playing, he would drop a little hint and then expect Othello to pick up on it and start questioning it and become more even suspicious. Brabantio tells Othello “Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see. She has deceived her father, and may thee” (I.ii.286-287), So In this scene Brabantio warns Othello that Desdemona has already fooled him and she might fool him too, so be careful, and it turns out, Othello believed in him after all and that’s part of the reason of why he thinks that Desdemona is being unfaithful to him. It leads him to start questioning Desdemona in a very suspicious way. At one point he even hits her in front of a nobleman and that was very shocking to the nobleman because he believed him to be a very calm and collected gentleman but obviously he was a changed man. The nobleman even expresses his shock by saying that “My lord, this would not be believed in Venice, though I should swear I saw’t. ‘Tis very much make her amends; she weeps” (IV .i.217-219). This negative thinking and insecurity was one of the main reasons to Othello’s change in a negative way. A lot of this was Iago’s doing but it was also Othello’s fault to fall for Iago’s
Conflict is a major issue in Othello, the source for all the problems in the story all lead back to love and jealousy. Love can be an extremely powerful thing in life. It can easily draw two people closer together or simply destroy something that could have been great. Ironically similar, jealousy can tear something apart just as fast as love can. This timeless tragedy starts out in Venice, with a plot to attain revenge on Othello. Iago and Roderigo are simply jealous with the fact that Othello has promoted Cassio to his lieutenant instead of Iago, along with the bitterness they both shared towards Othello to begin with (Shakespeare for Students, Othello). Together, Iago and Roderigo have come up with a plan to ultimately push Othello over the edge. For starters, Cassio unwillingly has told Iago that he is capable to be easily intoxicated and well obviously Iago uses this information against Cassio. Long story short, Cassio has stirred up a brawl to which in the long run costs him his new status as lieutenant. After all of this goes down Iago, trying to seem like the concerning friend, convinces Cassio to speak with Desdemona, Othello’s new bride, about the situation. Luckily, so Cassio thinks, Desdemona does such and tries to talk with Othello to have his dear friend reinstated. It is possible for people to make mistake. Once again Iago uses Cassio’s ignorance against him. All through the story almost every little detail and event all leads back to the scheme of Iago. Iago is thinking this could not work out better for me, so his next thought of process is that this conversation between Othello and his dear wife Desdemona will make Othello’s mind play tricks on him. Soon there after Othello is advised to keep closer watch of hi...
Othello made the poor decision to believe the wrong people and mistrust the people that were close to him from the beginning. In the drama not once did someone other than Iago tell Othello that Cassio and Desdemona were having an affair. Othello came to a quick decision when only Iago told him about this situation and this was a poor decision. Othello said “Get me some poison, Iago, this night. I’ll not expostulate with her…”(IV.i.206-208) It shows that he came to a quick and poor conclusion to kill Desdemona.. Othello having poor judgment lead him to trust the wrong people and when he finally realized this, it lead to his
Once Iago has poisoned Othello’s mind with lies about an affair between Cassio and Desdemona, Othello becomes suspicious and distrusting of Desdemona. He is convinced that his wife is a whore, but never speaks to her about his suspicions. Othello refuses to confront Desdemona because, just as their society mandates, to him women are untrustworthy and decietful. Othello (and society) truly believes that if he asks her about Cassio, she will deny sleeping with him. Because Desdemona is a woman, she is not given a chance to speak on her own behalf. It is this same societal issue that played a part in her death. Othello the man and thus obviously stronger and more logical, suffocates Desdemona without hearing her side of the story first. The society in which they live gave Othello permission to kill Desdemona without her even really knowing why.