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Irony in Shakespeare
Characterisation iago from othello
Irony of Othello
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Recommended: Irony in Shakespeare
Shakespeare implies much irony in the play through the use of ironic devices. He shows use of verbal, dramatic, and situational irony. Through the use of irony Shakespeare sparks an interest in the reader on to what will occur as the play unravels. Verbal irony is one of the highly used ironic devices Shakespeare inputs, in many parts of the play. In some of the lines the meaning of words are the opposite of what Shakespeare is expressing. For instance, he uses Othello, as one who constantly refers to Iago as, “Honest Iago” (V.ii 92). As the readers we know Iago's capabilities and how “Honest” is a word that doesn’t represent or define Iago in any circumstance. Through a continuous use of Dramatic irony Shakespeare also allows the reader to
Iago’s Use of Rhetorical Strategies to Manipulate Othello in Shakespeare’s Othello. Rhetorical strategies are continually used to get a point across, or to manipulate another. Iago uses many devices to put false accusations into Othello’s head. In lines 330-447 in Act 3 scene 3, Iago uses rhetorical questioning, imagery, and sarcasm.
Dramatic Irony is when an author allows the reader to know more than his/her characters in the story. This technique is used by the authors to add suspense to their literature. Edgar Allen Poe created many suspenseful stories using dramatic irony for the purpose of creating themes about human nature. In the short story “The Cask Of Amontillado,” Edgar Allen Poe uses dramatic irony to develop the theme that one should be careful about insulting another because he/she will seek revenge.
In Sophocles: The Theban Plays E. F. Watling comments on Sophocles’ usage of dramatic irony in his dramas: “. . . that powerful and subtle weapon of ‘dramatic irony’ which Sophocles used with especial skill, whereby the audience can judge every speech and action of the play in the light of their previous knowledge of the situation” (12). M. H. Abrams defines dramatic irony as a situation wherein:
One example of expertly used irony is when Hamlet is talking to his mother when he hears a noise behind the curtains, so he stabs the figure behind the tapestries thinking it is Claudius, “How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead!” (3, 4, 24), only to find out it is Polonius. This irony can be interpreted as dramatic irony, because the audience knows Polonius is behind the curtains while Hamlet does not. It can also be interpreted as situational irony, because Hamlet suspects that the person spying on him is Claudius. Wanting to avenge his father, he stabs him through the curtain but it turned out to be Polonius. Doing this initiates a chain of events that lead to his tragic death. Another prime example of irony increasing the enjoyment of the readers for the past 400 years is when Laertes is killed by his own poisoned sword. When Osric asks Laertes how he is doing right after he was scratched with his own sword, Laertes responds, “Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric. I am justly killed with mine own treachery.” (5, 2, 308-309). It is quite ironic that Laertes is murdered by his own plan. One would expect Laertes to draw first blood as he is a better skilled swordsman than Hamlet. However, he dies by poison first because the sword that was intended to kill Hamlet was used on him; this is situational irony. Irony brings a greater depth to the story.
Sophocles’s Antigone uses irony in it to show the quality of characters like Creon and Antigone. Irony was used to bring out the true character in each person in his plays. Sophocles uses irony many times with Creon and Antigone to show who they really were. Sophocles purpose with portraying irony in his writing was to show Antigone as rude and blunt, and to show Creon as prideful and sexist.
1. Irony is a useful device for giving stories many unexpected twists and turns. In Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," irony is used very effectively in her story. Situational irony is used to show the reader what is assumed to happen sometimes doesn't. Dramatic irony is used to hint to the reader something is happening to the characters in the story that they do not know about. Irony is used throughout Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" through the use of situational irony and the use of dramatic irony.
Verbal irony is when someone says one thing but, means another. An example of verbal irony in the play is when Procter is in the courthouse and says that Elizabeth can not lie and then she does. “In her life, sir, she have never lied. There are them that cannot sing, and them that cannot weep, my wife cannot lie. I have paid much to learn it, sir” (pg 973 Miller Act 3), “Look at me! To your knowledge, has John Procter ever committed the crime of lechery? Answer my question! Is your husband a leacher!” (pg 974 Miller Act 3), “No, sir” (pg 974 Miller Act 3). Another example of verbal irony is when Abigail is in the court house and she is doing Gods work, but really she is doing the devils by getting all the girls to act like they see Mary’s spirit too. “Oh, Mary this is a black art to change your shape. No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it’s God’s work I do” (pg 975 Miller Act 3). Dramatic irony is when the readers know something that the characters do not. One example of dramatic irony is when Abigail acts like she sees Mary Warrens spirit, but she really does not. “Oh, Mary, this is a black art to change your shape. No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it’s God’s work I do” (pg 975 Miller Act 3), “Mary Warren! Draw back your spirit out of them!” (pg 975 Miller Act 3). Another example of dramatic irony is when Elizabeth was asked why she discharged Abigail she said that she did not satisfy
the play, it seemed that Othello was the only one who didn't know the truth.
Through the combination of the two different types of irony, Shakespeare wasn’t only able to deliver his message, but was also successful in creating a comedy out of it at the same time. By using situational irony, he was able to create plot twists for the audience and make things more interesting. While dramatic irony was used mainly to create a comedic effect for the play. When combined, Shakespeare was able to deliver his message while making a point out of it looking from his perspective. “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind. ” (Pg.
Through admirable pieces of written work that have stood the test of time, skillful authors have shown the use of irony to be an effective means of accentuating important themes and characters. In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the dramatic use of various levels of irony distinctly outlines key themes and aspect of characters that are crucial to the play. The use of dramatic, verbal, and situational irony bring intensity to Shakespeare’s tragedy by emphasizing its key elements. Shakespeare skillfully incorporates dramatic irony on several occasion throughout the play to highlight key traits of the main characters and major themes.
Iago's manipulative nature has a profound effect on the decisions made by other characters in Shakespeare's ‘Othello’. Through his relations with those around him Shakespear characterizes him as a man full of malice, vengeance and dishonesty that is wholly inspired by jealousy. Furthermore it would appear that Iago has an exceptional ability to scheme, a talent which he uses to snake his way into the lives of others and exploit them through their weaknesses. Whether he does this for profit or for pleasure is a separate issue.
Examples of this are when Macbeth says Banquo. “Tonight we hold a solemn supper, sir, And I’ll request your presence (III, i, 13-14)” or when he says “Fail not our feast (III, i, 28).” Verbal irony makes the play more tragic. because, if the reader understands the irony of what a character is saying, then the reader can see the true nature and intentions of the character. Another type of irony Shakespeare used is the irony of a situation.
Without the ironic events and characters the play loses its wit and can not completely convey its themes. In Hamlet, the irony that exists is dramatic irony as shown by this quote, “How strange or odd some'er I bear myself As I perchance hereafter shall think meet To put an antic disposition on” (Shakespeare I.V.199-200). Hamlet said this to Horacio and the audience, it's considered dramatic irony since the other characters do not know that he is feigning insanity. This is important to the plot since the plot is based around his insanity. The whole idea of the characters not knowing something is important to both stories.
Shakespeare's use of puns in Act four of Othello carried out with a sinister tone of the speaker: Iago. Opposed to Acts I and II, where the uses of puns contributed to Iago’s slander of Othello, Iago is convincing Othello to be on board with his plans. I noticed that this was situational irony in the instance of puns because while they are used to destroy Othello’s reputation, Iago says them to acquire Othello’s trust. Meanwhile, Iago is bolstering his stature in the community, he is undermining that of other charActers. Othello’s first step at confronting Desdemona exhibits this when he questions “are not you a strumpet” (Act 4 Scene 2 line 94).”
William Shakespeare wrote works that are typically known for their tales of love, drama, and tragedy. While there are a diverse number of themes in Shakespeare's many plays, it is not often that many of the works are associated with irony. One work in particular, Othello, is mainly recalled as a story of deception, jealousy, and even racism, but seldom is the story analyzed for its use of direct contradiction and cynicism. For example, the villain of the story receives more attention than the protagonist though it is named after him, the vocabulary within the dialogue is opposite of the theme, and there are multiple characters that are perceived as one way though shown as another. There is a large amount of various kinds of irony used in Othello,