Analysis of Act One of Othello by William Shakespeare Act 1 is an exceptionally indicative passage of writing in which
Shakespeare attempts to divulge the coarse essence of Iago's nature to
the audience. Indeed, by the conclusion of line 66 the audience not
only understands - in broad terms - Iago's motives and grievances, but
also something of the manner in which he intends to consummate
vengeance against his ostensible antagonists. Iago's interactions with
Roderigo also serve to adumbrate, or perhaps anticipate, his adroit
manipulation of those under his sphere of influence throughout the
text.
It is a credit to Shakespeare's astuteness that he is able to present
the crucial circumstances of the play well before the end of the first
act. During the formative stages of Act 1, Iago's argument with
Roderigo provides a context for both men's grievances. Initially
Roderigo accuses Iago of cheating him, of using his money 'as if the
strings [of his purse] were [his]' (I i 3), and only later is
Roderigo's obsession with Desdemona (and subsequent dislike of
Othello) revealed. Iago uses unambiguous language to describe his
grievances, essentially asserting that he was entitled to gain the
promotion gifted to Cassio - 'the bookish theoric' - through an act of
cronyism whereby Iago had been unjustly overlooked by the corrupt
system of promotion whereby 'Preferment goes by letter and affection'
(I i 36). Iago later goes on in scene 3 to refer to the possibility
that Othello has been intimate with his wife, Emilia, and though he
himself is the first to admit ...
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...t fact to his advantage to cause Othello's downfall. So Iago
proves his own case for the virtues of insincerity and the dangers of
honesty, and thereby concludes with the line 'I am not what I am.'
This declaration epitomises the character of Iago, being a statement
that describes not only his present state, but serves to describe his
way of being. Everything Iago does is false, directed toward achieving
his own ends. Even during his declaration his interlocutor, Roderigo,
is being subjected to Iago's falsity, scorn and utter disdain. While
he explicates his detestation of abject servitude, he holds the same
silent contempt for Roderigo himself, whom he sees as an idiotic and
subservient human being. It is, then, ironic that the only person with
whom he shares his contempt for the grovelling servant, is one of his
own.
of tune”, is a lark, not a nightingale and thus it are dawn and Romeo
The Tragedy of Othello by William Shakespeare is a great work by a great author. Shakespeare was correct in titling it The Tragedy of Othello because Othello lost so much. In the literary sense, a tragedy is the downfall of a character through that character's own flaws. The way most people see a tragedy is a story where there is much suffering and loss, and a not so happy ending. No matter way one looks at it, literary or public sense, this was a correct title. The main character, Othello, brought his own downfall upon him through his flaws, caused the suffering of many people, and he himself loss very much. All of these factors pile up to equal a big tragedy.
The European Renaissance forever changed the life of the contemporary individual. Explosive advancements in education, technology, and trade broadened geographic and mental horizons; however, in England these developments were paired with population crises of poverty and unemployment. In addition, the increased interaction with foreign cultures fomented by various commercial and diplomatic engagements gave rise to apprehension in English sensibility. Eventually, Christian England would attempt to reshape these ‘strangers’ in their image and modern racial tensions sprung forth. Recursion of the trope of race, under the guise of blackness, heathenry, or even femininity occurs extensively in literary tradition, and especially within Shakespeare’s oeuvre. “There exists in all literature an archetypal figure who escapes both poles of the classic definition – appearing sometimes as hero, sometimes as villain, sometimes as clown…[he] has been named variously the ‘shadow,’ the ‘other,’ the ‘alien,’ the ‘outsider,’ the ‘stranger.’” It is with this borderline figure, mired in ambiguity, that this investigation is concerned: primarily with the stranger as the Moor in Othello, the Welsh in Henry IV, Part 1, and the woman in both.
Picture this- William Harold Shakespeare, the most coveted playwriter in the history of the world, sitting at his desk, perspicaciously pondering over what shall become his most prominant and delicated tragedy of yet. Of course, given what little is known about Shakespeere displays, such deepseated imagery cannot simply be accomplished without first the propriety of haste and vinction.And yet, his very own rhetorical vibe displays allows such a vague pictoration to be concieved. Throughout the whole of Othello, the great Shakespeare remarks through an astounding displays show of pronouns, allitteration, and cacophonous diction his own resentment of both the King of Italy and the poor conditions of the said novelist.
11 Dec. 2011. The "Othello". Shakespeare for Students: Critical Interpretations of Shakespeare's Plays and Poetry. Ed. Anne Marie Hacht.
Shakespeare, William. Othello. Ed. Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2009. Print
The play “Othello” by William Shakespeare was written in 1604 during the Elizabeth era. Othello is one of the most extraordinary characters in all of Shakespeare’s dramas. He enjoyed unheralded success in the combat zone, which gave him the reputation as one of Venice’s most competent generals. Even though he has great success in the battlefield, he has a dramatic flaw that causes a downfall in his life. The dramatic flaw that causes his downfall is jealousy. This was brought on by a simple persuasion of Iago, the evil character in the play. Even though Iago used extreme manipulation to get Othello to be jealous, Iago did not really have to try very hard to get Othello in a jealous state of mind. Othello was blinded by his jealousy which led him down a path of constant questioning of his wife and his friend Cassio. Throughout the play we see his dramatic flaw sink him deeper and deeper into a cloud of doubt which eventually leads him to kill not only his love of his life but also himself.
Jones, Eldred. "Othello- An Interpretation" Critical Essays on Shakespeare's Othello. Ed. Anthony G. Barthelemy Pub. Macmillan New York, NY 1994. (page 39-55)
Othello is a man of romantic nature. He fell in love with the beautiful Desdemona. He was accused of stealing her away from her father. Othello was of a different race and did not fit in with her family. Othello makes a plea for Desdemona and tells his story which wooed her to begin with. Othello tells of the love that her father showed him since his boyish days. This was like a match made in heaven that overcame many obstacles which got in their way. Othello could not understand why he was good enough to work and fight alongside of her father, but was not good enough for his daughter.
the quote above. Iago is using Othello to get want he wants and it is
"Othello." Shakespeare for Students: Critical Interpretations of Shakespeare's Plays and Poetry. Ed. Anne Marie Hacht. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2007. 649-87. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. .
Barthelemy, Anthony G. "Introduction" Critical Essays on Shakespeare's Othello. Ed. Anthony G. Barthelemy Pub. Macmillan New York, NY 1994. (page 1-19)
Internal and external struggles influence people to action, be it swift and daring or cunning and low. In Shakespeare's plays, the events around and within a character often combine to cause a character to act in a manner that would be considered out of character or unnatural for the person. Shakespeare uses these characters to provide the audience with a lesson or theme; to give them something they can apply to life and see learn from. In Othello, the character he uses as an example is, in fact, Othello. Shakespeare informs his readers of how doubts caused by rumors and lies can lead to the breakdown of even a once noble person.
Analysis of an Extract from William Shakespeare's Othello In the play 'Othello', four characters are murdered. The character Iago, who manipulated certain characters into wanting to kill them. Desdemona, Emilia, Othello, and Roderigo, are killed. Iago originally did this out of jealousy of Othello and Roderigo. The deaths of these four characters were inevitable.
William Shakespeare's Othello is a tragic play consisting of five acts. Although each act is not of equal importance, each serves a distinct role that affects the quality of the play in its entirety. Removing any act would therefore greatly diminish the final product of this play; consequently, reducing the play's appeal to the audience. Since Act I satisfies several essential purposes, removing it would be a mistake. Ultimately, we would no longer be seeing Othello the way Shakespeare had intended us to.