Comparing Othello 'And Hot Power Of Passion'

Analysis of Exam Essays
Essay Analysis – Part A
After reading, reflecting and analyzing the sample responses provided, I am able to gain knowledge on the structure of an essay and the impact that sophisticated language has on how to express specific ideas and also, how to present a thorough understanding of the play. In every provided response, the use of textual evidence is accurate and relevant and provides an almost precise understanding of the question. Each student has successfully examined the use of language throughout Othello and provided a comprehensive response regarding the question and further discussing the impact of language, showing “the cool logic of persuasion” and “the hot power of passion”. Through reading these responses,
I am able to concentrate on aspects of my own work that need to be worked on and implement the same or similar strategies as these responses have provided. I have also learnt that my use of language needs to be addressed, more focused on the play then making a particular sentence seem sophisticated.
Sample Response 1, a well above average response, is an accurate and detailed response referring directly to the question with the provision of examples, explanation and sophisticated language. It has a strong and thorough argument, reflecting on the central characters and challenges and particular concepts of the play such as motives and devices. It argues the consistency of play, and therefore provides a strong and accurate discussion regarding the course of the plot and its influence towards the changing personality of the characters. The analogy of humans and animals towards instincts provides a highly developed idea towards love being a ‘sect or scion’, and furthermore discusses the animal incentives, to feed and hunt etc, with the idea of love being a ‘plantation’ device in which humans ‘feed’ on, I think is an interesting and appealing analogy and idea towards humans and animals and the use of bestial imagery reflecting on the characters. The structure of the play was very organized and every paragraph was the explanation of a new idea, and there was no repetition towards any ideas discussed. Overall, the response attained highly sophisticated and relevant language and discussed the statement accurately providing reason and pertinent quotations.
Sample response 2, well above average response, was very similar to the first response as it provided adequate reasoning. An interesting concept discussed in the repose was the idea of logic, although the quotes passage is based on logic, she discusses whether the play I logical or not. She refers to logic being merely a tool or a skill rather then a defiant technique and that there are far more powerful forces at work then logic. This idea, I feel, is very relevant towards the question, which I think is an aspect I need to work on. I tend to ramble and discuss my own ideas rather then argue or discuss the thoughts that are asked for in the question. Although through this response, lists of quotes have been implemented in the writing, which is something that I should not imitate in my own work. The structure of the answer and argument is very precise and thorough, and the use of strong statements is persuasive and provides reasoning for her ideas. Her use of language such as gilded youth and the comparison of a chameleon, are very well thought through showing that her knowledge of the play is strong.
Overall, I think I learnt a lot about the structure of an argument and how to convey ideas with a ‘flowing’ sense of direction and also the use of crafty vocabulary not sophisticated words and large synonymic words, which is a weakness of my writing. Many of the writing techniques are familiar in my writing such that I am able to express and prove the existence of a particular quote, although many of my techniques need to be worked on and I think that these responses, including response 3 and 4, have provided a great start for my writing.

Essay Final
In Shakespeare’s Othello, language is a key factor determining the exposure of each characteristic of fraudulence, honesty, gullibility and strength. The exposure of each characteristic is determined by the durability of human nature and each characters capacity to secure their emotions. The statement is true only to a particular extent, questioning whether ALL men are gullible and frauds and ONLY women have strength and honesty. Each character cannot be classified to possess a particular trait; they have the ability to portray different behaviors depending on the situation and circumstances. Othello’s prevailing character demonstrates the traits of being strong due to high stature but also portraying a gullible and easily persuaded character. Desdemona can be depicted as a powerful character as she rebels against her father and against the Venetian society but can also be seen as weak as she becomes a victim of her own fate. Although, Iago’s character is consistent, portraying fraudulence and deceit, throughout the play. Each character in Othello has an evolutionary character and each aspect of the characters has been exposed throughout Othello, testing the hypothesis that all men in Othello are gullible or frauds; only the women have strength and honesty.

Throughout the course of play, the character Othello displays a nature of being both powerful and strong although, can be seen as gullible.
Othello is a simplistic character, driven my honour and reputation, while still particularly prone to jealousy as his state-of-mind language demonstrates. Othello’s publically branded image of being valiant displays his honorable and strong character and the “services which I have done the signiory, shall out-tongue his complaints”, valuing his character of being worthy of high statute and reputation as he serves the society desirably. Othello’s nature is undoubtedly prone to jealousy and as a result, is unusually open to deception and innuendo promoting his character and being gullible. Othello admits his weakness through the thought of losing Desdemona and states that “chaos will come again, when I do no love thee!” leaving an open door to the possibilities of deceit for Iago. The sincerity that Othello contains makes him the epitome of strength despite the malevolent scheming of Iago corrupting his character, making him an object of defeat. Iago is able to successfully convince Othello that he is honest and trustworthy through “pouring this pestilence” into his ear. The ‘pouring’ action reflects the continuous behaviour of Iago, drenching Othello in manipulative language and furthermore persuading his character to believe unsupported theories. Othello’s character can be depicted as both strong and gullible, showing that his character cannot be categorized entirely as being only
gullible.

The statement, declaring that men are frauds, can be justified by the obvious master manipulator, Iago. His malevolent, cunning and hazardous character expresses true fraudulence as he plots schemes to achieve his desires, whilst corrupting all other characters by lying. Iago uses the power of suggestion to fuel Othello’s unwarranted fury against Desdemona, he suggests to “do it not with poison but to strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated”. He plants this lie in Othello’s head in order to provoke the barbaric nature that society set out for him to fulfill. Iago assumes “the Moor is of a free and open nature, that thinks men honest but seem to be so, and will as tenderly be led by the node, as asses are”, and therefore gives Iago the idea to present himself as honest, to Othello, in order to successfully gain personal power and is therefore a factor of being fraudulent. Iago has the ability to threaten Othello’s value of control by targeting his weakness and gullibility, and consequently, he lays out his plan against Othello to “even with him, wife for wife”. Iago’s character is so sophisticated and skillful that doubt of truthfulness is rarely thought of, his outward appearance of calm, ‘honest’ and supportive helps to deter people from thinking that he is a villainous character. Men, referring to Iago, are frauds as Iago is able to use his powerful and manipulative use of language against the other characters to gain his own personal desire.

Women, throughout Othello, are represented to honour the conventions of the Venetian society, such that they are of lower class then male characters and are seen to be objects of affection. Desdemona is portrayed as an ideal character for affection, such that she is seen as “a maid, so tender, fair and happy” although we come to realise that she possesses strength and independence when she stands up to her father in order to marry Othello, pointing out that she does “perceive here a divided duty”. Her announcement establishes her courage and strength towards her conviction and shows that she has rebelled against the conventions of the Venetian society. Although going against her father may seem ‘dishonest’, the misogyny of women become clear, as a restriction of what Desdemona wants to express and further proves her strength to rebel. The honest nature of Desdemona is apparent in her persistent loyalty to Othello from beginning to end, despite the criticism and harassment that is inflicted upon her by the male characters. Desdemona’s last words, “Nobody, I myself, Farewell, Commend me to my kind lord, O farewell.” prove that her innocence to Othello is a lost cause and instead lives the last of her moments to forgive him for assuming that her goodness and virtue were the true cause of her death. The symbolic nature of Desdemona’s death-by-suffocation literally explains how the misogyny and constraints that men and society inflict upon her have suffocated her to death, causing her to lose strength in light of her honesty. Desdemona’s character of strength and honesty is portrayed as being suffocated by the conventions of society such that men are the superior beings that are meant to control a women’s life, and the strength that Desdemona portrays, shows that she has courage to express her feelings and strive for what she desires but in the end, is still suffocated by the societies views that men will always have power over women, although I do not agree that ONLY women can portray honesty and strength throughout Othello.

Emilia, also having an influential role in the outcomes of the play, is under the allusion of Iago that she must abide by his rules as society would suspect and therefore falls a victim of tragedy. The audience is able to reflect upon the true cause of her passive nature and the paradox of actions that she displays after Desdemona’s death. Her honesty to Desdemona is overridden by her desire to satisfy Iago, “not I. nothing but to please his fantasy”. The word nothing reflects on her internalization of having only one single purpose in life, in which to satisfy men, referring to the men once again as being superior. Although, through the course of the play, Emilia begins to contradict her purpose, “I will not charm my tongue, for I am bound to speak. My mistress lies murdered in her bed”, showing true and final strength and refuses to obey Iago nay longer. Her use of short and direst sentence is used to emphasize to society that men should no longer have “charmed their tongue” for men and stand up for women to have their right of speech. Emilia’s assertion of strength comes later in the play and can be criticized for bad timing although can be understood as being downgraded and oppressed by men by not having the right of speech and therefore expressing her power and strength to the audience. Women do posses the characteristics of being honest and strong and it is argued that when they have the power to act for themselves, these ideas of strength and honesty are conveyed.

The patent differences of gender are questioned throughout the course of the play as each character ends with having expressed their true qualities, whether that is fraudulent, gullible, strong or honest. My agreement with the statement is only to an extent such that there is a clear demonstration of fraudulence and gullibility possessed by men in Othello, although cannot be categorized as being only either of those qualities. Women in Othello, although being honest and strong cannot only be branded to posses these qualities as they can be seen as gullible to manipulation of Iago. The tension between the feminist viewpoints and the ‘men are more superior’ viewpoints are ones that serve to reinforce gender inequality throughout the dialogue.