Conventions In Othello

How does the text conform to, or deviate from, the conventions of a particular genre, and for what purpose? The tragedy play, one that has captivated many for its effectiveness in understanding the human flaws and how they can lead to eventual downfall is one that Shakespeare’s plays embody. However, there is such a play that contains these elements, yet it manipulates the genre’s conventions for a new effect, the play Othello. This play is centered around a Moorish noble, a soldier who faces conflict regarding his beloved Venetian wife. The themes present in this play are that of trust, jealousy, honesty, love, stereotypes, friendship, and above all deception. Through the use of all of these themes, it sets the stage for how Shakespeare
This is seen through a comic foundation that the play has (Kenneth Muir), primarily seen how this play depends a lot on plot. In the case of Iago, after almost each scene he talks to himself “onstage” telling the audience what he plans to do, this device being called dramatic irony, is comical but is used to emphasize the fear and pity one feels for the couple as they are deceived by one man. Yet, in other ways it shows how Shakespeare kept the flaw element in order to keep the classical touch of catharsis in his play, while also using it to reveal the truth about human nature. Readers may feel more pity for Desdemona, who is innocent and often depicted as unaware of what she is being accused of. In the scene where Iago and Cassio talk about Bianca, unbeknownst to Cassio Othello listens in and believes they are discussing on his wife, which not only allows for the plot to run along, but shows the way in which Shakespeare modified the tragedy structure. Shakespeare modifies the structure in which Othello is driven to his tragic fall due to his emotions and morals, which can be clearly seen when he is blinded by jealousy when he questions Desdemona about her handkerchiefs whereabouts. The fact that Othello is introduced by other characters through dialogue shows how
Othello is much like Romeo and Juliet in the essence that their love was pure, however Othello depicted the separation of lovers through internal conflicts as opposed to external conflicts, which helps to understand that Shakespeare used the Aristotle structure in a way that tragedy can be “concerned with domestic and family relationships” (Britannica School). Additionally, with both conforming and deviating from the Aristotle tragedy, Shakespeare was able to create a play that would stand the test of time and evoke the same feelings of pity and fear while also exposing human