Othello is a play based on love and rivalry. It is a romantic tragedy, a popular writing topic for Shakespeare. In this essay I will be discussing how love is portrayed between Othello and Desdemona. To effectively show the level of love between Othello and Desdemona Shakespeare must use different techniques, including language and structure. Features like these can decipher the love between Othello and Desdemona.
As we don’t straight away meet Othello we have to listen and trust the words of Iago and Brabantio. From their conversation in Act 1 Scene 1. We therefore misjudge the characters and see Othello as the malcontent and Iago as the poor Hero for whom Othello as denied the promotion. But upon first meeting Othello we realise how Iago is the desperado and Othello is actually a kind man. By the end of Act 1 scene 2 my opinion of Othello had completely changed. He is very polite and well mannered. Unlike the other male characters he feels no need for violence. Even though he is spoken of with little admiration he is a very powerful soldier and a brave man.
At the start of Act 1 Scene 1 we get a very negative impression of Othello as a person, and as a soldier. We find this impression from Iago when to talks to Roderigo. You also discover this from the upsetting accusations from Brabantio in the first scene. Brabantio accuses Othello of stealing his daughter with witchcraft. We see this from such descriptions as “thou foul thief” and “abuser of the world”. After this we perceive Othello as dirty, and disrespectful. He is treated as though he has low status and power. The language used to describe Othello portrays him as a villain and as he is never called by his name but only “the moor” we get a very clear view of how he is distinguished from other soldiers and treated.
Through the language Shakespeare uses in Othello’s speech it clearly shows the