Othello Essay
3. “Shakespeare exposes our dark and dangerous dreams for the purpose of improving our lives.”
Discuss the aptness of this statement with reference to one or more Shakespearean plays you have studied.
Two parts, Ambition and Revenge. Two major themes in both Hamlet and Othello. Make constant 9
Ambition
Shakespeare warns audiences against ‘dangerous or amoral ambition’ through the tragedy format.
Both Iago and King Claudius fail at what they attempt to do or at maintaining their new position of power. King Claudius ends up dead (Karmically poisoning his wife by accident) and Iago ends up being tortured after killing his wife. Link to Morality plays? Iago exemplifies the devil. King Claudius is a human or shows humanistic remorse but maintains his position opposing Hamlet. (Soliloquy in church)
Revenge
Shakespeare also looks at the moral wrongdoing on the side of the protagonists. Through the results of the events he produces an ‘argument’ against revenge.
Hamlet and Othello seek revenge (make comments on how both Characters are in search of order). In their completion of their revenge they both end up dying and their love interests dying and everyone around them dying. This is a pretty solid statement about the circle of violence. Look at Christian and Classical references in Hamlet for link to morality. Look at Christian/ Devil possession references in Othello for link to morality.
Link it all together by saying that with the antagonists and the protagonists their dark and dangerous dreams were inherently bad. They were acting through pride and as result they were punished by god? The Universe? Karma? The conventions of Elizabethan tragedy? Regardless they provide a proverb of living a life free of these thoughts and wishes. Therefore the dark and dangerous dreams of characters in a tragedy improve our lives.
The narcissistic intention that Iago has of bringing Othello down to his level of amorality is established in a soliloquy of the second act. “Nothing can or
Discuss the aptness of this statement with reference to one or more Shakespearean plays you have studied.
Two parts, Ambition and Revenge. Two major themes in both Hamlet and Othello. Make constant 9
Ambition
Shakespeare warns audiences against ‘dangerous or amoral ambition’ through the tragedy format.
Both Iago and King Claudius fail at what they attempt to do or at maintaining their new position of power. King Claudius ends up dead (Karmically poisoning his wife by accident) and Iago ends up being tortured after killing his wife. Link to Morality plays? Iago exemplifies the devil. King Claudius is a human or shows humanistic remorse but maintains his position opposing Hamlet. (Soliloquy in church)
Revenge
Shakespeare also looks at the moral wrongdoing on the side of the protagonists. Through the results of the events he produces an ‘argument’ against revenge.
Hamlet and Othello seek revenge (make comments on how both Characters are in search of order). In their completion of their revenge they both end up dying and their love interests dying and everyone around them dying. This is a pretty solid statement about the circle of violence. Look at Christian and Classical references in Hamlet for link to morality. Look at Christian/ Devil possession references in Othello for link to morality.
Link it all together by saying that with the antagonists and the protagonists their dark and dangerous dreams were inherently bad. They were acting through pride and as result they were punished by god? The Universe? Karma? The conventions of Elizabethan tragedy? Regardless they provide a proverb of living a life free of these thoughts and wishes. Therefore the dark and dangerous dreams of characters in a tragedy improve our lives.
The narcissistic intention that Iago has of bringing Othello down to his level of amorality is established in a soliloquy of the second act. “Nothing can or