Othello Esssay
“In a play concerned with good and evil, with deceit and honesty, Desdemona is the refined, uncomplicated embodiment of goodness and purity.”
Does this statement resonate with your own interpretation of Othello?
The play, Othello, written by William Shakespeare is most definitely a play that is concerned with good and evil, and Desdemona does reflect the good in the play and remains the victim throughout. Throughout the play the reader is presented with a battle between the deceitful forces of evil and the innocence of good. It is these forces of evil drive the plot and ultimately leads to the breakdown of Othello.
Throughout the play, Iago is undeniably the principal form of evil- a character that knowingly manipulates others, murders, and thieves in order to benefit himself; leading to the collapse of the all forms of good in the play, including Desdemona. In addition to this, Iago uses the weaknesses in Othello, specifically jealousy and his devotion to things as they seem, to conquer his opposite of Desdemona. Through Iago’s soliloquies the audience sees his truly evil personality and schemes, and throughout his soliloquies, Iago's diction remains dark, contemptuous, and vengeful. "Content my soul, Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife" (2.1,300). Shakespeare portrays Iago dehumanising other characters through language, showing his lack of human qualities, such as empathy. The metaphorical use of “my purse” in the quote, “Thus do I ever make my fool my purse” diminishes Roderigo’s role in the play and his value as a human being by equating him to mere money- this shows how unconcerned Iago is in regards to the well-being of others. In contrast to Iago, Desdemona’s soft-natured character is incapable of castigating her husband’s actions and remains blindingly loyal. Her steadfast character does not fall prey to weak pleas as she eschews any other possibilities to question Othello's vagabond-like behaviour. "Men's natures wrangle with inferior things" says
Does this statement resonate with your own interpretation of Othello?
The play, Othello, written by William Shakespeare is most definitely a play that is concerned with good and evil, and Desdemona does reflect the good in the play and remains the victim throughout. Throughout the play the reader is presented with a battle between the deceitful forces of evil and the innocence of good. It is these forces of evil drive the plot and ultimately leads to the breakdown of Othello.
Throughout the play, Iago is undeniably the principal form of evil- a character that knowingly manipulates others, murders, and thieves in order to benefit himself; leading to the collapse of the all forms of good in the play, including Desdemona. In addition to this, Iago uses the weaknesses in Othello, specifically jealousy and his devotion to things as they seem, to conquer his opposite of Desdemona. Through Iago’s soliloquies the audience sees his truly evil personality and schemes, and throughout his soliloquies, Iago's diction remains dark, contemptuous, and vengeful. "Content my soul, Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife" (2.1,300). Shakespeare portrays Iago dehumanising other characters through language, showing his lack of human qualities, such as empathy. The metaphorical use of “my purse” in the quote, “Thus do I ever make my fool my purse” diminishes Roderigo’s role in the play and his value as a human being by equating him to mere money- this shows how unconcerned Iago is in regards to the well-being of others. In contrast to Iago, Desdemona’s soft-natured character is incapable of castigating her husband’s actions and remains blindingly loyal. Her steadfast character does not fall prey to weak pleas as she eschews any other possibilities to question Othello's vagabond-like behaviour. "Men's natures wrangle with inferior things" says