As of the other play, Othello, the general theme is almost as drenched in sinful feelings: revenge, jealously and lastly deception. Shortly, Othello was a moor and he married a woman called Desdemona. Another man called Iago wants his son-in-law Cassio dead, and to do so he claimed that Desdemona had showed infidelity to Cassio. This all ends in a bloodbath were Othello killed his wife and then committed suicide after he got the knowledge of the…
Discuss this statement, showing how composers of texts represent their ideas in relation to identity. In your response you must refer to Othello and one other related text.…
Othello’s path to obsession begins with Iago planting seeds of doubt into his mind, which convinces Othello that Desdemona is being unfaithful. He says to himself, “She is gone. I am abused, and my relief/Must be to loathe her” (3.3.283-84), and later claims that he “will withdraw/To furnish [him] with some swift means of death/For [Desdemona]” (3.3.492-94). These lines reveal that although there has not been any solid proof, Othello’s mind is already constantly occupied by the mere possibility of Desdemona being unfaithful to him. His obsession finally becomes clear when he says “In the due reverence of a sacred vow/I here engage my words,” (3.3.470-71). This line reveals that he is set on getting revenge for being betrayed and thus, has become a goal. It is his goal to get revenge so even when Desdemona after insists that she has done nothing wrong, Othello tells her to “confess thee freely of thy sin” (5.2.61) and that even if she denies it all, it will not change his mind, as he makes clear by telling her “Thou art to die” (5.2.65). Othello’s refusal to listen to Desdemona is what leads to his failure, for it was his goal to kill her no matter what she said and only after she is dead does he learn that she was actually innocent.…
Jealousy is explored in the song Jealousy by 702 in numerous ways. The two obvious ways are, one the title and the repetition of jealousy in the chorus and in the verses. Jealousy is defined by the Macquarie Dictionary as - resentment against a successful rival or the possessor of any coveted advantage. In this song the jealousy stems from women who envy the singer of her success in finding a partner. The singer believes the women want to be her as is continually repeated in the chorus - 'THEY'RE JUST WISHING THEY COULD BE ME.' This is further empathized throughout the song by the entire song being capitalized. Jealousy is further explored in the proceeding verses. Notably in the third verse - 'TRYING TO TURN ME AGAINST YOU.'…
Othello is a story of tragedy; a failed marriage between a Moor and the white daughter of a political figure. Through jealousy and deception, Othello and Desdemona’s, his wife, marriage goes from a love story to two tragic and preventable deaths. Othello is a highly respected general in the defense forces of Venice; his charismatic and intelligent demeanor allows him to gain power and status in a majority white atmosphere. Desdemona is the daughter of a high ranking chauvinistic political figure. Desdemona is nothing like her father, she believes in true love which is why she falls in love with Othello even though during the 16th century, interracial relations are frowned upon. The Great…
Relationships in which people allow themselves to be manipulated through their weaknesses are truly flawed and have a great potential for failure. These relationships can become tainted by jealousy and rumours nurtured by deceitful individuals. Such is the situation in Shakespeare’s Othello, which depicts the tragic downfall of an apparently perfect relationship. Shakespeare uses images of heaven in the beginning of the play to emphasize the seemingly flawless love between Othello and Desdemona. Furthermore, as the play progresses, the juxtaposition between heaven and hell is used to represent the manipulative powers of Iago over Othello revealing the weaknesses of Desdemona and Othello’s relationship. As a result, the twisted heaven and hell imagery used near the end of Othello reflects the eventual break down of Othello and Desdemona’s marriage. Thus, in Shakespeare’s Othello, the connotation of the religious motifs throughout are used to develop the idea that even the most loving couples have their flaws leaving them vulnerable to the destructive powers of jealousy brought on by the manipulative influences of others, resulting in suspicion and ultimately betrayal.…
Adrienne Rich once said, "Lying is done with words but also with silence". This means that lying isn't only when one tells something false, but also when one does not speak at all, the truth included. This is generally true. A text that illustrates this quote would have characters who do not reveal the truth at a time when doing so would be important. Othello by William Shakespeare satisfies this quote with characters like Emilia and Iago.…
Through extensive critical study of William Shakespeare’s play Othello, taking into account the countless productions of the play over the years, which reaffirms its status as an enduring valued text, it becomes distinctly evident that part of its ability to continually engage readers is drawn from its treatment of themes universal to the human experience , such as verisimilitude and jealousy. Society’s constant struggle with what is real and what is not in our modern world, coupled with our everlasting battle with human emotions such as jealousy, give the play textual integrity, ensuring that the play is reputable of critical study. This can be specifically realised through the close analysis of Act 3 Scene 3, Act 1 Scene 1, and Scene 3 in which Shakespeare utilises his art to replicate life and verisimilitude to confront the audience’s perception of reality and jealousy. Close examination of these pivotal scenes in regards to the key thematic concerns not only accentuates the interpretation of the play as an Aristotelian tragedy, but also draws attention to why Othello continues to engage and enthral contemporary audiences.…
Jealousy, the universal feeling we’ve all experienced at one time or another. Whether it be the newest piece of technology that someone has that you don’t and wish you did, or that kid on the playground that had those new light up shoes that were all the rage. Jealousy is not something that can be avoided, only controlled. It sneaks up on you, like a tree root sneaks up on concrete before it breaks to the surface. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, jealousy is a key component used by many characters as a weapon that is twisted and manipulated to serve their own ends.…
Which two ideas resonate with you? How does Shakespeare initiate and maintain interest in those ideas? (500 words)…
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! / It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock/ The meat it feeds on” (Shakespeare III. iii. 195-197). Everyone has the capacity for jealousy. It can change how people think as well as how they act. In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, jealousy is nurtured within the minds of multiple characters, and this jealousy is what ignites the want to make multiple misconceptions arise in order to create havoc and inflict suffering upon others and in some cases, upon themselves. To start off, Iago illustrates how jealousy can cause one to want to inflict pain upon others. Secondly, Roderigo shows how jealousy can make one become easily persuaded into doing wrong things. Lastly, Othello is a fine example of how jealousy can cloud somebody’s mind and cause them to see things as something else and inflict suffering on themselves and on others.…
Desdemona holds the handkerchief in utterly different regards than Othello. Seemingly she holds it dearly as it was the first token of love given to her by Othello. Nevertheless, in the scene when she offers it to him for his headache she drops it and does not notice its disappearance for a while. It is not until act three scene four “where should I lose the handkerchief, Emilia?” that she becomes away aware of her negligence with it (3.4.21). Historically this token of love was a common gesture during Elizabethan England that was traded amongst couples. Apparently “…Handkerchiefs were elaborate and expensive symbols of love, especially between upper-class couples. Moreover, the strawberry motif was one of the most popular embroidery…
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, I've come here today to present you with a man who wants to justify the murder of his wife. I will show you how unjustified his act and his thoughts were in this not so spontaneous crime. Othello is on trial for murder and I would like to remind you that he has admitted full and absolute blame for this and you should not heed that lightly. Under the circumstances his mental state will come into account, but do not be bewildered by his claims of psychosis as any man could have had these thoughts befallen upon him and not taken action.…
In William Shakespeare’s play Othello, Othello is a very honorable man and he has grace with the ladies. He is one that possesses lots of military leadership qualities. His character in the play shows that he is responsible and well respected. The personality of Othello is warm and charming and it draws the individuals to Othello. He is a valuable asset and the senator’s listens when he speaks. Not only does Othello possess good leadership qualities and courage but he possesses dignity.…
Moor is a word with dense associations. Two meanings, as the Oxford English Dictionary tells us, jostle: one is geographical, “the Moor is an inhabitant of North-Africa, Mauritania (present day Morocco). In the 8th century they conquered the Iberian peninsula, but were finally driven out of their last stronghold in Granada at the end of the 15th century.” The second meaning which is associated, is a more general designation: Moor meaning “a muslim of mixed Berber and Arab descent.” Of course, much ink has been spilled about whether Othello is an ethnically marked inhabitant of North-Africa, a noble Arab, or from Sub-Saharan Africa (as in the epithet “black” when Iago says “we will drink the health of black Othello”). This distinction is no…