Soldiery Values In Shakespeare's Othello
Othello, Cassio and Iago are soldiers, how important are soldiery values to the confiding tragedy?
Amongst the play soldiery values deeply affect the personality traits and subsequent actions of the characters involved. Soldierly camaraderie plays a big part in affecting Othello’s irreversible loyalty towards Iago. This false trust makes Iago able to twist the truth and lie about Desdemona’s adultery with another soldier, Michael Cassio. Soldierly reputation also is an overriding theme in the story. It creates a sense of paranoia and insecurity for Iago to work on. It creates a weakness in the soldier characters of Cassio and Othello for another soldier, Iago to work on. Soldiers also naturally aren’t able to be in contact in the opposite sex as much as a civilian would do. This creates a sexual timidity which again Iago emphasises and highlights to lead to Othello’s downfall and making the play into a tragedy. In the play these soldierly values seem to be of a disadvantage to Cassio and Othello whom suffer for their values, whereas in the case of Iago, it seems to be an advantage, as he highlights them to bring about his plan to break down Othello’s ties with his wife Desdemona …show more content…
and Michael Cassio, his lieutenant.
Naturally, as Othello is a leader in the army, he has a decisive personality and is able to come to decisions without the necessary “ocular proof”. The first picture of Othello that the spectator receives is of a man “horribly stuffed with epithets” of war. Othello’s quick decision-making is advantageous in battle however domestically it leads to his downfall. Iago comments in act 1 scene 1, that “for certes” Othello had “already” made his decision to appoint Cassio as lieutenant. Not only does this plant the basis for Iago’s jealousy contributing to the motive for the tragedy to begin but it also leads to domestic frailties which lead to the separation of Desdemona and Othello himself. Othello describes himself as being “little blessed with the soft phrase of peace”; he is unable to feel the idea of perfection due to his time in the army. This weakness in a domestic place makes it far easier for Iago to break up Desdemona with Othello, “as he would not my unhoused free condition put into circumscription and confine”. This perfectly sums up Othello’s, unease and insecurity when in a domestic place rather than a warzone. Othello shows further shows his unease in living a domestic wife as a soldier by stating, “Let housewives make a skillet of my helm”. This image shows the paradox of Othello’s relationship with Desdemona, by providing a picture of turning his helmet upside down, to turn it into a saucepan.
Soldiers are unable to spend the time with loved ones that other people may of done or even see women. This creates a sexual nervousness which Othello exhibits. In the early 1600s most platoons in the army were in fact followed by a group of prostitutes who saw the soldiers as a perfect target market. Therefore the only women which soldier’s would’ve come into contact with would be prostitutes. This is evident in the play where Othello is in a brothel, he seems far more knowledgeable in that scenario as he tips the prostitute showing an awareness and previous experience of what to do in a brothel situation. However, in contrast he doesn’t conform to normal practice when with his love, Desdemona. On his wedding night, rather than choosing to go back to bed with his new wife, he instead chooses to bandage Montano’s wounds. Furthermore, Othello able to make a promise about war in line 275 Act 1 Scene 3, “with all his heart”. Othello is also able to poeticise weaponry, “ keep up your bright swords, for the due will rust them”. It is slightly worrying that Othello is able to talk about war and violence with love, showing potentially barbaric undertones. Iago plays on Othello’s sexual timidity and paranoia, through the use of the “handkerchief” and his persuasion that he is being cuckolded, “observe her well with Cassio”. After all as Bradley states, “sexual jealous, brings with it a sense of shame and humiliation”, this is a perfect place for Iago to target.
“There is no higher bond than amongst men at war (Radcliffe).
This explains the soldierly camaraderie between Iago and Othello, which makes Othello trust Iago as much as he does. As Iago states in Act 1 Scene 1 Othello and Iago were together “At Rhodes, at Cyprus”, showing a bond which may not be between Desdemona and Othello; after all, Othello believes Iago’s truth above Desdemona’s which leads to the tragedy. Othello uses the epithet of “honest” to refer to Iago which is in fact an oxymoron; he however holds this trust from all these years in the army together with Iago as Othello’s ensign. If it weren’t for this overpowering trust, Iago would not be able to act out his duplicitousness with such ease and success. This therefore shows how soldierly values add the plays drama and
tragedy.
Reputation also seems to play a big part for soldiers in the Jacobean era. It was seen as an honour to represent their country in war, and therefore soldier’s had to abide by a certain stereotype to fill the criteria enabling them to be fight for war I.E. fit, courageous, brave, and possibly even seen as superior to women. This view on reputation being of the utmost importance is echoed by Cassio and Iago. Iago describes reputation as the “immediate jewel of our souls”. This language is almost blasphemous as it states the reputation is synonymous with our souls, however in the Jacobean era in Christianity, the soul was only able to be seen by God. Cassio, another soldier, echoes this opinion of reputation being almost the most important facet of a person where after his drunken brawl he states, “I have lost the immortal part of myself”, immortal states how reputation lives on, as a soul does, again aligning reputation with religion. Once again this awareness of reputation creates an insecurity and weakness for Iago to highlight. I feel soldiery values are important to the confiding tragedy in the play. They enable target points for Iago to bring the downfall of Iago and create the subsequent tragedy. The soldiery values of reputation and camaraderie are understood by Iago himself, in being a soldier. He therefore is able to twist these values into his favour using his knowledge of them and understanding of his targets, Cassio and Othello. Cassio and Othello’s similarities in their values make it easy for Othello to believe that Desdemona would sleep with them and also makes it simple for Iago to turn them against each other as simply as he does.
Harry Morris 1134 Words
Amongst the play soldiery values deeply affect the personality traits and subsequent actions of the characters involved. Soldierly camaraderie plays a big part in affecting Othello’s irreversible loyalty towards Iago. This false trust makes Iago able to twist the truth and lie about Desdemona’s adultery with another soldier, Michael Cassio. Soldierly reputation also is an overriding theme in the story. It creates a sense of paranoia and insecurity for Iago to work on. It creates a weakness in the soldier characters of Cassio and Othello for another soldier, Iago to work on. Soldiers also naturally aren’t able to be in contact in the opposite sex as much as a civilian would do. This creates a sexual timidity which again Iago emphasises and highlights to lead to Othello’s downfall and making the play into a tragedy. In the play these soldierly values seem to be of a disadvantage to Cassio and Othello whom suffer for their values, whereas in the case of Iago, it seems to be an advantage, as he highlights them to bring about his plan to break down Othello’s ties with his wife Desdemona …show more content…
and Michael Cassio, his lieutenant.
Naturally, as Othello is a leader in the army, he has a decisive personality and is able to come to decisions without the necessary “ocular proof”. The first picture of Othello that the spectator receives is of a man “horribly stuffed with epithets” of war. Othello’s quick decision-making is advantageous in battle however domestically it leads to his downfall. Iago comments in act 1 scene 1, that “for certes” Othello had “already” made his decision to appoint Cassio as lieutenant. Not only does this plant the basis for Iago’s jealousy contributing to the motive for the tragedy to begin but it also leads to domestic frailties which lead to the separation of Desdemona and Othello himself. Othello describes himself as being “little blessed with the soft phrase of peace”; he is unable to feel the idea of perfection due to his time in the army. This weakness in a domestic place makes it far easier for Iago to break up Desdemona with Othello, “as he would not my unhoused free condition put into circumscription and confine”. This perfectly sums up Othello’s, unease and insecurity when in a domestic place rather than a warzone. Othello shows further shows his unease in living a domestic wife as a soldier by stating, “Let housewives make a skillet of my helm”. This image shows the paradox of Othello’s relationship with Desdemona, by providing a picture of turning his helmet upside down, to turn it into a saucepan.
Soldiers are unable to spend the time with loved ones that other people may of done or even see women. This creates a sexual nervousness which Othello exhibits. In the early 1600s most platoons in the army were in fact followed by a group of prostitutes who saw the soldiers as a perfect target market. Therefore the only women which soldier’s would’ve come into contact with would be prostitutes. This is evident in the play where Othello is in a brothel, he seems far more knowledgeable in that scenario as he tips the prostitute showing an awareness and previous experience of what to do in a brothel situation. However, in contrast he doesn’t conform to normal practice when with his love, Desdemona. On his wedding night, rather than choosing to go back to bed with his new wife, he instead chooses to bandage Montano’s wounds. Furthermore, Othello able to make a promise about war in line 275 Act 1 Scene 3, “with all his heart”. Othello is also able to poeticise weaponry, “ keep up your bright swords, for the due will rust them”. It is slightly worrying that Othello is able to talk about war and violence with love, showing potentially barbaric undertones. Iago plays on Othello’s sexual timidity and paranoia, through the use of the “handkerchief” and his persuasion that he is being cuckolded, “observe her well with Cassio”. After all as Bradley states, “sexual jealous, brings with it a sense of shame and humiliation”, this is a perfect place for Iago to target.
“There is no higher bond than amongst men at war (Radcliffe).
This explains the soldierly camaraderie between Iago and Othello, which makes Othello trust Iago as much as he does. As Iago states in Act 1 Scene 1 Othello and Iago were together “At Rhodes, at Cyprus”, showing a bond which may not be between Desdemona and Othello; after all, Othello believes Iago’s truth above Desdemona’s which leads to the tragedy. Othello uses the epithet of “honest” to refer to Iago which is in fact an oxymoron; he however holds this trust from all these years in the army together with Iago as Othello’s ensign. If it weren’t for this overpowering trust, Iago would not be able to act out his duplicitousness with such ease and success. This therefore shows how soldierly values add the plays drama and
tragedy.
Reputation also seems to play a big part for soldiers in the Jacobean era. It was seen as an honour to represent their country in war, and therefore soldier’s had to abide by a certain stereotype to fill the criteria enabling them to be fight for war I.E. fit, courageous, brave, and possibly even seen as superior to women. This view on reputation being of the utmost importance is echoed by Cassio and Iago. Iago describes reputation as the “immediate jewel of our souls”. This language is almost blasphemous as it states the reputation is synonymous with our souls, however in the Jacobean era in Christianity, the soul was only able to be seen by God. Cassio, another soldier, echoes this opinion of reputation being almost the most important facet of a person where after his drunken brawl he states, “I have lost the immortal part of myself”, immortal states how reputation lives on, as a soul does, again aligning reputation with religion. Once again this awareness of reputation creates an insecurity and weakness for Iago to highlight. I feel soldiery values are important to the confiding tragedy in the play. They enable target points for Iago to bring the downfall of Iago and create the subsequent tragedy. The soldiery values of reputation and camaraderie are understood by Iago himself, in being a soldier. He therefore is able to twist these values into his favour using his knowledge of them and understanding of his targets, Cassio and Othello. Cassio and Othello’s similarities in their values make it easy for Othello to believe that Desdemona would sleep with them and also makes it simple for Iago to turn them against each other as simply as he does.
Harry Morris 1134 Words