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The Sympathetic Character In Shakespeare's Othello

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The Sympathetic Character In Shakespeare's Othello
In 1622 William Shakespeare published the timeless classic, Othello. This masterpiece has been recreated many times over, from the big stage to classroom renditions for this so this literary piece will never be forgotten. When reading the first pages of Othello, Shakespeare immediately introduces the concept of deception and manipulation with the story's main antagonist Iago. When reading further, the heroic Othello appears. He seems to be a sympathetic and strong willed man incapable of being manipulated; however, as the story progresses, Iago tricks him into believing that his lieutenant and his wife are having an affair. Othello's entire nature is flipped within minutes when Iago convinces him of Desdemona's infidelity. Othello's character should be viewed as sympathetic even though he was easily duped by Iago and so violently cruel to Desdemona. Foremost, many of Othello's insecurities that turn him against his wife are derived from his skin color and from the perception that due to …show more content…
Right before the book ends, Othello strangles Desdemona. Soon after Emilia enters the room where Othello has just strangled his wife, she quickly realizes Iago has driven Othello to this violence. She tries to tell Othello all his suffering has been a lie, alas it is too late for Othello to save Desdemona and he realizes the error of his ways. And right before he died, he whispered "I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this, killing myself, to die upon a kiss." (265) In his last words, Othello speaks to his murdered wife. Because he kissed her before he smothered her, he kisses her once more before he takes his own life. Othello is speaking poetically about his relationship with Desdemona. If he had never loved or kissed her, she never would have died, so Othello kisses her again and then takes his own life as his personal
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