What is the play about? Othello themes include: * Jealousy (the sexual jealousy of Othello‚ and Iago’s professional envy of Cassio * Appearance versus reality (including honesty/dishonesty‚ loyalty/disloyalty) * Reputation * Public versus private concerns * Racism (including notions of alienation and belonging) Cultural materialist – Argues the play offers a subversive critique of the social and political beliefs of Shakespeare’s time e.g. racism and sexism seen as
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of adventure and war and he is somewhat exotic due to his origins and dark complexion? On the other hand‚ is it because she fell head over heels in love with him because he represented all that was noble and strong. She tells her father‚ Brabantio‚ that she fell in love with his character and the wonderful stories that he has told her about his life. Whatever the case may be‚ Desdemona represents the innocence‚ truth and goodness of the play. She truly represents the goodness and light
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portrayed in the play as Othello has risen to great power and influence but is considered an outsider by the people because of his skin color. He does not get a lot of respect by the people under his rule including by his wife’s‚ Desdamonda‚ father Brabantio who absolutely despises
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In terms of marrying a white woman‚ views of Othello were significantly different. Through the use of the quote “Even now‚ now an old black ram is tupping your white ewe.” The use of the word ‘black’ signifies an inherent evil as Brabantio seems to view as well. Brabantio couldn’t understand how his daughter could be happy with an ‘outsider’‚ causing him to accuse Othello of witchcraft as this belief was relevant at the time. This emphasises the racial view of the Elizabethan era. As racism is an
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Who or what is responsible for the tragedy in Othello? In Shakespeare’s Othello almost every character ranging from Brabantio to Emilia is somewhat responsible for the tragedy‚ emotions are also at play in the tragedy. Essentially the main person or later referred to as a “devil” is Iago‚ the fiendish manipulator pulling the strings. Throughout the play Iago jumps at any attempt to sabotage Othello and Desdemona’s relationship and quite literally anyone who gets in his way including his own
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character. The first use of animal imagery I noted occurred came in Act One when Iago‚ Othello’s standard bearer‚ has awaken Brabantio‚ who was a Venetian senator and the father of Desdemona‚ to tell him that Othello has taken his daughter Desdemona‚ and as they speak is making love to her. Iago was attempting to instigate a fight between Othello and Brabantio‚ using Desdemona as the bait. Iago stated‚ "Your heart is burst. You have lost half your soul. Even now‚ now‚ very now‚ and old
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Shakespeare’s Othello continues to engage audiences through its dramatic treatment of grand and challenging ideas. In the light of your critical study‚ does this statement resonate with you? Make specific reference to the text. Shakespeare explores numerous grand and challenging ideas throughout the play Othello. One such idea is the concept of dualities and the way in which they are manifested in people. In the play‚ there is no exploration of the ambiguities of life‚ everything is divided into
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marriage – thus confirming the importance of Desdemona. The status of Desdemona and Othello’s relationship as a major point of conflict is clear from the very beginning of the play – where Iago and Roderigo attempt to “poison the delight” of Brabantio by revealing that Desdemona had secretly married Othello. In terms of context‚ the concept of marriage without parental consent was taboo in Jacobean society‚ and would’ve been controversial even in Venetian society – which was considered much more
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How is Iago presented throughout Othello and what do we learn about his motives? From the onset of Othello‚ the audience is unknowingly subject to Iago’s manipulative customs. Despite being a stereotypical Shakespearian antagonist‚ Iago is a complex‚ two faced‚ yet three dimensional‚ character. Despite being an eponymous play‚ suggesting Othello’s importance‚ his absence in light of Iago’s presence allows the audience to be influenced and therefore misled by Iago’s representation of Othello Iago
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court prostitute‚ or courtesan symbolizes sin and ignorance. Shakespeare characterizes the three women through their words and actions and in turn develops what each woman symbolizes. Desdemona is a young Venetian woman of high birth. Her father is Brabantio‚ a wealthy senator and renowned citizen of Venice. She is married to Othello and is loyal‚ faithful‚ and passionately loves him (Othello). In the play Desdemona is charged with adultery by her true love and husband Othello. Through the evil doings
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