Othello: The Other Race and religion seem to be very prevalent in Shakespeare’s Othello. From the beginning of the play the reader gets the impression that the protagonist‚ Othello the Moor‚ is considered an “other” in the Venetian society. Othello’s high military ranking gives him the respect of the characters in the play‚ but his race and religion are brought up a lot throughout the play in the speech of the characters in the play. Despite the characters in the text constant dehumanization of
Premium Othello
Othello - Notes on Play * Takes place over three days * “Double time” * Quick same and location changes→ speed up the plot and tension * Domestic * Evil = Othello in one word * Why does Othello choose to believe what Iago says about his wife’s faith‚ and not Desdemona’s → Iago’s only evidence is a handkerchief → Tells us that Othello is easily manipulated * Raises the question of what Othello’s relationship is with Iago? Things to think about when reading the text:
Premium Iago Othello Stockholm Metro
Othello is the protagonist of the play; he is a highly respected general of the Venetian army. Othello is not a Venetian though; he is a moor‚ which means he is from North Africa. This puts Othello in a very unusual position; he is one of the most important people in the Venetian army and very respected but is also an outsider because he is a black man. I perceive Othello’s character at this point in the play to be Naïve‚ honorable and honest; he really has nothing to hide. His naïveté’s will cause
Premium Othello Iago William Shakespeare
Jealousy is described as feelings of resentment against someone because of that person ’s rivalry‚ success‚ or advantages. It plays a very large role in Shakespeare’s “Othello”. Jealousy is the fire that motivates Iago and clouds Othello’s judgment‚ leading to the downfall of both men. Iago is extremely jealous of Cassio because of his position in the army. “Iago‚ a Venetian soldier of so good reputation that he is known to everyone as “honest Iago”‚ feels bitterly and deeply that he has
Free Othello Iago
pretence of acting to help individuals but really he is egotistical and serves only for himself. He plays on Othello’s “free and open” nature‚ on his mission to prove Desdemona’s infidelity and create the metaphor of the “green-eyed monster”‚ which both Othello and Iago will nurture. Iago’s also gives Cassio “free and honest” advice about asking Desdemona for his position back after his fall from grace‚ showing again the dramatic irony Shakespeare portrays. Iago also continues to assure Desdemona that Othello’s
Premium Othello Iago William Shakespeare
Shakespeare introduces Othello in the first half of the play as “valiant” and “noble” (qtd)‚ where the adjectives of courage and moral principles deter the Elizabethan notion that black people are treacherous and villainous (qtd). To add to that‚ the Duke of Venice “straight employ[s] [Othello] against the general enemy Ottoman” (1.3.49-50). Here The preposition “against” directs Othello’s martial body as the hero in Venetian society rather than the enemy for now. The respect for Othello as a black general
Premium Gender Gender role Male
Manipulation in Othello From beginning to end Iago moves the characters of Othello as if they were chessmen. He uses their individual aspirations and passions to motivate them to whatever devious plan he desires. His adroit manipulation of those characters range from convincing Roderigo to serve Cassio another glass of wine‚ to leading Othello to the conclusion that only by killing Desdemona could he save himself and mankind from her treacherous acts of infidelity. However‚ in each case Iago doesn’t
Free Othello Iago Michael Cassio
Othello Essay Emilia and Desdemona are both confined within a patriarchal power structure‚ and although their responses to this dynamic are different‚ they both ultimately die because of it. Emilia and Desdemona reside within a patriarchal society. Emilia and Desdemona both react differently toward their husbands’ actions. Both Desdemona and Emilia die as a direct result of their husbands’ authority over them. Emilia and Desdemona live within a male-dominant society. Iago makes it apparent that
Premium Iago Patriarchy Othello
Othello‚ a great tragedy written by William Shakespeare was written in Shakespeare’s great tragic period along with Hamlet. Othello was a play first performed by the King’s Men on November 1‚ 1604 at the court of King James I. The story revolves around its two main characters: Othello‚ a general in the Venetian army and Iago an unfaithful commissioned officer. A commissioned officer or an ensign is the lowest rank in the army‚ which is how this whole feud started. Iago gains a strong hate for Othello
Premium Othello Iago William Shakespeare
Alienation Author(s): Edward Berry Source: Studies in English Literature‚ 1500-1900‚ Vol. 30‚ No. 2‚ Elizabethan and Jacobean Drama‚ (Spring‚ 1990)‚ pp. 315-333 Published by: Rice University Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/450520 Accessed: 01/05/2008 11:43 page 319 The most dramatic reactions to Othello’s blackness within the play are those of Iago and Roderigo in the opening scene. Their overt and vicious racism provides the background for Othello’s first appearance. For Iago Othello is "an old
Premium Othello Iago William Shakespeare