******** ******** 3/14/12 Period 7 Topic 1 Othello is one of the many plays by William Shakespeare. It tells the story of the tragic love life of the valiant Moor‚ Othello. It shows how he changes; starting from greatness and respect‚ he is tricked by Iago in to being cruel and hating. Many people assume the basis of the story is Othello’s life and that because the play is called Othello that he is the protagonist. The actual protagonist though is the supposed antagonist‚ Iago. Iago
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OTHELLO ESSAY “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
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appear to be‚ few really know who you are.” To put this quote in context‚ Machiavelli was instructing a prince to appear to be a trustworthy and merciful guy and then to be prepared to act in a manner contrary to the appearance. Iago from the play Othello‚ employs this exact strategy--appearing to be an honest man only to use this good reputation to get what he wants. Throughout the play‚ Iago capitalizes on the gullibleness of others and his reputation as a righteous individual. Whether it be a poor
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Othello begins on a street in Venice‚ in the midst of an argument between Roderigo‚ a rich man‚ and Iago. Roderigo has been paying Iago to help him in his suit to Desdemona. But Roderigo has just learned that Desdemona has married Othello‚ a general whom Iago begrudgingly serves as ensign. Iago says he hates Othello‚ who recently passed him over for the position of lieutenant in favor of the inexperienced soldier Michael Cassio. Unseen‚ Iago and Roderigo cry out to Brabanzio that his daughter
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happened to Othello are due to him giving into gossip and being gullible. Othello was a commendable military leader which made it surprising that such a strong military leader would let gossip without validity become his downfall. The events which prompted Othello’s collapse stemmed from Iago. He had deep rooted hatred towards Othello and wanted to destroy him. The villain Iago came up with an evil scheme to reveal to Othello that his wife Desdemona had an affair on him. Iago knew that Othello was
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The Beast in Shakespeare’s “Othello” "What is left when honor is lost?" This question‚ asked by Publilius Syrus‚ a known writer of the Ancient Rome during the times of Caesar‚ serves as a basis for the struggle between Othello and Iago. Both men are engaged in a battle over Othello’s honor. Iago is intent on destroying Othello’s sense of honor and reducing him to a bestial state. Iago views Othello as a beast masquerading in warrior’s dress. He wants to return Othello to what he believes to be his
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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
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In Shakespeare’s Othello there is an immediate contrast between Iago and Othello’s language. In “Act1 scene 1” Iago’s first speech to Roderigo is of a revengeful nature and evil tone. “Despise me if I do not. Three great ones of the city (In personal suit to make me his lieutenant).” Iago is infuriated with Othello’s neglect of him‚ Shakespeare creates this foreshadow of a tragic outcome early on‚ but he misleads the audience into thinking that Iago’s language is justified. Furthering Iago’s support
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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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In Shakespeares Othello the characters are as much a victim of their own weakness as they are of Iagos plotting. Do power dynamics in Othello support this? Iago‚ whos charisma and intellect make him more powerful than Othello and Desdemona‚ proves that powerplay amongst the characters supports the fact that characters‚ specifically Othello and Desdemona‚ are equally victims of their own weakness as they are of Iagos plottings. Othello and Desdemonas weaknesses are race and gender respectively which
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