...‘With particular reference to Act one, scene III, discuss how Othello’s tragic and heroic status are established in the first act of the play.’ To be a tragic hero, a character must be someone who is initially well respected and someone who holds a high esteem within society. They must have high moral worth and tend to be highly ambitious, it is a single mistake or character flaw which brings them to ruin and they lose all that they possess. The character must always contribute to their own disaster, however, they must also fully realise the extent of their own contribution to the disaster. In ‘Othello’, there are many examples of his heroic status, for instance, the many compliments he receives from various characters show that he himself is an admirable character and shows his great personality not only as a person, but as an officer too, and shows that he is possible of heroic status. Othello tells us that Brabantio; ‘…loved [Othello], oft invited [him], Still questioned [him] the story of [his] life From year to year – the battles, sieges, fortunes That [he had] passed.’ This shows that even someone who now dislikes Othello due to Othello’s affair with his daughter, in the past, respected Othello greatly. The Duke also tells Brabantio that ‘[Brabantio’s]...
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...Antigone vs Otheelo: women In the plays “Antigone” by Sophocles and the Shakespearean tragedy “Othello” written by William Shakespeare, the themes that’s being portrayed are honour and gender, through the play the audience if captivated by the characters choices and motives through the play. With the characters choices they help to make the play more understandable as the audience can recognise the tragic hero in both the plays. The relationships between men and women in Othello are remarked as lesser then men. Iago often refers to his wife as a prostitute - "A house wife that by selling her desires, Buys herself bread and clothes (iv.i.95)” showing what type of relationship women and men had during the late 16th century. Women were generally considered obedient, respectful, kind and warm. They were never outspoken nor were they meant to, for it could be seen as a lack of loyalty. When Othello accused Desdemona of cheating on him, he found himself in a position that he didn't want to face with. Othello was emasculated with the thought of a woman disobeying him. Men were easily manipulated into thinking the worst of woman because they were certain it would never happen. However, when the slightest things start to be pointed out the characters start to over analyse. Woman were not on the same level as men; men talked down to woman, they didn’t see them as equals nor think that they should be treated like one. This relates to Othello and Desdemona’s relationship – she “betrayed”...
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...Frank Kelly Ms. Corley ENG3U - 1 9 March 2016 End Goal of Writing Othello When studying Othello, no analyst or reader can deny that the masterpiece written by Shakespeare is truly remarkable. However, there is debate as to whether the play was written to tell a story about a war hero who ascends to the peak of Italian military ranks and fell off due to his insecurities, or for Shakespeare to present an allegory narrating the chaos in seventeenth century England. The assertion made declaring Othello to be an allegory is very compelling. Just like an artist chooses every stroke of their painting, in Othello, Shakespeare’s words are all determined very conscientiously. This could potentially mean he was crafting a perfect narration to provoke the leaders of his time about the imperfections of the society they live in. The underlying themes throughout the book are extremely plausible claims in order to draw a parallel to an allegory. The most profound theme in Othello is how love can present shameful aspects and hereby, make someone act irrationally. Reputation is a compelling reason for why Othello acts aberrantly. He is proud of the reputation and power he had works so diligently for, therefore, he was not going to let it crumble. Lastly, Othello was an African leader in the Italian military, which was particularly irregular in that era. This feeds into his profound insecurities because he is looked at as an outlier. Clearly, Shakespeare was using this to show how racism...
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...Othello: Tragic Hero? Michael Charles Robinson ENGL 102 October 17, 2011 Ms. Charity Givens Othello: Tragic Hero? I. Introduction Thesis statement A. Thesis Statement II. Brief overview of Othello III. Aristotle and Othello A. Peripeteia B. Hamartia C. Anagnorsis D. Catharsis IV. Othello a tragic hero? A. Evidence supporting B. Not supporting V. Brief overview of “O” A. Comparison to original VI. Conclusion THESIS STATEMENT: Othello is a tragic hero because he mostly satisfies Aristotle’s four requirements for a tragic hero: peripeteia, hamartia, anagnorsis, and catharsis. Othello: Tragic Hero? The tragic play Othello, written by William Shakespeare has caused constant dispute on whether the main character Othello can be considered as a tragic hero or not. Othello is a tragic hero because he mostly satisfies Aristotle’s four requirements for a tragic hero: peripeteia, hamartia, anagnorsis, and catharsis. The exploration of different aspects of the Othello character will give the readers of this essay insight regarding whether Othello is a...
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...scenario. Shakespeare’s Othello is a constant clash of personal and political conflicts. Race, jealousy, violent destructive and self-destructive behaviours control the relationships between the powerful and the powerless throughout the play. An important theme in this play had a great amount dealing with race. Othello recognizes his self as an outsider, due to the fact he was black. The majority of people in this setting were whites at the time, so we could see why Othello felt so insecure about his self. Othello realizes shortly after he wasn’t feeling accepted, that he needed to work hard, to carefully maintain his reputation. Considering Othello is the only black individual in the play, the racism behind the story is projected towards him. Many characters in the play appear to be racist, because that’s how they see the four main characters act towards Othello. Iago, Brabantio, Roderigo, and Emilia all have racist attitudes in which they direct at Othello. Not only do these characters develop hatred because Othello is black, but they blame their reasoning on the fact he is black. From the very beginning of the play, Iago has been firm with his decision of hatred towards Othello. The most racism of the play comes from Iago. When Othello chose Cassio as his lieutenant, Iago was not pleased one bit. We notice Iago’s has two personalities, as he has so much to say behind Othello’s back. Never does Iago direct his feelings about Othello to him. In the beginning of the play, Iago’s...
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...One critic states the "Othello’s story is the perfect illustration of a man’s tragic vulnerability". Do you think Othello’s downfall is a consequence of his own weaknesses or is he a victim, subject to circumstances beyond his control? Many different interpretations link to Othello’s downfall, including the part Iago and Desdemona play, and how the main character’s personality and actions affect the fate of the other characters. A point much contested by critics is how Shakespeare presents Othello himself: some, such as A.C. Bradley, hold the view that the General is a noble tragic hero, whereas F.R. Leavis would contradict this by claiming Othello to be a weak man whose fatal flaw is jealousy. Iago is a key instrument in Othello’s downfall and uses deception to plant the idea of Desdemona’s infidelity. He adroitly persuades Othello to accept this idea in a very short length of time. Shakespeare first uses Iago to develop the theme of perception when Iago hints at the topic of Desdemona’s supposed affair in 3:3. Iago then claims to have asked about Cassio ‘But for a satisfaction of my thought’. The idea of ‘thinking' is repeated many times after this, and is significant because of the way Shakespeare has the characters appear to perceive each other – for example how people see Iago, who is mentioned many times to be ‘honest’ – Othello even says ‘I know thou’rt full of love and honesty’ – and this dramatic irony allows him to successfully carry out his deception. The audience...
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...present the character of Iago in Act Three, Scene Three? By Maeve McGonigle Shakespeare’s Iago, the ‘ruthless sociopath’ and complex character who’s jealousy driven hatred, intelligent scheming and ability to perceive others centralizes the plot of ‘Othello’. Iago is canny enough to be able to persuade people to do his will without necessarily vocalising what he wills them to do? He certainly pre-empts their actions, such as when he tells Cassio to ask Desdemona for help he knows she will grant it and “perform it / To the last article”. This is important as the more Desdemona pursues Cassio’s suit, the more evidence he can present to Othello and the larger the rift he can drive between them. It is not just Othello who plays into Iago’s hands; Desdemona, Cassio and Emilia all fall victim to his scheming plans. The way Desdemona pursues Cassio’s cause at the most unfortunate times and the sheer amount of time she spends with him or talking about him in Act 3, Scene 3, encouraged by Iago, merely places her under more and more scrutiny from and Othello. Also, how Cassio slinks about in front of Othello out of embarrassment makes him appear guilty and secretive. Emilia’s fault was to have hidden Iago’s deceptive and cruel nature. All these things show how Othello was played by Iago. I think this takes some of the blame a way from Othello’s actions. Iago’s ability to know peoples virtues and exploit them, coupled with his innate ability to twist or spin an event however it benefits...
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...that speak the most sense throughout the play and it is also the women that are able to trust other characters in the play. Each woman represents a different social level, Desdemona being the highest and Bianca being of the lowest. Each sexual relationship in the play provokes some jealousy between the couple. Bianca does not appear in the play as much as the other female characters yet her presence is key to the death of Desdemona as well as other play themes. Iago often refers to her as a prostitute, "A house wife that by selling her desires, Buys herself bread and clothes". She has fallen in love with Cassio, yet he does not speak of his returned affection for her due to his desire for status, and her social standing would affect this dramatically. She is the jealous partner in this relationship and expresses this when Cassio produces Desdemona's handkerchief, which Iago has planted in Cassio's room. Iago uses Bianca's name to cause the great perplexity in the play, which eventually leads to the horrific ending. While Othello hid, listening to the conversation between Iago and Cassio he remained convinced that it was Desdemona that Cassio spoke of. Iago has no respect for her when he also blames the fight between Iago and Roderigo on Bianca's "Whoring" As Iago's wife and Desdemona's lady in waiting...
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...Elizabethan society. The women are expected to unselfishly devote their lives to their husbands. Desdemona, Emila and Bianca’s relationship with the male characters and their status is shown by Shakespeare and that all three women have different roles no matter at the end they all belong to one role.. The main emotion and the force behind the play is love. Everyone acts upon the force of love. Othello speaks this line before he kills himself. “…. Of one that loved wisely but not too well”, (5.2.396).at the end the love itself ripped them off. The strongest and who has unwavering love is Desdemona. Desdemona is a fine and fair woman and a sweet woman that is driven by fear and love. Form the beginning of the play she is shown to be quick wit. Her unconditional love for Othello is shown in her words and actions. Desdemona only did what she thought was to be right. At the end Desdemona had her ‘last laugh’. Her ability of not to lay blame ultimately makes her the hero and higher quality person in the play. While the roles of the play always seem to be the once that were behind their husbands, Desdemona took this role and gave it her attitude. Desdemona’s personality and her character is the unwavering love and passion for her husband. There are many incidents in the play where she loves Othello with all her heat. First there’s the fact that she defied her father, “stoned the wealthy curled of our nation”, (2.1.96-97), ran to the “sooty bossom”, (1.2.83)...
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...Racism in Othello Othello, by William Shakespeare, is a tragedy that tells that story of what happens to a man named Othello after he marries a woman named Desdemona. Othello is a black man, known throughout the play as a Moor and he marries the daughter of a white Venetian Senator. One of the most critical themes of the play is race. While racism is a reoccurring theme throughout the play, the play itself is not racist. The main character is a black man and the evil villain is white. Shakespeare does not dumb down Othello just because he is black, but rather he portrays Othello as a well-liked, high ranking officer in the Venetian military. During the time that Shakespeare wrote Othello many people were racists and people of color where thought of as savage (Essay). Many people at that time would have felt that an interracial marriage was wrong. They would have not thought that Shakespeare’s writing was racist. The audience would be used to the type of racist language Shakespeare used (Blum). Shakespeare would not have been thought of as being racist. The play itself is not racist, but rather individual characters are either racist or not. The most racist character is Iago. Iago is considered “honest” when in reality he is a pure villain. The audience knows that Iago is not what he seems to be. He shares his plans for destroying Othello. Even though Iago is white, he plays the bad guy, while Othello is considered a good man. Iago hates Othello because he did...
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...Recognition and Reversal: Othello Step One: The greatest recognition in Othello occurs in Act V, Scene II, lines 87-91. Othello kills Desdemona. Then Cassio and Emilia appear and reveal Iago's evil plot and Desdemona’s innocence. Othello then realizes that he was wrong and that his trusted friend Iago has played him for a fool. Recognition again occurs in Act V.II. when Emilia hears Othello mentions the handkerchief, after he has killed Desdemona: "With that recognizance and pledge of love / Which I first gave her. I saw it in his hand; / It was a handkerchief, an antique token / My father gave my mother." (Othello, V.II. 221-224) Once Othello says this, Emilia knows that Iago is the person who set up Desdemona and Othello isn't the one to blame. Emilia keeps repeating the words, “My husband?” (Othello, V. II. 145, 152, 156) as she makes an incomprehensibly swift journey from knowing absolutely that Iago, her dear husband, is honest and totally trustworthy, to realizing that in fact he is a quintessential villain. The most powerful and heart-rending of these moments comes near the end of Othello, when Emilia, Desdemona’s friend and ally, realizes that her beloved husband Iago is the cause of all the misery and misfortune that is killing them all. Furthermore, she realizes that she has played an unintentional part in the tragedy by following Iago’s request to steal Desdemona’s handkerchief. It has all been a plot by Iago to destroy Othello and this is finally revealed to everyone...
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...traveled to London to work as an actor and playwright. Among his play was Othello which is the second most popular Shakespeare play. Othello is a tragedy written by Shakespeare between 1601 and 1604. The main character of this play is Othello who is frame by Iago to believe that his wife Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. Othello is a Moorish general in the service of Venice. He was blinded by Iago to seek revenge against his wife and his lieutenant. The theme revenge is portrayed throughout the whole play. Such evil act is plotted and executed by the character Iago. He is focused on destroying Othello for not promoting him to lieutenant and does not care who will get hurt in the process of his vengeance. Iago main target was Othello; he was determined to take revenge against Othello by using numerous characters throughout the play. The first target was Barbantino Desdemona father followed by, Roderigo, Cassio and his wife Emilia. Revenge was the driven force that drove Iago to plot and carefully executes the tragic that ended with Othello and Desdemona life. Revenge is an unceasing theme throughout the play Othello. Iago’s character was seeking revenge against Othello. He is determined to fulfill his plans despite of who will get hurt or involve. Iago vengeance is a result of Othello Overseen him for promotion and instead his promotes Cassio to lieutenant. Such promotion is the driven force behind Iago malicious revenge and hate towards Othello. Iago has dedicated...
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...within the definition of a tragic hero, each represents a very different interpretation of the concept. Othello, the tragic hero of Shakespeare’s play by that name, is an even more sympathetic character. Othello’s tragedy is orchestrated entirely by the scheming, malevolent Iago. Iago, having very little motive, creates a web of deceit by convincing Othello that his new bride, Desdemona, is unfaithful. “Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof. Look at your wife; observe her well with Cassio, Wear your eyes thus, not jealous nor secure” (Act III, Scene III, Lines 196-198, Othello). Othello’s jealously eventually causes him to murder Desdemona by smothering her. One could argue that Othello isn’t truly a tragic hero. After all, what fatal flaw does Othello have? Aren’t all of his actions simply the result of the malicious intent of another? This cannot be true, for, if so, Othello would not be the classic it is today. An audience does not want to watch a totally innocent person randomly punished. Rather, an audience can be comforted even as they are struck with sympathy for Othello, consoling themselves by thinking that if they were in his place, they would most certainly act differently. Perhaps, for example, they would not have let their rage and jealousy, two fatal flaws which can easily be attributed to Othello, prevent them from allowing Desdemona to plead her case and prove her honesty. An...
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...criteria Protagonist must fall from power 5. Weakness of character 6. Misfortune is not warranted 7. Tragic hero learns of his misstates before his downfall While researching the definition of the word “tragedy,” I learned that it is a very heartbreaking or catastrophic event. To further my research, I looked up the definition of a tragic play, and learned that it is a serious play with a tragic theme that often involves a heroic struggle which leads to the downfall of the main character. William Shakespeare’s play, Othello certainly fits the definition of a tragic play. The protagonist in the play, Othello, is a high ranked general in the Venetian army who is held in very high esteem. He secretly married the daughter of the Venetian senator by the name of Desdemona. Shortly after Othello’s and Desdemona’s marital union, Othello becomes brainwashed by Iago, his jealous ensign, into believing that Desdemona has been unfaithful to Othello. The play ends by Othello killing Desdemona and then committing suicide. By reviewing the definition of tragedy and tragic play noted...
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...Who was William Shakespeare? Shakespeare is William Shakespeare, one of the English-speaking world's greatest playwrights and poets, who possessed a great knowledge of human nature and transformed the English theatre. Yet many facts of his life remain a mystery. Some have been acquired from painstaking looks at the records of the time, so that this summary is based on generally agreed facts. It has been said that we only know three things about Shakespeare: that he was born, married and died. He was baptised on April 26, 1564; we do not know his birth date, but many scholars believe it was April 23, 1564. His father was John Shakespeare (who was a glover and leather merchant) and his mother Mary Arden (who was a landed local heiress). John had a remarkable run of success as a merchant, alderman, and high bailiff of Stratford, during William's early childhood. His fortunes declined, however, in the late 1570s. William lived for most of his early life in Stratford-upon-Avon. We do not know exactly when he went to London but he is said to have arrived in 1592. There is great conjecture about Shakespeare's childhood years, especially regarding his education. It is surmised by scholars that Shakespeare attended the free grammar school in Stratford, which at the time had a reputation to rival that of Eton. While there are no records extant to prove this claim, Shakespeare's knowledge of Latin and Classical Greek would tend to support this theory. In addition, Shakespeare's...
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