Othello is an outsider in a closed society, to what extent does the opening act support this opinion? Shakespeare portrays Venice as incredibly democratic for its time as we are shown that in Act one everybody has a voice regardless of their colour or sex. The fact that Othello has obtained the high position of “general” within the army suggests that his chances have by no means been restricted by the colour of his skin and therefore is not seen as an outsider at the start of the play. Also the
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”The Weight of a Handkerchief” The tragedy in the plot of Shakespeare’s Othello revolves around the title character’s mistrust of his own wife, Desdemona, his lieutenant Cassio and misplaced trust of Iago. Othello’s mistrust of Desdemona and Cassio stems from ideas planted by Iago, but these ideas are able to find a solid footing based on the timely absence and presence of Desdemona’s handkerchief. The handkerchief is able to have such an immense effect over Othello because of the importance
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Othello and Desdemona * Othello is a play about opposites and opposition – many of which are embodied in the tragic, eponymous hero, Othello and his wife, Desdemona. Act 1, Scene 1 * Presented through Iago: * Iago’s language is different from the other two male characters which have been introduced – it is one of a crude and mocking nature. * She is a ‘white ewe’ while Othello is the ‘black ram’ – together they create a ‘beast with two backs’. This comparison both reinforces
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In Shakespeare’s play Othello, we can see two important female characters who show love for their husbands with a focus on the issue of loyalty. Desdemona, the wife of the protagonist who is known as Othello, and Emilia, the wife of the antagonist Iago. Although they are both loyal to their husbands, we can contrast how both woman portray the theme loyalty. In Othello we can see how both woman want to satisfy their husbands. Desdemona is known for beauty, intelligence and caring personality
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esteemed general in the service of Venice. He falls in love with Desdemona, but they are not allowed to marry due to Othello’s dark skin. So they marry privately. Iago, Othello’s trusted ensign, is deadly jealous of Othello’s promotion to the position of personal lieutenant. He begins an evil and malicious campaign against Othello. Iago sows discord between Othello and Desdemona. He lies to Othello that Desdemona has a lover, which makes Othello kill Desdemona in cases of disordered anger and envy
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In Othello by Shakespeare, Iago masterfully utilizes rhetorical questions to manipulate Othello into becoming blinded by jealousy to allow himself to fulfill his plans. By using rhetorical questions on someone that has insecurities like Othello, it allows for those very insecurities that may be insignificant to manifold into something much greater than anything imaginable like the death of loved ones. Being able to come off as a noble and good hearted person but still planting seeds of doubt into
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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
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Marcus Green English 4090 Mr. Michael Parker November 29, 2004 Deconstruction the Discourse of Black and White in Shakespeare’s Othello The complex and confusing values of “black” and “white” are used to reinforce the theme of man’s tragic blindness of good and evil in Shakespeare’s Othello. Thus, one will exam the use of the binary opposition “black” and “white” and the “différance” of these words within the content of the play. Therefore, the “absence” of the meaning of words is what
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in regards to his relationship with Desdemona. While the Venetians do not appear to have any issue with having a black high ranking soldier, some do appear to have an issue with him marrying a white woman. Observe in the beginning of the play when Iago and Roderigo go to see Brabantio to explain what has occurred with his daughter, Desdemona. Because of Othello’s race they do not tell Brabantio that Othello and Desdemona have married; they inform him that Othello has stolen her. Brabantio goes to
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The Uprising of Othello One always hears an inspirational story about how an unlikely person overcomes adversity to make a difference in the community, country, or even the world. Barak Obama, despite his African American background, was able to become the President of the United States and change history. Rosa Parks, despite her African American background during the Jim Crow Laws, refused to get off the seat at the front of the bus and was a catalyst of the beginning of a new revolution. Cinderella
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