Othello – Essay 1 PDF

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Essay about Othello...

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Othello Shakespeare’s play “Othello” explores how confronting and dire consequences of human frailty can be, and how it continues to remain relevant overtime. Shakespeare explores how the nature of jealousy and acts of deception by others can cause the human frailty of others, leading to devastating consequences. Shakespeare also conveys that human frailty is driven by hatred and revenge, eventually leading to the betray and mistrust. Shakespeare explores the overwhelming nature of jealousy can lead to human frailty, causing dire consequences. The consuming essence of jealousy is seen through Othello’s change in character throughout Shakespeare’s play. Being a well-respected general of the army, Othello is described as “valiant” and “noble” by duke and senators in the introduction of the play. However, towards the end of the play he becomes rash and volatile, quoting “I’ll tear her [Desdemona] to pieces”, leading to the murder of his wife, Desdemona, as a result of being consumed by jealousy. Shakespeare elucidates that jealousy can be all consuming, bringing out the worst and most irrational side of people, even to the most noble and honourable of people. Othello’s final speech provides insight to an Othello who is free of influence. The simile in 5.2, “like the base Indian threw a pearl away richer than his tribe”, is implicative of Othello’s realisation of his consequences and irrational actions of murdering his wife, as a result of being controlled by jealousy. Iago’s metaphor of “green-eyed monster”, insinuates that jealousy consumes and devours people, leading to human frailty. The personification of jealousy insinuates the detrimental effects that jealousy can potentially cause. The nature of jealousy can be overwhelming, consequently leading to human frailty and devastating consequences. Shakespeare also explores the presence of deception leading to conflicted identity, as a consequence of human frailty. This is shown through Iago’s deceptive nature of appearing to be obliging and supportive, but instead plots the downfall of Othello, causing dire consequences. Iago is described as having a “learned spirit of human dealings” with “exceeding honesty” by Othello, as well as being called “Honest Iago” by his peer, Cassio. This misleading faith and trust by almost all the characters in the play, allowed Iago to utilise his deceptive nature and conflicted identity to manipulate and pinpoint on Othello’s insecurities, causing devastating consequences. Iago’s metaphor in “I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear”, shows Iago’s deception and his devious nature, as he plants seeds of doubt into his

accomplices. The imagery of Iago carefully and deviously ‘pouring the poison’ of mistrust and false to his peers, through his deceptive and duplicitous nature, consequently, leading to the collapse of many characters in the play. The continuous metaphor of ‘ear’ is seen again through Iago, as he plots “to abuse Othello’s ear” and bring Othello down. Iago is implicative that he plans to continuously manipulate Othello, by constantly feeding him false evidence and information to him, until a point he reaches human frailty. Shakespeare implies that human frality leads to deception and conflicted identity. Betrayal and loyalty are also explored by Shakespeare as key concepts that lead to human frailty. As a result of Iago’s manipulation and his deceptive nature, Othello is driven to the betrayal of Desdemona’s trust. In the introductory phase of Iago’s manipulation, the effects are clearly shown in Othello early on the play, as he begins to question his trust onto Desdemona when exclaiming, “My life upon her faith!’. Whilst Othello’s trust of Desdemona remains firm at this point, doubt has been planted in him by Iago. As the play progresses, Othello’s human frailty leads to his slow betrayal to Desdemona. His biblical allusion in, “If she be false, O then heaven mocks itself, I’ll not believe it” reveals how his once rocksolid loyalty to Desdemona is slowly fading away, because of Iago’s deceptive manipulation and Othello’s’ human frailty. Human frailty in the play was driven by Iago’s hatred, prejudice and anger towards Othello, leading to Iago’s betrayal of Othello. Early in the play, Iago’s motives are revealed in through his views towards Othello, “I hate the Moor. My cause is hearted.”. Iago’s ‘hate’ and anger towards Othello sparks his motive of revenge and his ‘hearted’ desire to bring Othello down. Iago’s simile in “Doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my inwards” is implicative of Iago’s reasoning for his betrayal and revenge on Othello. The presence of Othello is an ongoing ‘poisonous mineral’ that constantly ‘gnaws’ on him, resultantly fuelling Iago’s anger and hatred towards him.

Include this? ^^ 1.1 Iago to Desdemona’s father on Othello: ‘an old black ram/Is tupping your white ewe’, ‘have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse’, ‘your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs’ - racism, animal imagery,

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Dynamic characters

Iago has no redeeming qualities or moments Consistent in his evilness. Soiliquys are important Iagos jelousy Leads to his actions against others and manipulates them....