Othello Human Relationships Essay PDF

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Ultimately in this Shakespearean tragedy, it is the representation of intense human relationships that captivates its audience.
Explore the representation of at least ONE intense relationship in Othello evaluating its significance in the play as a whole....

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Ultimately in this Shakespearean tragedy, it is the representation of intense human relationships that captivates its audience. Explore the representation of at least ONE intense relationship in Othello evaluating its significance in the play as a whole. Shakeseare's Othello written circa 1603 in Elizabethan England is a tragic play revolving around the deterioration of its protagonist instigated by the antagonist, and the repercussions of his subsequent reactions. Within the play, Shakespeare explores the issues of trust, honesty and being an outsider as well as the position of women in a patriarchal society through issues the development of the character’s relationships. Significantly, exemplified through the play is the fragility of trust and false appearances in the relationship between Othello and Iago, as well as Iago’s exploitation of both Othello’s pride and insecurities. Similarly, Othello and Desdemona’s relationship display the implications of mistrust and jealousy as well as the contrast of characterisation. Thus, the enduring value which captivates the audience of Othello is attributed to the representation of intense human relationships in which Shakespeare explores contemporary issues of trust and efficiently uses dramatic techniques. The tragic play of Othello is contingent on Othello’s vulnerable connection with Desdemona, impacted by his dynamic relationship with Iago illustrated in the listening extract. At a significant turning point during the act, the listening extract explores the Iago’s insidious influence on Othello’s reasoning as he plants a seed of doubt about Othello’s security with Desdemona. At beginning of the extract, as Iago begins to suggest at Desdemona’s unfaithfulness, Othello pronounces “it is the green eyed monster than mock me,” indicative of his awareness of his budding jealousy evident in his lowered tone portraying emotion. However, his following description of Desdemona speaks of her virtue, the characterisation of Desdemona “is fair” juxtaposes the accusations repainting her in a good light. Othello’s insecurities surface as he mentions “For she had eyes and chose me,” followed by which he’ll “see before I doubt”, returning to a normal pace and volume exemplifying his re-control and repudiation of Iago’s comments. However, the psychological tension within the play has already developed during the act as he struggles to deal with his jealousy, as the audience watches in great pathos towards Othello and his plight. This is furthered by the dramatic irony in Iago’s dishonesty, as he feigns reluctance to incriminate Desdemona, while continuing his deceit with the audience aware of his ulterior motives. While Othello leads the audience to believe in the stability of his relationship with Desdemona, his eventual words “Why did I marry” in regards for Desdemona, and calling Iago “this honest creature”, demonstrates the extent of Othello’s false trust in his relationship with Iago and the faltering relationship between his romantic partner. The extract of this scene through the changing tones and attitudes of the characters depict the suspenseful reverberation of Iago’s manipulation through the misplacement of trust in Othello’s relationships. Arguably the most dramatic relationship within the play is that of Iago and Othello, where Shakespeare explores the reality of appearances through Iago’s manipulation and Othello’s blind trust in him. Shakespeare sets this up through delaying the audience’s direct experience of meeting the protagonist, instead introducing him through the antagonist Iago. In Act 1 Scene 1, a pattern of dramatic irony is established, as Iago says “I will wear my heart on my sleeve/For daws to peck at. I am not what I am.” outlining his deception of Othello. The visual metaphor and paradox expresses Iago’s deceptive and manipulative personality, and willingness to weave a facade of trust to veil treachery. Shakespeare explores the idea of appearance against reality through Iago’s character as he reveals his pride to the audience increasing the dramatic tension and the suspense over Iago’s Machiavellian deceit. Following the progression of the play, Iago uses lengthy syntax at the beginning of Act 4, saying “Faith that he did — I know not what he did” further placing suspicion in Othello’s mind feeding his darker thoughts. Similarly, he says “work on, my medicine, work” ironically using the metonym ‘medicine’ to exemplify the poisoning of Othello’s mind, weaving suggestion to create a believable tale. Othello loses his rhythmic poetic verse and eloquence, speaking in truncated sentences before his epileptic fit demonstrating the

impact of Iago’s words. Finally, the word choice and tone of his question, “How shall I murder him, Iago?” significantly demonstrates Othello’s trust in Iago, captivating the audience in the dynamic of the relationship with emphasis on the dramatic irony and building suspension. Thus, audience’s awareness of the heightening tension and dramatic irony throughout the play contribute to their captivation of Othello and Iago’s intense relationship. A crucial relationship within Othello is that of Desdemona and Othello, a representation focal on the contrast in their characterisation and the resulting tragedy due to the misplacement of trust. The climax of the portrayal their relationship is exhibited in Act 5, in which, having succumbed to Iago’s manipulations, Othello murders Desdemona. The extremes of their relationship are demonstrated through their characterisation such as utilising the binary opposites of black and white, propelled from the very beginning where they are referred to as a “black ram” verses a “white ewe.” In contrast to Othello’s deterioration and increasing jealousy and anger, the portrayal of Desdemona is often associated with white, purity and images of heaven. The play’s dramatic tension heightens during the iconic willow scene in Act 4, through the emphasis of dramatic irony where her naivety and blind trust in Othello is explored. By saying, “My love doth so approve him,” demonstrates her continued loyalty to Othello, whilst the audience is aware of Othello’s ill intentions, as well as the willow song foreshadowing her death. This is continued in the play through Othello’s soliloquy, giving the audience insight into his tumultuous state of mind, however through the description of Desdemona with “whiter skin… as smooth as monumental alabaster” reiterates her whiteness, however dehumanises her as an object through the stone imagery. The juxtaposition of Desdemona’s affiliation with purity and heaven is also signified through Othello’s insult “Devil!” before striking her. The contrast evident demonstrates the intensity of the relationship, as well as following Desdemona’s death where Emilia says “the more angel she, and you the blacker devil!” displaying the dichotomy of the good heaven and evil hell. Throughout Othello, the audience is exposed to the extremes of the relationship, paired with the dramatic irony between both characters in the relationship engrossing them into the play’s suspenseful developments. Shakespeare exposes the flaws in the human condition which the audience views from an omniscient perspective, ultimately resulting in the tragedies of the play. This is exemplified through Iago and Othello’s relationship. which hinged on the veiled dishonesty of the former and the obvious trust from the latter, as well as the relationship between naivety of Desdemona and increasing irrationality of Othello. Thus, in Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello, the relationships present between characters bear a significant part in captivating the audience through its exploration of trust and effective dramatisation....