Othello Issues Table - Power PDF

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Othello Issues Table - Power...

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POWER

(http://leavingcertenglish.net/2014/02/othello-virtues-flaws/)

Sub-issues of POWER

Explanation

Quote

Dramatic/Lan guage Technique

Effect

Link to tragedy

Link to Context

Greed/Ambition Revenge?

Greed is the continuous lust for power that drives characters to forgo humane morals for higher societal positions. Embodied by Iago’s deceptive motives.

“with as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio”

Metaphor

Foreshadows Cassio’s downfall

Revenge was not approved of by the Church, but popular in the public imagination (old medieval values).

“Whether he kill Cassio, or Cassio him… every way makes my gain”

Soliloquy

Human nature of greed, where one’s greed for power leads to downfall through making rash and selfish decisions.

Revenge is the action of hurting or harming someone in return for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands. In Othello, we see Iago take revenge on Othello which in turn, causes Othello to take revenge on Desdemona and Cassio. Both characters are able to excise the ability to act revenge upon other characters because of their power standings.

Patriarchy/Social hierarchy

The hierarchy shown within Othello associates those of power to the people at the head or the top of the patriarchal ladder. They are seen as the most influential and prestigious members of society and as such is hold the power to rule over others. Power is gained by ascending in the social hierarchy and it is this ascension that Iago had valued so much causing Iago’s fanatical journey. Power of the patriarchy is shown through the power of control given to the fathers of family especially Brabantio’s commodification of Desdemona

Insect Imagery Reveals to the audience early on about his true motives

“I follow my master to serve my turn upon him”

Dramatic irony

Logical and coherent description for his plan of revenge; reveals his duplicity and his desire for power early on

“My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty. To you I am bound for life and education. My life and education both do learn me. How to respect you. You are the lord of duty. I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband.” Desdemona Act 1 Scene 3

Monologue Hyperbole Self-autonom y Truncated, consistently lengthed and logical sentences demonstrate her education/lite racy

The commodification of Desdemona by Brabantio demonstrates the power disparities between daughter-father relationships in the Elizabethan era. Also reveals how females were ultimately submissive to their fathers (male)

Symbolism

The objectification and commodification of women show the constraints placed upon the females within

"Good signior, you shall more command with years Than with your weapons." -pg 76 line 60 BRABANTIO O, thou foul thief, where hast thou stowed my daughter?

This highlights the difference in power between males and females in society during Shakespeare’s era

Revenge upon others fuels the tragic downfalls of other characters with the play.

Accumulation of heroic imagery of Othello attributes him with valiance and honour. This is key to the unfolding of the tragedy, which dramatises the downfall of him. The heroic nature of Othello is perhaps even more emphasised by the idea that to obtain his current status he had to fight against the Social hierarchy simply to obtain his position.

Revenge was considered to be socially unacceptable, but was an inherent emotion prevalent throughout the population. Shakespeare explores the battle between humanism and determinism through Othello and Iago’s decisions, whereby fate is portrayed to be derived by the decisions and emotions of the individual, rather than

Women needed to be submissive to the husband. Education opportunities were not the same (women were restricted to the home and not given the opportunity to learn much about the outside world) Similarly, the social hierarchy of the Elizabethan era was based off feudalistic society which was often inflexible and attempts to ascend the social hierarchy ladder were often very difficult (and seen as going against God), and for Othello to have done so as an outsider implies he is a man of good character. Iago’s attempts to ascend the social order are thus seen as immoral and his actions eventually cause the suffering of many for trying to violate the social hierarchy.

Act1 Scene2 L:80-81

Isolation and insecurities will lead to a tragic downfall

Othello is an outsider in that Venice is a non-warrior city with white people occupying in the city. Thus as a “Moor” who is “warlike”, Desdemona is the only connection that Othello has with Venician society. This is the reason why Othello becomes so irrational when he doubts Desdemona’s faithfulness, where her affairs will separate him from Venician society. Iago is no different, in that he feels that he has been unfairly treated in that as a veteran soldier, has not been chosen as lieutenant over a politicianCassio. This creates insecurities added on with suspicions that Othello slept with his wife, and thus plots against his general. Cassio is no outlier. He seeks security created by the loss of his position as a lieutenant drives him to contribute to falling for Iago’s manipulation, adding to the dramatic tension that foreshadows the Aristotelian tragedy. Emilia is insecure with Iago’s lack of interest in Emilia. Thus when she is asked to obtain Desdemona’s handkerchief, despite her loyalty to her mistress, she obeys her husband, seeking for attention from her husband.

society. The lack of their expressed freedom shows the possessive and controlling nature of the powerful male characters in the contextual society

“He has done my office”

Pun

1) He didn’t get to be lieutenant 2) Symbolises his wife (objectification)

“In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks they dare not show their husbands”

Symbolism - “Pranks”

Lacks Venician local interaction, accepts Iago’s suggestion that Venician women such as Desdemona, have affairs in secret which asserts Othello’s growing suspicions of Desdemona’s false disloyalty

“Heavenly” Imagery “Dramatic Irony”

“arise black vengeance from the hollow hell”

Colour imagery Alliteration Biblical allusion

Foreshadowing

Tragedies displays human nature by painting a narrative, where people choose to die for something that they chase over their life. In this case, the characters of Othello can be seen to chase after their reputations and love in order to sate their insecurities. This invokes the tragic downfall of the play. Furthermore the insecurities of Othello led to the death of Desdemona, as well as fulfilling the role of the Everyman in the Aristotle Tragedy. Thereby, this “fate” of the “Moor” that Othello accepts is painted by his desire to sate his insecurities. It can be said that the tragedy of Othello displays the human nature of seeking

Even during Elizabethan times links to the wider society were considered very important. Model citizens during Elizabethan times went to Church regularly and fitted in with the societal norm. Isolationist people  (especially old women) were seen as detrimental to the societal order. For people who only barely fit in to the societal norm in Elizabethan society it would have been a terrifying situation.

belonging and security. Machiavellianism and unlawful seizure of power and management of subordinates

Iago is the embodiment of Machiavellistic values. By doing this, Shakespeare criticises Machiavellism. Howvever, Othello can also be considered as the humanistic ruler dictated in his work “Princeps”, which Niccolo Machiavelli argues is inferior to the deterministic ruler. Therefore, it can be argued that Shakespeare both criticises and embraces the teachings of Niccolo Machiavelli.

“To get his place and plume up my will In double knavery”

Connotation + Symbolism / Imagery

Iago outlines how he plans to get power via any method - in this case these underhanded methods.

“My wife must move for the Cassio to her mistress - I’ll set her on. Myself the while to draw the Moor apart, And bring him jump when he may Casio find Soliciting his wife. Ay, that’s the way: Dull not by coldness and delay” Act 3 Scene I l. 348 - 353

Soliloquy here Iago plans his nefarious plans.

Iago demonstrates his puppet-master nature and his planning of underhanded means just to gain power.

“even now an old black ram is tupping your white ewe”

Bestial and color imagery.

Iago is denouncing and dehumanising his fellow man just for his own aims.

Act 1 Scene I l. 89 - 90

Juxtaposition

“Honest Iago” Act 5 Scene II l. 153

Dramatic Irony

Act I Scene III p. 375 - 376

“Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago; In following him, I follow but myself” Act 1 Scene I l. 57-58

Paradox

Demonstrates his Machiavellian nature and his two-facedness. To seize power Iago does not stop deceiving all.

Human nature is often one of want; the pursuit of power by individuals is a common manifestation of this. In Othello this unlawful seizure of power which causes mass human suffering. Why? Because, as Shakespeare shows, these oft-Machiavellian maneuvers caused suffering to Emilia, his own wife, Desdemona and Othello (his superior and possible gay unrequited interest)

Power was viewed in Elizabethan times as belonging to certain authority figures in society and mostly such power was bestowed by divine means and from divine means to those who hold office. It was considered a violation of the natural order for unlawful seizures of power, and Machiavellian characters who perform these ‘unlawful’ seizures of power in Elizabethan plays and literature were often denounced, as such means were considered immoral and anti-Christian....