... one of the many of Shakespeare's great tragedies. It is a compelling drama about the success, deceit, and disintegration of a brave but flawed human being. Its diagnosis of evil is as apt today as it was when The King's Men first presented the ... history in Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland. In writing his play, Shakespeare altered and expanded Holinshed's history, reshaped the personalities, and invented some new characters. The main character in Macbeth, as in other Elizabethan (and Greek) tragedies, is a tragic hero, a person of high rank and personal ...

• Word Count: 2980
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

... tries to protect Othello's good name, telling Emilia that she has killed herself. Cassio Cassio is a figure of great importance to the movement of the plot, but not much is known about his character. In spite of Iago's faulty judgment, Cassio is obviously a competent soldier, for Othello appoints him ... him. In the end, however, he outsmarts everyone, for he foils his own murder and comes forth to tell the truth about the villainous Iago. PLOT (Structure) The structure of Othello is in the classic form for a Shakespearean tragedy. Act I constitutes the exposition of the play, where the ...

• Word Count: 4125
• Approx Pages: 17
• Grade Level: High School

... battle hungry, adventurous and feisty young woman. Yet, at the end of the play she submits passively to her demise at the hands of her husband. This plot development is a staple in the tragic orientation of the play; but how can one explain the seemingly ambiguous qualities of Desdemona's character? How can a woman ... been illustrated in the point that was made above. It is this naivety that is eventually her undoing. Secondly, Desdemona can be said to be a very brave person, who would not be afraid of death. This becomes evident near the beginning of the play. Right off the bat, the au...

• Word Count: 1219
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... long for the play to quickly shift gears from discussing how great and heroic Othello the warrior is into Othello being fully involved in Iago's plot for revenge. By Act III, the middle of the plays action, Iago has convinced Othello that his wife is having an affair with ... the Venetian Army appointed by Othello himself. An important question to ask for this section of the play is, how could the good-hearted, brave Othello automatically assume his loving wife is cheating? The answer is simple, complete manipulation of his actions by Iago. Othello is proved to be ... alleged mistakes ...

• Word Count: 1345
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography