... a degree of disrespect. They are seen as lower or subordinate to the Venetians. 6. Desdemona is an ambitious and faithful character. Her marriage to Othello is extremely courageous due to the fact that he is Moorish and seen as an outsider by most other Venetians. She behaves differently in the midst ... of different characters. She is loving toward Othello but coarse towards Iago. 7. As the setting changes from Venice to Cypress, the tension of the story increases. It is at Cypress where ... abusive while Desdemona believes in faithfulness. Despite their class differences, the two women...

• Word Count: 800
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... the meat it feeds on". Iago uses the tragic flaw jealousy as the key element in his deceptive plan to bring about the downfall of Othello. Iago's warning foreshadows the destructive nature which jealousy brings to the surface and also emphasises how it can destroy a human as a result of their ... actions caused by jealousy. As a result, Othello becomes "the green eyed monster" as jealousy consumes him, causing the uprise of monstrous thoughts and a destructive and evil nature which ultimately leads ... Desdemona with his dialogue in Act 4, "I will chop her into messes." The dramatic st...

• Word Count: 1004
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... setting, Brabantio is woken from his sleep by Roderigo and Iago, who relayed news of a secret marriage between his daughter, Desdemona, and the Moor, Othello. Brabantio is infuriated, not just by the fact that "[Desdemona] is gone " but also that she is with "the Moor " (I.i.162). He ... long live you to think [she is honest] " (III.iii.226). However, Iago's poison is already showing its effects. It is clear that Othello is skeptical because he retorted his previous comment; "And yet, how nature erring from itself - " (III.iii.227). He begins to question his ... that "tis fit that Cas...

• Word Count: 1083
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... , proving how even the most seemingly miniscule omission can lead to a person's downfall. Desdemona losing her handkerchief creates tension in her relationship with Othello when she believes she has cursed the love and when she lies about its whereabouts, and further shows how even an elementary mistake can result in ... it up, but returns it to Iago instead of Desdemona. This leads Desdemona to believe she has lost the prized possession, and betrayed Othello's love by doing so. Othello tells her the handkerchief has magical properties, "but if she lost it, Or made a gift of it, my father...

• Word Count: 1198
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography

... are the reasons behind all the sinister plans.In order to examine these motivations, I plan to explore the following passages and soliloquies: (1) Who Othello, Cassio, Iago and Desdemona are at the beginning of the play. (2) What are the relationships between them. (3) How Iago gets angry and alliances ... with the result. Iago, in order to express his dissatisfactory of not being promoted, he plots his evil plan to frame Othello and Cassio. Othello's bestial behavior is also shown in the play where his jealousy transforms into hatred and he kills his wife, Desdemona. This ... supports m...

• Word Count: 1146
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... Cassio who was chosen instead of Iago, even though Iago's war experience was much greater than that of Cassio's. Iago does not say anything racist to Othello's face but he has a lot to say against him behind his back. Iago's character is very sly and devious and uses his qualities for the ... betterment of himself. He schemes to destroy Othello and anything in his way including Cassio and Desdemona. The first time we hear one of his racist comments is when he's talking to Brabantio, who ... angel she, and you the blacker devil!"(5.2.129). Although this is the only time she says what she...

• Word Count: 1144
• Approx Pages: 5

... / Weather I in any just term am affined / To love the Moor (I, i, 38-40)." Here, Iago is wondering why after what Othello has done, he should show any friendship to Othello (in Shakespearean plays and times, love had a contextual meaning of friendship). This is clearly the first piece of evidence to show Iago's discontent ... hate the Moor" (380) which is clearly a motivation for assisting in his death. Second Iago mentions the whole "twixting sheets idea and how he feels Othello could be having some kind of affair with his wife. He says that it is merely a suspicion, but concludes that i...

• Word Count: 1103
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... wooed my lady, Know of your love?" or by muttering under his breath, "Ha, I like not that," when Cassio visits Desdemona. Iago warns Othello, "Look to your wife, observe her well with Cassio." Shakespeare intensifies Iago's manipulative techniques as he begins to use words like "cuckhold," personifying animalistic ... an animalistic, malicious monster who uses Iago's bestial vocabulary. While one can consider Iago the sole cause of Othello's downfall, cause can also be found within Othello himself. It is Othello's intrinsic internal flaws of jealousy, naivety, inability to judge charact...

• Word Count: 854
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... highly insecure and he is heavily manipulated by Iago, whose plotting and scheming creates the central conflict, which arises from his Machievellian actions. Iago uses Othello's otherness to his advantage and gains Othello's trust as a respectable ancient. Othello is vulnerable due to his insecurity in his relationship with Desdemona and his ever-present violent and misogynistic nature, he turns to Iago for help ... 's death and at the end of the film when the tragedy has subsided. Desdemona sings the "Willow Song" in an indirect way, she faces the eventual possibility that Othello is go...

• Word Count: 944
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... , tragic. They all seem to have the same endings. His tragedies all end in some tremendous catastrophe resulting in death. In dramas like Othello, there are certain things the author uses to add tension and suspense, hinting at events to come in the story. Foreshadowing is commonly used ... to believe the stories he was being told by Iago. But after overhearing a conversation between Cassio and Iago, he was convinced. Ever since, Othello went from loving Desdemona to hating just the thought of her. Desdemona notices the change in her husband, but doesn't think anything of it. ... happy; ...

• Word Count: 1156
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... so that he will do anything for a chance to win her over. As a result of his feelings for Desdemona, Roderigo is very jealous of Othello. Roderigo's jealousy clouds his judgement, and causes him to make very bad decisions. An example of an irrational decision from Roderigo is when he ... again the destructive influence jealousy has on the human mind. Jealousy and its destructive influence in making irrational decisions is also shown by Othello. Iago tells Othello that he suspects Desdemona of infidelity, pointing out that Desdemona and Cassio are too close with one another and that it i...

• Word Count: 1224
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... is a driving force by involving jealousy, trust and pride in this classic tragedy. Jealousy is a key factor that appears to destroy Othello. Another aspect that love is a driving force is the trust that Othello had in "honest Iago". Finally, Othello's pride clouds his judgment about what is right and therefore he murders his beloved wife, Desdemona. Love was a driving force that ... the Senate at the request of the Duke. He regards Iago "A man he is of honesty and trust" (Othello, 1.3). Othello continued to entrust Iago with responsibilities, including escorting his wife to Cyprus .Iago...

• Word Count: 517
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... techniques to emphasis this theme of racism and how it was affected by the context of the texts is the use of animal symbolism. In Othello, Othello is referred to as a "black ramtupping your white ewe". This language technique heavily emphasises the bestiality view that many Venetians held on ... as evident in the quote, often compared them to beasts to humiliate and isolate them from the Venetian community, causing a sense of isolation for Othello. This use of animal symbolism is further explored in Tim Blake Nelsons O where, evident by accompanying close ups, Odin is referred to a bla...

• Word Count: 1144
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... provides a figure to the significant emotion of jealousy, relative to not only Elizabethan societies, but societies of all eras. Thus, Iago is accusing Othello of being jealous, however through this, he is ironically depicting his own situation, shown in his dialogue "I confess it is my nature ... the constraints of the great chain of being. Thus, true to his statement, Iago aims to be the catalyst in the downfall of Othello, foreshadowed when he states, "I follow him to serve my turn upon him". However, as observed by critic Thomas Bowman, ... truth and integrity, thus it is outrageous ...

• Word Count: 878
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... revealed. Iago desperately wanted to be second in command; however, Cassio was chosen for the position. This filled Iago with jealousy. Iago had misleadingly warned Othello of the soul deteriorating emotion one calls jealousy; otherwise known as "The green eyed monster" (3. 3. 167). To fulfill his appetite for power ... , Iago followed through with a plan that directly lead to the tragedies that occur in Othello. On the surface, Othello is a romantic tragedy, however beneath that is a story about persuasion, greed, and jealousy in human nature. Iago's greed and jealousy truly gets ... t...

• Word Count: 1089
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... trust under influences of deception, the nature of pride to be replaced by irrational jealousy and how love is vulnerable to societal influences. Because of these messages, 'Othello' remains relevant to readers through time and age. Through Iago's foul play and deceptive conduct, Shakespeare demonstrates how duplicity fosters misplaced trust and subsequently abuses the innocent. ... I challenge that I may profess due to the Moor my lord' in defence against Brabantio's anger demonstrates how the patriarchal expectations of the Elizabethan context strengthens her faith in Othello. How...

• Word Count: 1031
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Graduate

... fragile markers of social difference. Shakespeare uses the interplay of racial prejudice, and its religious and social significance to craft the corruption of Othello's relationship with Desdemona. William Shakespeare also uses juxtaposing colors through the use of animal imagery and racial slurs to show racial difference and ... , very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe", Iago's rough racial depiction of the union of Othello and Desdemona presupposes Othello as bestial and barbaric before Othello even enters into the play. Iago's vivid and crude description of the lovemaki...

• Word Count: 1008
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... under any circumstance, and is completely oblivious to Iago's ulterior motives. Although Roderigo never thinks for himself, he still manages to spit racial slurs about Othello. Being a minor character that does not have his own opinion, he is clearly persuaded to fall into this racist society. While in conversation with ... Desdemona and is a somewhat self-important Venetian senator. Brabantio is not an exception to the racial society, as he too speaks racial slurs towards Othello. When Iago reveals his daughter's secret marriage, Brabantio is angrier at the fact that she is married to a...

• Word Count: 1002
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... the women of her time, challenging the unuttered bounds of her patriarchal society. These anomalies all form part to the theme of difference that is core to this Shakespearian tragedy. Othello's different racial background displaces him within the societal sphere of his career. His Moorish roots elicit skepticism to his capital position in the Italian military, however it is indubitable that ... before I would drown myself for the love of a female bird," epitomising prejudice to women in the patriarchal context of the play. His relationship with Emilia is entirely polar to Othello and D...

• Word Count: 1213
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... transformation. It is these aspects of his character, along with the circumstances of the play and Iago's Machiavellian manipulations, that ultimately bring about Othello's demise. Othello's insecurity, in particular about his African origins and his relationship with Desdemona, is an element of his character that contributes to his transformation from ... places great importance on his reputation and is proud of his standing within the community. It is this strong sense of pride that causes Othello to react so radically when he believes that Desdemona has been unfaithful. Instead of con...

• Word Count: 1190
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... racism, jealousy and love are values that have persisted in human society. Therefore it is no surprise that when these themes become the most important part of the storyline in Othello. It is the ability of a piece of literature to move the crowds by the core values and human emotions of each and every individual that makes it popular. The play ... Othello has succeeded in achieving that. Among the main themes is racism. Othello, the title character, was a Moorish general serving the Venetian government. Being a black, he was subjected to so many different forms of discrimination and ha...

• Word Count: 650
• Approx Pages: 3

... a single flaw; naiveté, jealousy and pride, are universal relationship issues that allow individuals to empathise with. The inability to discern facades from reality finally results in moral degradation for Othello. The Elizabethan era leading into the Jacobean era was a period of espionage and deceit due to the political turmoil caused by the heirless throne. The pure universal trait naiveté ... ; in human nature is first exposed through the characterization 'The Moor is of a free and open nature' spoken in Iago's soliloquy foreshadows potential exploitation as Othello is too...

• Word Count: 981
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... husband's intention. However, I do not think that this is the correct understanding; to both getting freedom and gaining equality of love from Iago as Othello and Desdemona's ideal marriage, are the major reasons that initiate Emilia's lies. She chooses to lie to Desdemona in the first place was that ... not yet confirmed with the reason of his wanting. Emilia immediately leans more on the side of achieving her own desire to please Iago against Othello rather than her knowledge of the import the handkerchief holds for Desdemona. "I am glad I have found this napkin, This was her first ......

• Word Count: 1207
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... he truly believe that he is "worthy" of Desdemona's love? Could a lack of self-confidence contribute to his believing Iago's lies about Desdemona? Response Othello is a Moor, but he has an extreme self-confidence, because he is a very successful warrior. The military identity of him is important and gives him a ... great confidence. This is what makes him acceptable by elite society, because he is really a great soldier. Iago always insults Othello because of his being Moor: "If she had been blest, she would never loved the Moor" (Act II, Scene I). Desdemona's father Brabantio ... but ...

• Word Count: 952
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... reader by a deceitful Iago. Convincing Rodrigo, other characters and perhaps the reader that their love could only be the result of some spell cast by Othello to usurp her love. Iago spins on his web of deceit. Desdemona's love is not true. It is the result of some magic. Twisting ... reality Iago convinces them and the result is death. The story begins. Branbanzio confronts Othello. " .O thou foul thief, where hast thou stowed my daughter? Dammed as thou art, thou hast enchanted her, for I"ll refer me to all things ... involuntary reaction to the situations. Maybe if he says what he thi...

• Word Count: 883
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School