... cloth anymore; it has now become sacred and later in the play, it will be responsible for Othello's demise. Many of the characters in Othello are also symbolic such as Iago who has been characterized as Shakespeare's perfect villain. He is responsible for the deaths of Othello, Desdemona, Roderigo, and Emilia, but appears to feel no remorse. Every action he takes is one of ... Cassio together again to help them both out, but this only gives Iago a chance to punish Othello and physically wound Cassio. Another form of irony is the word choice that Shakespeare uses to describe relationship...

• Word Count: 543
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

In William Shakespeare's Othello, we are introduced to several characters throughout the course of the play, three of which are female. These characters are Desdemona, wife to Othello, Emilia, wife to Iago and Bianca, lover of Cassio. Shakespeare has chosen to present the reader with only three female characters for strategic reasons. The significance of Emilia and Bianca is to heighten our awareness ... remains faithful to Othello; even when she is dying and asked to name her murderer she does not mention his name, she simply says, " Nobody- I myself. Farewell. Commend me to my kind lord. O,...

• Word Count: 963
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

William Shakespeare's "Othello" can be read from a feminist perspective. Othello serves as an example of the patriarchal social status, the practice of privileges in marriages, and also the suppression and restriction of ... her psychopathic husband. To understand and relate to Emilia, one must ask; "who is Emilia?" "What are her characteristics?" All that Shakespeare tells the reader is that she is the wife of Iago and she has the position of being a servant/companion to Desdemona. She and her husband have ... knowledgeable dialogue she has with Desdemona. From beginning to end, Emilia prog...

• Word Count: 1243
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... have been people there to criticize and pick apart his work. This is not surprising, when you stop to look at the underlying meanings in Shakespeare's writing. Shakespeare's play Othello is no exception for these critical eyes, with its tale of revenge, love, jealousy, and murder. And, as with any story, the ... play has its villain that causes the main conflict. Iago, Othello's "trusted" advisor and supposed friend, is that villain in the story of Othello. Iago is the cause of the downfall of the main character, Othello ... ," says he, "I have already chose my officer."" (I.1, 11-17). W...

• Word Count: 611
• Approx Pages: 2
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... 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 ... murder his wife and he did so in a state of jealousy. Iago planted the seed, but Othello watered it. Iago's plan was well structured and sophisticated. In, "The Art of Persuasion and Shakespeare's Two Iago's," Benjamin Beir writes, "Iago is very aware of his audience and how t...

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

When analyzing the character of Emilia in Shakespeare's "Othello," one must take into account her conjugal relationship with Iago; an unconventional type of love that Emilia falls deeply into and eventually leads ... Emilia is 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 remembrance from the ... "glad " to have found the handkerchief is surprising, for many ...

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

... It is not just a coincidence that Iago was vying for a better position earlier in the story. It is entirely feasible that before the rough and harsh Othello loved Desdemona, he may have slept with Emilia. Maybe he even promised to look after her husband if she consorted with him. Obviously, Iago became suspect ... ? This is not the history of a villain but of a good man. All that is known of Othello is his strength and goodness, and how much everyone loves him. If Shakespeare was to initiate the story earlier and tell of the moment where Iago was put aside in favor of someone else, ... ...

• Word Count: 1064
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... the extremes of pity and fear, sympathy and repulsion, sickening hope and dreadful expectation."" (Bloom's ) Most will agree that the theatrical Othello is the most tragic of Shakespeare's to readers of today. Since the first time man and woman met, the human being has been aware of sexual jealousy. Solomon described ... this in relation to one of the most intense and also the most ideal of human feelings."" (Bloom's ) The ever-manipulative Iago lies to Othello consistently to achieve his revenge, using the faithful devil's tool of sexual jealousy. Through out the play Iago is "silent i...

• Word Count: 936
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... mistake, a small action, and his life changed forever because of it. Miniscule decisions, the type people may not even consciously make can affect lives in mysterious ways. In Othello by William Shakespeare, the two main characters Othello and Desdemona have a starstruck love; but that does not mean they have no issues. Iago also entangles himself within their love affair out of spite for ... Othello, and from there involves Cassio by manipulating both him and his wife Emilia. Problems start to arise in Othello and Desdemona's relationship when Desdemona drops her handkerchief that Othel...

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

Question 1. Othello is an "outsider" in a very sophisticated society. What elements of class and race appear in the play? How confident is Othello that he can be accepted by this elitist society? Does 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 re...

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

... is a moral issue such as right versus wrong or good versus evil. In one of the most famous pieces of literature ever written, William Shakespeare's play Othello, the Moor of Venice, this controversy of good versus evil is constant throughout the entire play; the side of good personified by Desdemona, evil ... personified by Iago, and the human influence personified by Othello. Othello is constantly manipulated by both sides throughout the piece and the choices he makes turn out to prove just how strong the influence of evil ... the side of good in this play. The side of dishonesty, hat...

• Word Count: 1058
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Iago's opinion of women. Shakespeare's play Othello is based on tragedy of Othello's jealousy, which ironically leads Othello to kill Desdemona, his beloved (wife). Evil Iago is above all Shakespeare's villains. Iago is a person with evil emotions, and as a result he deceives everybody, he also is exceptionally influential character ... It is evident that Iago refers to Desdemona as a piece of property, when He wakes up Brabantio (Desdemona's Father) and tells him about the marriage to Othello. In Act 1 Scene 1 Line 80 he states, " Thieves, thieves! Look to your house, your daughter and your...

• Word Count: 884
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

In William Shakespeare's "Othello, the Moor of Venice", Othello descends rapidly into murderous jealousy against his wife. There are three important factors that contributed to this horrible, unnecessary act of violence, which include, Desdemona's friendship with Cassio, Iago's psychological manipulation, and the magical handkerchief. The first factor that led to Othello's downfall was Desdemona's friendship with Cassio. Desdemona was a very loyal friend. If she made ... it her. I did so: and take heed on "t Make it a darling like your precious eye; To lose "t or give "t away were such perdi...

• Word Count: 862
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... in 16th century Venice, Shakespeare's "Othello" presents notions of difference that deem it as amorphous, espoused with a resonance that appropriates it to the twenty first century mindset. Difference engendered by character juxtaposition, racism and gender relations kindles the plot of the play, acting as a major gear within the clockwork on which it is built. Othello's North African background distinguishes ... 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 t...

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

... the ides of trust and proof into their stories. Two plays in particular come into mind involving these ideas. Othello by Shakespeare and Tartuffe by Molière. Othello is a tragedy about the Venetian General Othello whose life is destroyed by the plotting of his jealous ensign Iago. Tartuffe is a comedy about a French man ... providing exactly what he wants without it actually being true through the use of Desdemona's handkerchief. He has Emilia steal it and shows it to Othello claiming that he found it in Cassio's room even though he didn't. This shows just how important it is that we do...

• Word Count: 1168
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Othello is one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies. One of the most infamous characters throughout this play is Iago. When Iago's name is mentioned, one can only imagine how the audience must feel ... , manipulation, hatred and revenge was all that he possessed throughout this play. In Act 1 scene 3, Iago clearly states, "I hate the Moor" (1.3.387), meaning that he hates Othello. Now if we back up a little in 1.3, Iago is laying out his plan to Roderigo. What plan you might ask? The plan to have Roderigo continue to pursue Desdemona, which ... help himself financially while in the process...

• Word Count: 686
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Role of Women in Othello In Shakespeare's Othello, the role of women is greatly emphasized. The important characters of the play, Othello, Iago, and Cassio, each have a women that stands behind him. These women each have an obligation to remain loyal and respect their husband's wishes, ... loyalty and respect to her husband, no matter what it takes she tries to be a good wife. At the beginning of the play when Brabantio, confronts Othello and Desdemona about their relationship, she does not hesitate to defend her husband to her father, regardless of the consequences she faced. She is brought...

• Word Count: 1051
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... women The play Othello deals with many themes that fall onto a skeletal system of social fame work, which can be represented by the role of the women of the play. They represent levels ... are weak, lazy, and stupid and only desire sex for- shadowing how he will use them as his pawns.Desdemona, Othello's wife, is a young woman of the upper class in Venice. She is very honest, upright and moral; Shakespeare puts her up on this standard and makes her out to be pure and perfect and she foils Iago's character, which ... as we see when she helps Cassio and early on when she defies her fathe...

• Word Count: 674
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

The play Othello deals with many themes that fall onto a skeletal system of social fame work, which can be represented by the role of the women of the play. They represent levels ... are weak, lazy, and stupid and only desire sex for- shadowing how he will use them as his pawns. Desdemona, Othello's wife, is a young woman of the upper class in Venice. She is very honest, upright and moral; Shakespeare puts her up on this standard and makes her out to be pure and perfect and she foils Iago's character, which plays ... her own conscience, as we see when she helps Cassio and early on when she d...

• Word Count: 666
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... written some of the greatest tragedies in English literature. Two particular examples are Macbeth and Othello. Shakespeare's shortest and bloodiest tragedy, Macbeth tells the story of a brave Scottish general (Macbeth) who receives a prophecy from a trio ... infested with ambition brought on by other characters, which leads to his eventual downfall. Othello tells the story of a Moorish general is deceived by his ensign into believing his wife is unfaithful. To Cinthio's story Shakespeare added supporting characters such as the rich young dupe Roderigo and the outraged and grief- ... gu...

• Word Count: 1225
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... 's basketball team has made it to the state playoffs. The nuances of Shakespeare's lines, such as Othello's gradual disuse of blank verse as he grows jealous (lecture), are lost as iambic pentameter has been replaced with contemporary slang. The differences between O and Othello, however, are more than superficial. Where Othello is a story where Othello's race plays a minor role (Kerwin), the story of O hinges heavily on ... in lecture. Overall, the movie was very enjoyable because it is a new interpretation of Shakespeare even though as an independent work it leaves much to be desired. ...

• Word Count: 570
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Iago, a character from Shakespeare's Othello, reflects Machiavelli's "the end justifies the means" (The Prince). Within the play Iago is no ordinary villain but a Machiavellian villain. The difference between ... if a plan goes a story it is abandoned for its failure. Iago supports Machiavelli's statement "the end justifies the means" with his actions within Shakespeare's Othello. Iago accomplished his goal through a thought out plan in which he did anything necessary; even murder. The motive for Iago comes from the character ... thing Iago was defiantly good at was word of mouth. Iago lied t...

• Word Count: 763
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography

... Shakespeare's Othello; Iago carefully entraps Othello into believing that his wife, Desdemona, is having an affair with Cassio. He does this through a series of suggestions and hesitations that entice and implant images in Othello's head that lead him to his demise. But what is more important is, he gives Othello ... Cassio's position as lieutenant, using Desdemona's prime weakness, her naivety. He disgraces Cassio by getting him drunk so that he strikes Roderigo. Othello then discharges Cassio when he says, I love thee; but nevermore be officer of mine. Cassio must have felt very bad du...

• Word Count: 1232
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... character in Shakespeare's Othello, she does seem to play a major role in the play. Emilia, the wife of the villainous Iago is a confusing character to follow throughout the play. Not only is she the wife of the villain, but her character is also the mistress of Desdemona. Shakespeare does a ... good job of incorporating her hot/cold character into the play before her death at the end of the play. Throughout much of the play Emilia's character takes a backseat role before she makes her presence felt in act three. She is the attendant for Desdemona who had been secretly married to Othell...

• Word Count: 912
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... is often disguised by appearance. This also often occurs in many literary works such as a play called Othello by Shakespeare. Appearance vs. reality is actually one of the major themes in Othello. Iago is one of the major characters who basically makes sure that reality is disguised by appearances, ... Cassio. Iago also befriends Cassio, suggesting that he should approach Desdemona about his reinstatement because her good nature and her influence over Othello will cause Othello to restore Cassio to office. He makes Emilia urge Desdemona to help Cassio. This way he makes it seem like he's...

• Word Count: 419
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School