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Othello: Notes and Study Guide

             Iago's speeches indicate his true malicious intentions and the true nature of the reasons for his relationships with the other characters. He is manipulative and is a wicked person with the facade of a friend. He is motivated by his own lust for power and selfishness.
             2. Iago is a manipulative villain. Much like Richard II and Don John, his primary goal is power. He manipulated the others around him in order to amass influence and manipulating them to fuel his own selfish desires. .
             3. Iago's speeches make the other characters appear to be fools only falling for his manipulation. Iago is such a masterful manipulator due to his ability to convince others that they are right and telling them exactly what they want to hear. For example, he falsely confirms Othello's suspicions of Desdemona's infidelity and weakens their relationship as a result. .
             4. In the beginning of the play, we see Othello as a man who is somewhat rejected by the Venetians based on his background and race. He is exceptional due to the fact that he is highly ranked as a warrior and commands respect from his lieutenants. However, he still sees himself as different from the Venetians although he has become a part of their society.
             5. Venice is a commercial city centered on commerce and trade, the Duke being the somewhat haughty ruler of it all. Venice treats outsiders as well as women with 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 Iago begins to implement the more sinister stages of his plan.
             8. Cassio is a somewhat gullible individual.


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1. Character Analysis - Othello

To do a true character study on Othello, it is important to examine a scene from each part of the play and determine whether or not Othello influences his own actions or whether or not society transformed him into a monster. ... Othello starts the play on top of the world. ... It is important to note, however, that Othello is one of the first characters in a major play to be of color. ... Othello is proved to be an extremely gullible person, as Iago never offers Othello legitimate proof of the affair. ... In the last few acts of Othello, the evil side of Othello's character is finally un...

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2. Logical Fallacies in Othello

According to Vincent Ruggiero's Beyond Feelings: A Guide to Critical Thinking, the term logical fallacies refer to the concept of, "making errors that impairs reasoning and thinking," (87). ... A situation where Othello commits this error in reasoning is when he demands Desdemona to give him his handkerchief: OTHELLO. ... OTHELLO. ... Othello then uses the fallacy of automatic rejection again by ignoring Desdemona when she implores him to explain why he thinks she is unfaithful: OTHELLO. ... OTHELLO. ...

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3. Othello and Elizabethan Values

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  • Word Count: 878
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4. The Use of Imagery in Othello

To begin with, in Othello the force of evil is most directly pitted against the will of goodness. ... Aware of the Moor's vulnerability, Iago draws his plan and preys on Othello's insecurities. ... He wants to transform Othello in a dreadful monster. ... Othello says "Now, by heaven, My blood begins my safer guides to rule, And passion, having my best judgment collied, Assays to lead the way" (2.3.183-186). ... Othello is characterized as the tragic hero whose imperfection brings him down. ...

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5. William Shakespeare's Othello - Important Notes and Quotes

This reveals Iago's intention to serve under Othello to take advantage of him for his own use. ... Act 1, Scene 2 Line 18-19 - Why Othello Will Not be Heavily Punished Iago tells Othello that Brabantio who is at a status almost as powerful as the Duke, knows that he and Desdemona have married and because he is furious he will try to annul the marriage and inflict laws punishment on Othello; however Othello is calm in this situation knowing that he has some influential power says "My services which I have done to the signiory shall out-tongue his complaint. " Notifying that the amount of s...

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6. Comparative Study - Othello and O

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7. Othello as the Quintessencial Tragic Hero

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8. An Othello Bibliography

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9. Othello

Was Othello a Good Man? In the play "Othello" by William Shakespeare, Othello had both some positive aspects and some negative aspects about him. ... Othello trusted Iago, an ensign to Othello. ... Othello's flaw was his trusting nature. ... One of Othello's negative aspects was that of jealousy. ...

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