Othello 1953 words College Essay Example

rather than seduction, Iago shifts his focus to manipulating Cassio as he realizes that Brabantio will not join his war against Othello. Apart from his sexual motives, Iago's racial prejudice against Othello is evident from repeated disparaging remarks about his race to others, calling him "the lascivious Moor" (1. 118-19, 7).

Brabantio is shown to have racial prejudice towards Othello in Act 1, Scene 3 of Othello where he says "129, 8)" about him. However, the other characters in the play acknowledge Othello's race but admire and respect him for his military accomplishments and merit. They refer to him as "the valiant Moor".

The reason behind Iago's animosity towards Othello seems to stem from his prejudice against the latter's race. This is exacerbated by Othello's marriage to a white woman, fueling Iago's selfish machinations through Roderigo's lust for Desdemona. He seeks to destroy their interracial union, serving his own interests. Iago derives pleasure from causing chaos and being malevolent. The same motivation can be observed in other Shakespearean antagonists, such as Macbeth and Edmund in King Lear, who seek personal gain through manipulation and deceit.

Shakespeare's plays often feature malevolent characters who manipulate others with actions and language. In Hamlet, "the devil himself" wreaks havoc and leads to tragedies such as Ophelia's suicide and the deaths of several characters. Coriolanus centers around jealousy and pride as the villain, which causes the eponymous character to betray his countrymen. Similarly, Iago manipulates those around him with hidden actions and double-speak to bring about Othello's tragic downfall.

In the text, it is shown how Iago turns Cassio's regretful behavior into guilt and makes Othello doubt him by feigning ignorance about

Cassio's true intentions when visiting Desdemona. It was actually Iago who suggested that Cassio enlist Desdemona as a mediator between himself and Othello. However, Iago conveys that Cassio's departure from her chambers upon Othello's arrival was deceitful and immoral. Iago denies that it was Cassio that he saw leaving her chambers when Othello queries him, stating "Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think that he would steal away so guiltylike, seeing you coming" (3. 3.).In Othello (39-41, 58), Cassio and Desdemona appear to be unfaithful based on a single statement. Shakespeare effectively conveys this through Cassio leaving and Iago's insinuating lines. This small incident sets off the tragic events of the play, as it is where Othello begins to suspect Desdemona's infidelity due to Iago's manipulations.

Iago uses graphic imagery of the devil, hell, and damnation to influence Othello towards negative and dangerous thoughts. He continuously references supernatural creatures, portraying jealousy as a "green-eyed monster which mocks the meat it feeds on" (3. . 170-71). When he insinuates that Cassio and Desdemona have been unfaithful, Iago employs salacious sexual imagery and blunt innuendos to depict Desdemona as promiscuous and lewd.

In his conversation with Othello, he declares that even if the objects were as perfect as goats, as aroused as monkeys, or as arrogant as wolves, it would still be impossible for Othello to see them. This quote is sourced from Act 3 of the play.

Othello's doubts about Cassio and Desdemona having an affair are planted when Iago speaks vulgarly, invoking images of sexual activity (Shakespeare, p. 402-05). In an attempt to please Othello's demand for proof of her infidelity, Iago tells him that Cassio

uttered Desdemona's name whilst sleeping in the same bed and then behaved like a lover towards Iago. Othello is incensed by this imagery, fearing Cassio's infidelity with his wife. Furthermore, as the play reaches its climax, Iago shifts his animalistic imagery to one of evil spirits and eternal punishment.

Shakespeare's tragic play Othello portrays the profound impact of manipulation and imagery planting on the protagonist's psyche. From initially believing that "Heaven is my judge" (1. . 59), Othello is driven to the point of pleading for demons to "Whip me, ye devils!" (5. 2. 284). This pivotal moment highlights Shakespeare's characteristic structure in his tragic works.

Every story has a crucial event that affects all characters, leading to significant consequences for the protagonist and those around them. In Hamlet, this could be either Ophelia's death or Hamlet's confrontation with his mother in her bedchamber. Similarly, in Othello, it is the false realization of Desdemona's infidelity that sets off a chain reaction. Othello becomes obsessed with proving her guilt and punishing her for perceived actions, causing him to lose sight of his pride in his career and military standing as well as trust in his wife. Despite Iago's manipulation, Othello must also take responsibility for the ultimate events because he quickly assumed the worst and believed that Desdemona betrayed him with Cassio despite claiming to love her completely.

Without giving her the opportunity to clarify herself, Othello rejects her explanation and accepts Iago's accusations as fact. Even though Desdemona doesn't know where her handkerchief is when he asks, Othello still believes Iago's circumstantial evidence. Iago admits that he has no concrete evidence of her infidelity, but insists that

"strong circumstances which lead directly to the door of truth" should be enough for Othello's satisfaction (3.3.422-24, 72).

According to him, if Othello is willing to rely solely on hearsay and secondhand accounts to think Desdemona's been unfaithful, there's sufficient evidence to support the allegation. However, Othello fails to consider that Iago is simply informing him without providing actual proof, but Othello accepts what he perceives to be the truth, ultimately concluding that Desdemona is guilty. As a result, when Desdemona subsequently advocates for Cassio, she appears even guiltier. Despite having done nothing wrong, Othello's jealousy and premature presumption of her guilt have already unjustly condemned her without allowing her an opportunity to defend herself.

Othello hastily accepts his wife's infidelity and promptly begins to imagine all the immoral and lustful sins she has committed. He allows Iago to speak disrespectfully of her by saying, "Her honor is an essence that's not seen...he hath and is again to cope your wife" (4. 1).The speaker, stated in (16, 4. 1. 88, p. 86), accuses Desdemona of lacking honor and suggests that Cassio not only had an intimate encounter with her in the past, but will likely engage in another one.

During the conversation where Iago speaks negatively about Desdemona, Othello doesn't display anger but instead continues to let Iago talk. Othello's susceptibility to Iago's manipulations is highlighted in this scene, as he becomes convinced of his wife's unfaithfulness and even orders her death. If Othello had been less gullible and trusted his wife more, the play could have had a different outcome regardless of Iago's actions. Rather than condemning her, Othello could have allowed her to speak and

explain the situation instead of referring to their bed as "Thy bed, lust-stained, shall with lust's blood be spotted" (5).

In the play Othello, the titular character is faced with a difficult decision, whether to believe his beloved Desdemona or the manipulative Iago. Ultimately, he chooses to trust Iago and wrongly accuses and ultimately kills Desdemona. In a powerful moment, Emilia serves as a contrast to Othello's weakness by standing up to Iago even when threatened with violence. She boldly proclaims, "You told a lie, an odious, damned lie!" (5.37,108) before the tragic conclusion of the play.

At line 187 and 120, she persists in speaking until Desdemona is cleared of all accusations and the truth is revealed. Othello finally recognizes the manipulation he has been subjected to, and how groundlessly he has accused and killed Desdemona.

The truth that Shakespeare presents in Othello is a cautionary statement about the dangers of pride and jealousy. Iago is the embodiment of trouble and evil fueled by resentment and spite. He serves as a warning that manipulation can have fatal consequences. Additionally, Shakespeare illustrates that one's own character flaws can also be just as dangerous and contribute to self-destruction.

Ultimately, it was Othello's own internal doubts that skewed his perception, leading to his demise. Tragically, his weaknesses proved to be just as destructive as the nefarious deeds of Iago.