Following this are the merry wives of windsor written to meet queen elizabeths request for another play including falstaff, it is not thematically typical of the period, troilus and cressida,alls well that ends well,measure for measure, othello,king lear,macbeth,antony and cleopatra,coriolanus, and timon of athens the last may have been. He neither respects moral beauty as seen in desdemona, nor the grand nobleness of the mightysouled othello. Even thought, the movie departs from the original play, due to the cutting of many dialogues, and an addition of new scenes, still this infusion of the authors vision and shakespearean genius not only changes a common perspective of the play, but. Othello is the story of a noble military general who has enjoyed many successes on the battlefield, but because of mistakes of judgment and his outsider status in his society, sabotages his most intimate relationship and himself.
Critical approaches to othello the british library. Immediately download the othello summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching othello. Iago knows that desdemona, the daughter of nobleman brabantio, has run off to marry othello. Othello, upset, demands that iago show him proof of desdemonas. First performed around 1604, the play is also a pioneering exploration of racial prejudice. The early scenes of othello establish iagos character and allow the audience to learn of his nature.
Act one, scene one is the most important because it foreshadows the whole drama. Othello questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on othello. He is the only one in the play who speaks to the audience, and his bitter rants about othello and cassio, his casual dismissal of women as worthless prostitutes, and his gleeful selfcongratulation about the nasty things hes doing are the foundation of how we view the story. Because othello is so childlike in his actions and believes he became a victim to the cruelty of iago. There have been numerous interpretations of othello over the last 400 years. All things pure and noble in their nature are looked upon as far beneath his learned spirit. The senators wish to send othello to cyprus, which is under threat from turkey. Iago feeds upon othellos insecurities to raise his fury. The most prominent form of prejudice on display in othello is racial prejudice. The play begins on the grand scale of a military romance unfolding on the mediterranean sea. The 2004 national tour of othello is sponsored by shakespeare in american communities, a national theater touring initiative sponsored by. In nearly every case, the prejudiced characters use terms that describe othello as an animal or beast. He is a general in the venetian defense forces, and, although a foreigner from africa, he has won this post by excellence in the field of war.
Othello, a moorish general in the venetian army, and his treacherous ensign, iago. Othello, in a moment of foreshadowing, responds that his life rests upon desdemonas faithfulness. Analysis of othello by william shakespeare a brief synopsis of the plot the play opens on a street in venice, italy. First, they must wake brabantio and cause an outcry. However, the action of the drama shrinks to the claustrophobic ending in. Othello begins on a street in venice, in the midst of an argument between roderigo, a rich man, and iago. Analysis of adaptation othello 1995 by oliver parker. Iago works on othello s personal and social insecurity until othello believes the combination of iagos lies and flimsy circumstantial evidence. Iago is a manipulative villain who serves as an antagonist, or an enemy to the protagonist, and develops a plan to destroy the lives of cassio, othello and desdemona. Othello cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test. Shakespeares sources for othello movie adaptations full book quiz. The free othello notes include comprehensive information and analysis to help you understand the book. Unlike most of the analysis found herewhich simply lists the unique individual story appreciationsthis indepth study details the actual encoding for each structural item.
Above all else, this othello character analysis reveals that shakespeares othello has gravitas. Before the venetian senate, brabantio accuses othello of bewitching desdemona. Read a character analysis of othello, plot summary, and important quotes. The story revolves around its two central characters. Iago crudely informs brabantio, desdemonas father, that othello and desdemona have eloped. A child is very gullible this is what othello became. May 20, 2015 analysis of a passage through lines 548557 desdemonas father brabantiois being told by the duke to forgive his daughter and othello for marrying each other behind his back. Othello character essay in the play, othello, by william shakespeare, othello is a general in the venetian army, who also happens to be black and of muslim descent, although he is a converted christian. Desdemona cannot understand othellos change of attitude towards her. Due to different social standings, brabantio does not approve of the relationship because othello is a moor. Theme analysis there are two types of women in othello. Jun 23, 2019 above all else, this othello character analysis reveals that shakespeares othello has gravitas.
By contrasting othello, desdemona, and cassios virtuous natures with iagos lies, the play heightens the. When othello promotes cassio over iago, the ensign vows to get revenge. Shakespeares othello is a tragic tale of jealousy and deceit set in venice. Later, when desdemona accidentally drops a handkerchief that othello had given to her as a lovetoken, emilia gives it to iago, who had long asked her to steal it for him. Because othello is black and desdemona white, there is a great deal of controversy surrounding their marriage. The text published in the first folio of 1623 seems to have been based on a version revised by shakespeare himself that sticks close to the original almost line by line but introduces numerous. The story of an african general in the venetian army who is tricked into suspecting his wife of adultery, othello is a tragedy of sexual jealousy. Iago, the antagonist, plots against othello which results in the. Othello literary analysis essay example graduateway. Othellos agitation at what he hears brings on an epileptic fit. Emilia intercepts othello after hes murdered desdemona and reveals iagos treachery.
Iago plans to bring about othellos downfall, and roderigo will have desdemona. Othello is a combination of greatness and weakness, in his own words an honourable murderer v. In a vain attempt to prevent his scheme from being revealed. He plays two different people, the disguise of the trusty and loyal ensign and the one whom hides behind this disguise.
Othello, takes the bait, repeatedly praising iago for his honesty. List of books and articles about othello online research. Analysis of iago character in shakespeares othello. Roderigo has been paying iago to help him in his suit to desdemona. In the opening scene iago, othellos ensign, and roderigo, the suitor of desdemona, decide. Othello is a tragedy that follows the demise of othello and his wife, desdemona, after others discover their secret wedding. With the unwitting aid of emilia, his wife, and the willing help of roderigo, a fellow malcontent, iago carries out his plan. This is one of the most haunting and memorable lines of shakespeares othello.
The following analysis reveals a comprehensive look at the storyform for othello. Desdemona represents the pure, blameless and faithful woman, and emilia represents the woman who wishes to be given an equal footing to men, especially in regards to sexual matters. But roderigo has just learned that desdemona has married othello, a general whom iago begrudgingly serves as ensign. From the beginning of the play, othello is victimized and characterized as an outcast in venetian society. Character analysis of iago from shakespeares othello. The question and answer section for othello is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. William shakespeares othello explained with play and scene summaries in just a few minutes.
Othello is a combination of strength and weakness, intelligence and stupidity, faith and mistrust. Othello is a general in the venetian army, and he just chose another man, cassio, to be his. May 16, 2011 othello literary analysis othello, shakespeare in shakespeares play othello, iago uses racial distinction to persuade othello into believing there is an affair between desdemona and cassio. May 23, 2019 william shakespeares othello explained with play and scene summaries in just a few minutes. The titular and main characters engagement in murder, jealousy, and betrayal could easily portray him as the villain. He is the only one in the play who speaks to the audience, and his bitter rants about othello and cassio, his. This literature analysis essay makes an attempt to analyze the william shakespeares play othello and take an indepth look at one of the characters of this tragedy studentshare our website is a unique platform where students can share their papers in a matter of giving an example of the work to be done. Othello summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Character analysis of iago in the shakespeare play othello. Othello plays as a child in this play and thus his actions are just. Othello has promoted cassio, not iago, to be his lieutenant.
Professor bradley greenburg of northeastern illinois university provides an indepth analysis of the. Othello falls in love and marries desdemona, but during the campaign against the turks, othello is tricked by iago into believing that his wife has been unfaithful with his lieutenant, cassio. Iago, an ensign serving under othello, the moorish commander of the armed forces of venice, is undoubtedly the most. Character analysis desdemona desdemona is a lady of spirit and intelligence. Othello even strikes her in the presence of her relative, lodovico, who has arrived as an ambassador from venice. Othello, written in 16034, centers on a mysterious conflict between the moorish protagonist by the same name as the play and his malevolent ensign iago. Iago, an ensign in the venetian army, is bitter about being passed over for lieutenant in favor of cassio. Whereas in the scene where othello and desman consummate their marriage, we see othello black hand grasp desman. Jul 28, 2019 the villain iago from othello is a central character, and understanding him is key to understanding shakespeares entire play. Othello, in full othello, the moor of venice, tragedy in five acts by william shakespeare, written in 160304 and published in 1622 in a quarto edition from a transcript of an authorial manuscript. For all the claims of military straightforwardness of some other characters, desdemona is the most direct and honest speaker in. Othello instructs iago to take desdemona along with iagos wife, emilia, on the journey to the battle area. We start out in venice, italy, land of love and water.
Analysis of the film othello by oliver parker essay example. Iago tells roderigo that he serves othello, the moor who is the armys general, only in order to serve himself. Othello is simple minded in the complication of thought. Her revelation is corroborated by information from cassio and a letter found in roderigos pocket. Othello the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice is a tragedy by william shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603. Iago, the villain in othello, is perhaps the most sadistic and consummately evil character in all english literature and his eventual downfall illustrates the triumph of love over hate, a key theme in many of shakespeares plays. His tragedy arises from his inability to discern truth from falsity. Mar 30, 2020 jealous of othellos success and envious of cassio, iago plots othellos downfall by falsely implicating othellos wife, desdemona, and cassio in a love affair. The book this retelling of shakespeares play recounts the story of othello, a mercenary soldier who falls in love with the lords daughter, desdemona. A celebrated soldier and trusted leader whose race both defines him the moor and defies his lofty position. These free notes consist of about 29 pages 8,693 words and contain the following sections. Analysis of othello by william shakespeare freebooksummary. Iago, whos been taking money from roderigo in some sort of arrangement, is upset at the moor, a. In spite of his elevated status, he is nevertheless easy prey to insecurities because of his age, his life as a soldier, and his race.
It provides a thorough exploration of the plays plot, characters and main themes, including womens position in society, racism and the genre of the revenge play. Othello study guide contains a biography of william shakespeare, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. May 10, 2015 othello 1995 directed by oliver parker is an excellent adaptation of william shakespeares the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice. Othello by william shakespeare directed by joe dowling the guthrie lab production of othello is sponsored by american express, the national endowment for the arts and target. The villainous iago plans and executes his elaborate revenge on othello. The theme of prejudice in othello from litcharts the. A christian moor and general of the armies of venice, othello is an eloquent and physically powerful figure, respected by all those around him. After othello and desdemona have left, iago remains with roderigo. These images are combined by parker to create a flashing sequence forming one of othello nightmares.
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