A pioneer of Literacy, William Shakespeare’s works have stood the test of time, and this is by no means due to coincidence. The masterful application of language techniques throughout his plays to portray idea’s and intentions are what set him aside from other play writes of his time, and the tragic Othello is no exception. The play is driven by the portrayal of the transformation of the play’s protagonist, Othello, whose love for his wife Desdemona is manipulated and contorted by the antagonist/instigator Iago. The outcome of the ordeal is a character that is highly contrasting to that of before, and it is this change that drives this literary master piece.
The setting of the play plays an integral part in defining the character Othello, as it places him against a back drop of political turmoil which acts as a perfect catalyst to the turbulent domestic issues faced by the character due to the conflict of his public and private life; issues that will ultimately undo the character. Initially the play is set in Venice, where all is well. A land of peace devoid of confusion and conflict, it is here where Othello is regarded in high respect as a valiant war hero. His status is complimented by the articulate nature of hisspeech, which is apparent in his meeting with the Duke in Act one, scene three “Most potent grave and reverend signiors/ my very noble and approved good masters….with such proceedings I am charged with all/ I won his daughter”. The rhythmic pace and fluency of the lines is the reason why many dub his speech as “Othello Music”, as it is highly articulate and set at a well thought out pace as representation to the rationality of the character. Shakespeare is prone to the use of rhyme to illustrate the intellectual capabilities of a character, ergo his class, as a character that is able to speak with such fluency is obviously of a high intellect. He is respected even by those above him in the political hierarchy, evident in the words of the Duke as he makes contact with him referring to him as “Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you”. The sanity of Othello is maintained at this point, as he has the apparent ability to keep his personal life from interfering with his occupation, he himself stating “My speculative and officed instruments/ that my disports corrupt and taint my business/ let housewives make a skillet of my helm/ and all indign and base adversities/make head against my estimation!”, but as the reader is able to see he is mistaken, and in Cypress the fabric of his being begins to unravel.
The Term Paper on Othello Play Attitudes And Values
... to these attitudes and values. Race is portrayed by the character Othello, who is a moor, and by what is said about ... important It is important because women in "Othello" make up the backbone of the play. Without them there to antagonise the men and ... of Elizabethan society in England in the sixteenth-century. Although Othello is set in Venice and Cyprus, the attitudes and values shared ...
The setting in Cypress is contrasting to that of Venice, and it is important to understand this in order to draw parallels between the violent and turbulent nature of Cypress to that in the deterioration of Othello’s character. As Iago is able to plant the seed of doubt concerning the fidelity of Desdemona in Othello’s heart, we as an audience are able to see a change in the mannerisms and personality of Othello, and as Iago’s “poison” works itself into this insecurity of Othello’s (the tragic flaw of the character), the manipulation of himself begins to degenerate the character ‘Work my medicine, work, work.”. Othello becomes manic, blinded by love and a lack of self worth, and this is evident in the pace, tone and structure of his speech. In dissimilarity to his “Othello Music” in prior events, Othello’s articulation becomes unstructured, spoken in almost sporadic bursts, a indication to the irrational state of mind he is in, in relation to his emotional conscience. “I had been happy if the general camp/ Pioneers and all, had tasted her sweet body…Farewell, Othello’s occupation gone!”. The repetition of the word “farewell” is a well used technique as it defines two different aspects of Othello.
The first being he is no longer as articulate as he was prior, with what seems a lowered vocabulary, relying on repetition of simplistic words such as farewell, which is tied directly to the standing of a character in society, as Shakespeare defines his characters through verbal ability, hence the change in Othello upon this happening. The other reason for repetition is the blatant emotional change in Othello, as he lets go of all that he has achieved, his status, his valor, and his sanity. The final line bringing an end to the noble Othello known to Venice as he farewells his occupation, contradicting his earlier statements in regard of his personal life affecting his public life. This change is flush with the bestial imagery created by Iago to describe Othello earlier in the play, using “’black ram’, and ‘Barbary horse’ as indications of what he truly believes Othello is. Othello’s newly acquired bestial nature eventually makes itself apparent upon his public assault on Desdemona, and is also the first point in which other characters from the world of the play are able to see the deterioration of Othello as his problems with his private life are seen in public with this abominable act. This leads to Roderigo to comment ‘My Lord this would not be believ’d in Venice’. By bringing up Venice at this point is create a stark contrast, as the audience is able to visualise the honorable respected Venetian Othello in direct comparison to the savage like acts of Othello emphasized by the anarchy of Cypress. The astonishment in Roderigo’s comment also shows the obvious change in Othello.
The Essay on Othello Character Analysis- Iago
In Othello, Shakespeare tells the story of the soldier Othello, a noble and respected man, whose insecurities enable him to fall prey to the overwhelming power of jealousy. Through manipulation and lies, Othello changes from a kind and faithful husband into a man completely taken over by jealousy, resulting in his downfall. This shift in Othello’s character is done by the antagonist, Iago. Iago’s ...
In Conclusion, Othello’s descent into lunacy is seen through his inability to separate private feelings and public duties, and through setting, Shakespeare signals the changes which occur in Othello’s character and make it consistent with his surrounding transformations. The characterisation of Cypress and Venice is significant, depicting the transformation of Othello’s character, and overall emphasisng the tragedy of the play.
