Othello, facing the inevitability of his own trial, uses a hidden weapon to commit suicide. Before introducing this activity, download and copy the worksheet, zounds, sir, youre robbed, available here as a. Generally, in the times of shakespeare the blacks were despised as inferior being irrespective of their position in the society. Othello is a combination of greatness and weakness, in his own words an honourable murderer v. Othello analysis summative act 2 scene 1 lines 165200 it would be fair to say that this passage gives us a lot to think about in terms of the language shakespeare used in the play to influence the audience. Othello is also the name of the main character in the play, he is quite hard to understand.
Theme is defined as the central idea in a piece of writing or other work of art. The detrimental power of envy is perfectly shown in shakespeare s othello. Unlike hamlet, king lear, and macbeth, which are set against a backdrop of affairs of state and which reverberate with suggestions of universal human concerns, othello is set in a private world and focuses on the passions and personal lives of its major figures. Roderigo are meeting to discuss their hatred of othello. Free download or read online othello pdf epub book. In particularly iagos power is probably the most important motive. Iagoreassuresroderigothathe hates othello because he made michael cassio his lieutenant while iago remains the generals ensign, a. Because the hero of the play is an outsider, a moor, we have an idea how blacks were regarded in england, in elizabethan times. Pdf critical analysis of the characters othello and iago in. Iago works on othello s personal and social insecurity until othello believes the combination of iagos lies and flimsy circumstantial evidence. Lesson extensions for further evidence of iagos successful persuasive techniques, one might also profitably examine iagos interactions with roderigo see 1. Othello is a man very conscious and in some ways obsessed with reputation. First performed around 1604, the play is also a pioneering exploration of racial prejudice. Othello, upset, demands that iago show him proof of desdemonas.
A celebrated soldier and trusted leader whose race both defines him the moor and defies his lofty position. Othello activity book woodland hills school district. Iago is othello s ensign in the venetian military and most trusted advisor. Jealousy runs the characters lives in othellofrom the beginning of the play, when roderigo is envi. Othello that he is summoned to the dukes palace as news of war has come. Get even more from the folger you c a n ge t your ow n c opy of t hi s t e xt t o ke e p. The play begins on the grand scale of a military romance unfolding on the mediterranean sea. Jun 23, 2019 above all else, this othello character analysis reveals that shakespeare s othello has gravitas. Shakespeare was born to parents mary and john shakespeare in stratforduponavon, england. A devoted, loving wife, she is murdered by her husband in a fit of jealous rage. Othello by william shakespeare plot summary litcharts. Desdemona and her entourage, including iago, appear shortly thereafter. The play tells the story of a powerful general of the venetian army, othello, whose life and marriage are ruined by a conniving, deceitful, and envious soldier, iago.
Othello defends himself successfully in front of the duke. 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. Tales from shakespeare does not claim accuracy for itself. Shakespeares othello and the power of language nehedsitement. Here the researcher wants to analyze one of the biggest literary works created by shakespeare entitle othello. In othello, william shakespeare creates powerful drama from a marriage between the exotic moor othello and the venetian lady desdemona that begins with elopement and mutual devotion and ends with jealous rage and death. 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. Shakespeare s othello borrows some of the plot line and characters from the 7th novella, the unfaithfulness of husbands and wives. It seeks the potential acts in anger, revenge to cure itself. Considered one of shakespeare s maximum famous tragedies, othello is concerned with the subject matters of jealousy and possessiveness, gullibility and blind trust, and the dangers that could get up from a failure to look past the floor appearances. As with many of shakespeares other tragedies, this play is character driven, meaning that the entire plot. Racism in play othello by william shakespeare essay. Cassio arrives, and we learn that othello s ship is still at sea. Student learning will center on the analysis of character and theme development in william shakespeare s othello students will track the development of characters through traits, actions, and motivation in order to analyze how.
A summary and analysis of william shakespeares othello. The tension of the play rises once the audience meets othello and realizes how disastrous iagos plan will be. The two men go to the home of desdemonas father, the senator brabantio, and rouse him with graphic. A selected chronology of the life and times of william shakespeare 4 the playwright commentary on shakespeare s work 9 the play characters and synopsis 12 othello, the moor of venice 1604 by william shakespeare 15641616 the main characters seen by themselves and others 14. Othello short summary by shakespeare english summary. Othello, takes the bait, repeatedly praising iago for his honesty. Structural analysis of cultural hegemonyin shakespeare s othello 39 arbitrariness and fixity of sign protects language from any attempt to modify it 73 and makes language heritage of the historical forces.
Of pdf othello essay analysis critical iago is othellos ensign in the venetian military and most trusted. Professor bradley greenburg of northeastern illinois university p. Shakespeares othello and the power of language neh. Enter brabantio, roderigo, and officers with torches and weapons. 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 by william shakespeare summary, themes, and analysis. Shakespeare builds many differences into his hero and heroine, including race, age, and cultural background. Jealousy is an emotion feeds over a possible ground of depravity, lack of desired ownership or over a fear of loss. Iago had fought for many years under the command of othello as he tried to make himself relevant before the leader, a factor that modulated his envy smith and kim, 2007. Shakespeare retired as a rich and prominent man to stratforduponavon in 16, and died three years later. By order of the duke, othello soon has to leave venice to command the. P ur c ha s e a f ul l c opy t o ge t t he t e xt, pl us e xpl a na t or y not e s, i l l us t r a t i ons, a nd m or e. Charles wrote lear, macbeth, timon, romeo, hamlet and othello. Othello and desdemonas declarations of love for each other, and desdemonas willingness to be disowned by her father in order to be with othello, raise the stakes for the couple, and shifts the audience to othello s side.
In an essay, discuss why honestyor the reputation for being honest or the lack of honestyis so important in shakespeare s othello. By william shakespeare othello shakespeare in the ruins. The villainous iago plans and executes his elaborate revenge on othello. Analysis of william shakespeares othello literary theory. Cliffsnotes on shakespeares othello gary k carey 20020502 the original cliffsnotes study. Brabantio accuses othello of using magic to get his daughter to marry him. Yet most readers and audiences believe the couples strong love. Pdf critical analysis of the characters othello and iago in the play. From the moment when the temptation of the hero begins, the readers heart and mind are held in a vice, experiencing the extremes of pity and fear. Othello,themoorishgeneralofthevenetianarmy, has eloped with roderigos beloved desdemona, daughterofbrabantio. Theme of jealousy in othello by shakespeare english summary. In order to have a better understanding of othello s character, examining his changes throughout the play, flaws, and why he is considered a tragic hero.
But shakespeare does several very interesting, and artistically quite bold, things with this basic plot, and the characters he uses to tell the story. Othello appears and a tender moment of reunion with desdemona ensues. Learn more of shakespeare s famous angry sayings from othello and other plays. Othello literary analysis on othello as can be seen in shakespeare s tragedy, othello, the critical lens of culture presents contemporary society with the most persuasive view of literature.
Having this news from cassio, he shares the latters worry at the fact that the storm parted othello s ship from the rest of. Download shakespeare s othello from the folger shakespeare in xml, html, pdf, doc, and more. A study of contrast between english and persian translation mahzad mardiha sheikhbahaei university, iran email. Church records show that he was baptized on april 26, 1564. The exercises contained in this guide are designed to align with the curricular. In venice, roderigo complains to iago that, despite the money hes given iago to help him woo desdemona, shes eloped with the moorish general othello. Set at a prestigious high school, the othello character is the schools star basketball player, and iago the coachs son who is. A literary analysis of the jealousy in othello by william. Bookmark file pdf by william shakespeare othello shakespeare in the. She is one of the most pitiable victims in all of shakespeare s plays. Introduction othello is unique among shakespeares great tragedies.
There are many references that bring about the issue of racism from the very beginning to the end. Othello is a play about sexual jealousy, and how one man can convince another man, who loves his wife dearly, that she has been unfaithful to him when she hasnt. Structural analysis of cultural hegemony in shakespeares othello. Having this news from cassio, he shares the latters worry at the fact that the storm parted othello s ship from the rest of the fleet. The life and works of william shakespeare v othello fm. An analysis of power desire of iago in shakespeares othello from psychological perspectives hind abduallah alkoli, shi ji southwest jiaotong university, chengdu, china this study aims to investigate how powerful desires controlling and influence the plays characters. Othello introduces himself to the audience as a noble character and a. Racism in othello racism seems to be a big concern in shakespeare s tragic play, othello.
Shakespeare is prominent in his use of recurring themes throughout his works, particularly those of love, death, and betrayal. Julius caesar, hamlet, othello, macbeth, and king lear. This study aims at investigating the psychological approach and translation analysis of the novel genre. Shakespeare presents this fact in the dialogue and also in the staging of the play. 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. Read online othello sparknotes literature guide pdf. Jul 25, 2020 analysis of william shakespeare s othello by nasrullah mambrol on july 25, 2020 0 of all shakespeare s tragedies. The play was first staged on november 1st, 1604 and 1st published in 1622 by thomas walkley. Ethnicity, religious ideology, sexual orientation, and other facets of society can be found in different types of literature within a cultural prism.
The third gentleman of cyprus brings montano the news that the turkish fleet is sunk by the storm and that cyprus is therefore safe. Sep 29, 2020 the character othello is gullible and easily manipulated by iago who is below his class. Entire play the complete works of william shakespeare. Although othello has regularly been praised as william shakespeares most. Read a character analysis of othello, plot summary, and important quotes. A study of contrast between english and persian translation. Introduction othello is unique among shakespeare s great tragedies. Shakespeare made othello credulous because it was a common characteristic of a hero in love which resulted into a frenzy and an act of killing.
Get even more from the folger the folger shakespeare. Othello chose cassio, rather than iago, to be his lieutenant. Analysis,character, othello, iago, tragedy, william shakespeare 1. Iago responds that he too hates othello, for whom he works as a standardbearer. However, the action of the drama shrinks to the claustrophobic ending in. Professor bradley greenburg of northeastern illinois university e.
Iago hates othello because he promoted cassio to lieutenant over iago, and roderigo is a heartbroken, failed suitor of desdemonas. No fear shakespeare othello by sparknotes, transcription by alex woelffer 1 original text modern text act 1, scene 1 enter rodmerigo and iago roderigo and iago enter. The system of language is a complex mechanism that can be grasped only. 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. Act i, scene 1, lines 8691, 108112 inclass acting and discussion of othello. They decide to wake up senator brabantio with the news that his daughter, desdemona, has secretly married othello, the general of the venetian army and a moor. Othello is a tragedy written by the big dog of english theater himself. Shakespeares tragedies characters motivated by the power desires. Othello s is a black face among a sea of white faces, and he is constantly referred to as the moor, a representative african, while others go by their personal names and are seen as independent individuals. 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. I take it much unkindly that thou, iago, who hast had my purse as if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this. Shakespeares use of paradox in this speech effectively.
The building up of dramatic tension is extremely prevalent in this scene through the use of asides, dramatic irony and foreshadowing. Shakespeare s father was a glover and was active in town. Pdf critical analysis of the characters othello and iago. Brabantio cannot approve othello s marriage to his daughter since he is darkskinned. To increase your analysis and understanding, in the notes section following each scene, write any ideas. Othello, 2001 this madefortv movie turns othello into a modern day crime story o, 2001 o, a teen movie based on othello, starring mekhi phifer as othello, julia stiles as desdemona, and josh hartnett as a heartthrob iago. O thello by william shakespeare is a tragic play of jealousy and deceit set in venice. Global civilization is able to interact with distinct.
Othello character analysis othello written by william shakespeare characters. Othello, also titled the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice, is a tragic play written by william shakespeare in 1603 as accepted by most scholars. Do you wish to write my lord, not enough critical essays. Othello is the main character presented as a great warrior who commands respect from the way he speaks and carries out military tasks. Othello is the most painfully exciting and the most terrible. Iago is a teachers guide to the signet classic edition of william shakespeare s othello 2. 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. Shakespeare s othello, as a play and the character himself, is tragic because of the working of jealousy at the effective end. An analysis of power desire of iago in shakespeares othello from. Get the entire othello litchart as a printable pdf. The titular and main characters engagement in murder, jealousy, and betrayal could easily portray him as the villain. Tales from shakespeare, designed for the use of young persons, written in 1807, was the first joint work of charles and mary lamb. No fear shakespeare othello by sparknotes, transcription by alex woelffer 1 original text modern text act 1, scene 1 enter rodmerigo.
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