Othello
- Submitted by: hayley1111
- Views: 869
- Category: English: Shakespeare
- Date Submitted: 11/14/2010 12:32 AM
- Pages: 4
- Report this Essay
Shakespeare’s tragedy of ‘Othello’, though written in the 1600’s, continues to resonate with audiences in modern eras, because, it contains themes that transcend time. Deception-appearance versus reality, honesty/dishonesty, jealousy and loyalty are still relevant in today’s day and age. The setting of the play reveals the nature of each scene, through symbolism.
Deception is a quality that is employed by people to manipulate others for their own benefit, still today. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to highlight deception explored through the binary opposites of honestly and dishonesty. In appearance, Iago is shown to be honest and trustworthy, when, in reality, he is quite the opposite.
Iago deceives Othello into believing that his beautiful, young wife has committed adultery with his once trusted second in command- Cassio.
"Cassio’s a proper man: let me see now;
To get his place and to plume up my will
In double knavery. How? How? Let’s see.
After some time, to abuse Othello’s ears
That he is too familiar with his wife…"
Through the use of soliloquies, Iago’s deception is revealed to the audience, whilst the characters in the play ironically refer to Iago as “Honest Iago.”
Iago’s sinister character comes across as purely evil, but his motivations for destroying several people’s lives were purely human and recognized today.
Jealousy is a human quality that transcends time and place. Othello’s jealousy brings about his eventual downfall, through Iago’s manipulation powered by his own jealousy. Iago provokes Othello to manipulate his jealous side, leading to a sequence of events, ending in the death of Othello, after his wife.
“O, beware, my lord of jealousy;
It is the greed-ey’d monster that doth mock
The meat it feeds on.”
At the end of the play, Othello proves himself to be a noble character. He stabs himself in justification for all he has done. He is a good man who makes the mistake of being too loving and too trusting. Othello’s deeds are...
Deception is a quality that is employed by people to manipulate others for their own benefit, still today. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to highlight deception explored through the binary opposites of honestly and dishonesty. In appearance, Iago is shown to be honest and trustworthy, when, in reality, he is quite the opposite.
Iago deceives Othello into believing that his beautiful, young wife has committed adultery with his once trusted second in command- Cassio.
"Cassio’s a proper man: let me see now;
To get his place and to plume up my will
In double knavery. How? How? Let’s see.
After some time, to abuse Othello’s ears
That he is too familiar with his wife…"
Through the use of soliloquies, Iago’s deception is revealed to the audience, whilst the characters in the play ironically refer to Iago as “Honest Iago.”
Iago’s sinister character comes across as purely evil, but his motivations for destroying several people’s lives were purely human and recognized today.
Jealousy is a human quality that transcends time and place. Othello’s jealousy brings about his eventual downfall, through Iago’s manipulation powered by his own jealousy. Iago provokes Othello to manipulate his jealous side, leading to a sequence of events, ending in the death of Othello, after his wife.
“O, beware, my lord of jealousy;
It is the greed-ey’d monster that doth mock
The meat it feeds on.”
At the end of the play, Othello proves himself to be a noble character. He stabs himself in justification for all he has done. He is a good man who makes the mistake of being too loving and too trusting. Othello’s deeds are...