Othello

Othello is one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies and explores the duplicitous flaw inherent within the human condition and the marginalisation of minority groups. It is set in a private world and focuses on the passions and personal lives of the play’s major figures, making it understandable to audiences of any era. Throughout the play, Shakespeare utilises language and dramatic techniques to great effect in examining the notion of tragedy and themes of sexual jealousy, racism and gender roles in the Jacobean period.

The play begins with Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, secretly eloping with a young white heiress, Desdemona. In the context of 17th century Europe, this miscegenation would have provoked much controversy, being frowned upon in society. The play depicts the tragic demise of a black man who balances his entire existence upon a single emotional pivot- the love for his wife. When this unravels through the actions of Iago, his ancient, Shakespeare portrays Othello’s swift and dramatic downfall through the deterioration of his elegant prose. After delivering a moving, eloquent speech in front of the court, “Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them,” the audience is struck by his level of self-assuredness, civility and sincerity. However, once the corrupting “pestilence” of his harmartia, sexual jealousy, takes hold, his control of language relapses to the point of stilted, incoherent phrases, “Lie with her? Lie on her?... Handkerchief- confession- handkerchief!” reflecting his disjointed psyche. Othello wrestles with the idea of Desdemona’s infidelity, and Iago is the driving force behind this insecurity. Othello is inexperienced in the realms of love and courtship, having devoted his time to services to the nation, “I am black, and have not those soft parts of conversation.” Audiences universally can relate to Othello’s difficulty with the opposite sex, with this issue transcending disparities in time period. Despite...