William Shakespeare About Othello English Literature Essay

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon England in 1564.  His father was a middle-class low officer. He was attended in a reputable grammar school and studied classic literature that he used as the basis for his plays.  Some records of Shakespeare are missing when he was married to Anne Hathaway in 1582. His experience to be an actor, producer as well as a playwright, in 1599 he became successful enough to open his own theater, the Globe.  Unfortunately, The Globe was burnt down in 1613. Shakespeare was successful writer from 1590’s until 1612. He lived until April of 1916. 

About Othello

The Othello is a tale of love, jealousy, and betrayal that adopt from Giraldi Cinthio’s Gli Hecatommithi. In this play, Shakespeare has portrayed human nature and psychology which is most of the scene has involved audience interpretations about human’s attitudes such jealousy, love and betrayal.

Othello was constructed with tragedies and no subplots or humor to relieve the tension. Shakespeare relates almost every incident directly to the development of Iago’s schemes and Othello’s fears. This structure has reinforced the tragedy’s and makes the threat to both Desdemona’s innocence and the love she and Othello share more terrifying.

Although Othello is intimate domestic setting, it is moving into most painful of Shakespeare’s great tragedies. The fall of a proud, dignified man, the murder of a graceful, loving woman, and the unreasoning hatred of a “motiveless” villain-all have evoked fear and pity in audiences throughout the centuries. If it lacks the cosmic grandeur of Hamlet or King Lear, Othello nevertheless possesses a power that is perhaps more immediate and strongly felt for operating on the personal, human being.

The character of Iago is a variation on the Vice figure found in earlier morality plays; he deviates from this model because of his lack of a clear motivation, and because of his portrayal as a very malignant figure. However, Iago is less of a character than a changeable device for the plot, and in this sense, he is a clear descendant of the omnipresent “vice” figure. Iago’s great cunning, manipulative abilities, and almost supernatural perception mean that he is a very formidable foe, and this makes Othello’s fall seem even more inevitable and tragic.

Othello was adopted in to Malay film Jarum Halus by Mark Tan

Characters analysis related to the question

Iago

As mentioned in the author’s ‘Character Analysis of Iago’, the name ‘Iago’ is synonymous with villainy and evil. He is without doubt one of Shakespeare’s most popular antagonists, but what does the reader/audience learn about this dastardly character? Most importantly, what can be unearthed about what it is that drives his desire to destroy Othello?

Iago’s representation is quite fascinating to both modern and seventeenth century audiences. This article will help identify the meaning of Iago’s Machiavellian ways and what being a Machiavellian character mean?

What does Machiavellian mean?

In a nutshell: Machiavellian is a term used to describe someone whose sole purpose is to manipulate and corrupt others for the individual’s personal gain. The term originated from the Italian Renaissance diplomat and writer Niccolò Machiavelli, who was the author of The Prince.

Iago: The Machiavellian

Iago is an intelligent and crafty villain of the play; he embodies the Italian Machiavellian stereotype of a covetous and harmful man, who enjoys doing evil for his own sake and desires.

Read more at Suite101: Character Analysis: The Representation of Iago as a Machiavellian http://shakespeare-tragedies.suite101.com/article.cfm/character-analysis-the-representation-of-iago-as-a-machiavellian#ixzz0wLdvhWEs

Iago’s Final Words

It seems that Iago’s motivations are intentionally obscure and his final words certainly exacerbate this notion, “Demand me nothing: what you know, you know: From this time forth I never will speak word.”(V.ii). Of course, largely due to his naiveté and willingness to trust absolutely, Othello does not ‘know’ anything.

Therefore, it is possible to use this quote to argue that Iago does what he does simply because he can. However, this seems to be far too simplistic a view of the situation.

Read more at Suite101: Why Does Iago Want to Destroy Othello? http://shakespeare-tragedies.suite101.com/article.cfm/why-does-iago-want-to-destroy-othello#ixzz0wLdL4Gqu

Othello

He is an African Moor living in Venice, and a general in the Venetian Army. His servant Iago tricks him into believing that his wife Desdemona is having an affair with one of his soldiers, Michael Cassio. He kills his wife out of jealousy, only to realize that his wife was faithful, at which point he commits suicide. Several scholars have taken note of Othello’s African race, pointing out the way in which it is portrayed in the play.(wiki)

A Moor, and an officer in the Venetian military. He falls in love with, and marries, the delicate Desdemona, though he is middle-aged, and she is still young. Othello is bold, a good warrior, and a decent person overall; however, he is undone by jealousy and pride, his two main failings. Although Othello is very eloquent, he believes his manners and words are both rough.(grade a saver)

Question: To exact revenge is considered as human nature, was it revenge which drove Iago to bring down Othello or was it pure malice? Discuss with reference to the text.

Before answering this question, I would like to point out two key words from the question; revenge and pure malice. According to English dictionary revenge is something that you do to hurt or punish someone because they have hurt you or someone else or defeat of opponent who previously defeated you while pure malice is strong feeling of wanting to be unkind or a strong feeling of wanting to hurt someone or be unkind to them. So, my conclusions are both words have their similarity in feeling of dissatisfaction towards somebody and something that caused you to be misbehaves with someone else.

From the story, as we know Othello is the main charater in the story but he is not the centre character. even though the title is Othello

Jealousy and Revenge (suite101.com)

The first step in Iago’s plot is to turn Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, against Othello by revealing that she eloped with the Moor. He’s assisted by Roderigo, another of Desdemona’s suitors, who is furious that a “thick-lips” stole Desdemona away. Brabantio is furious and arrests Othello when he’s found on the streets of Venice.

(novelguide.com )1.Iago plots to ruin OthelloLaurence Fishburne and Kenneth Branagh in Othello – Columbia Pictures

He hath a person and a smooth dispose

To be suspected, framed to make women false. 

The Moor is of a free and open nature

That thinks men honest but that seem to be so,

And will as tenderly be led by th’ nose

As asses are.  (lines 440-445)

2.Act III, Scene 3:

Iago plays on Othello’s fears

O beware, my lord, of Jealousy!

It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock

The meat it feeds on.  That cuckold lives in bliss

Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;

But O, what damned minutes tells he o’er

Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves! (lines 195-200)