Noble Othello Essay

Submitted By Gaines28
Words: 609
Pages: 3
Open Document
Othello is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare around the time 1603. The story tells about powerful general in the Venetian Army. Othello is a black man from North Africa, who travels the world, been sold into slavery, escaped, and ended up as the military commander of the Venetian military a powerful Italian city-state. This play has many major themes to it. The three main themes in my opinion are race, jealousy, and hate. Race was a huge theme in this poem, Othello is considered one of the first black heroes in English literature. As a military general, he has risen to position of influence and power. At the same time, however, but his status as dark-skinned foreigner in Venice marks him as an outsider and exposes him to some pretty extreme racism. Especially by his father in law, who believes his daughter's interracial marriage can only be only the result of Othello's trickery. Because the play portrays fears of miscegenation. It's basically impossible to talk about race in Othello without also discussing gender and sexuality. Jealousy is the 2nd major theme in the story. Othello is considered the most famous literary work that focuses on the dangers of jealousy. The play studies on how jealousy can be fueled by little evidence and destroy lives. Othello, the hero succumbs to jealousy when Iago tells him his wife has been unfaithful. As a result of this Othello kills his wife and then kills himself. It is interesting because Iago uses jealousy against Othello, yet jealousy is most likely the source of Iago's hatred in the first place. In Othello, jealousy takes many forms, from professional competition to sexual suspicion, but it is, in all cases, destructive. Hate is another important theme. Hatred usually has a cause, some concrete event that causes lasting rage. However, in Othello, the play's villain is fueled by a hatred that seems to elude any reasonable definition. Iago's determination and hatred to destroy his boss, Othello, seems out of proportion with the reasons he gives for it. Reasons being Othello wouldn't promote him or jealousy Othello might have slept with his wife. Iago's loathing has been famously referred to as “motiveless malignancy” that redefines my understanding of hatred. Redefines it in a way as making it seem a
Show More

Related Documents: Noble Othello Essay

Does Shakespeare Use Figurative Language In Othello's Monologue

The excerpt of Othello’s monologue in Shakespeare’s Othello Act V, scene 2 depicts Othello reflection upon himself before he dies. Throughout the monologue, Othello discusses how he wishes to be remembered after his death to Lodovico. It is through the use of tone, selection of detail, and figurative language that Shakespeare reveals the fall of Othello’s character, from a noble and honorable general to a jealous murderer. First, Othello begins by reminding Lodovico, “I have done the state some…

Words 703 - Pages 3

Cassio

Michael Cassio Character Sketch Michael Cassio is a young and handsome lieutenant in Othello. The name Michael is a biblical name in reference to an archangel. In the play, Cassio is presented with angelic traits, as he is honourable, loyal, and highly respected in the eyes of Othello at the beginning of the play. This is crucial to the plot as Othello has a lot of respect for Cassio and gives him the position of lieutenant. However, this also causes another character, Iago, to feel jealous of Cassio…

Words 695 - Pages 3

Othello's Change in mood and respect for desdemona Essay

In the tragic Shakespeare play, Othello, the protagonist Othello, is contemplating on whether he should let his cheating, treacherous wife live or face the brutal consequences. He speaks openly to the audience, admitting that jealousy fuels his hate, “yet I’ll not shed her blood.” He is truly conflicted and cannot bear to execute such a horrible deed. “Yet she must die,” he says, trying to reassure himself, “else she betray more men.” Othello thoroughly reviews his plan, sharing it with the readers…

Words 400 - Pages 2

Othello Tragic Hero Essay

ability to play with emotions. Shakespeare’s 1603-04 play Othello drove on the passion of jealousy, being a tragic hero, and being betrayal. Othello showed all of these throughout the play. Othello was pretty jealous when he was convinced by Iago that Cassio and his wife Desdemona had an affair with each other. Othello was really upset with it and he was loosing his mind. It basically happened early in the play where Desdemona gave Othello the handkerchief to whip something off of him and then he…

Words 441 - Pages 2

Othello Essay1

relevant language and dramatic techniques. Shakespeare’s 'Othello' successfully explores the human nature aspect of love and of deception, through a contrast of a person’s outward and inward self. There is a difference between the Othello portrayed by Shakespeare (i.e. Shakespeare’s Othello) and the Othello portrayed by himself (i.e. Othello’s Othello). In a critical essay, Brain McFarlane explores these differences. A.C. Bradley viewed Othello as “not easily jealous and indeed one to which jealousy…

Words 1294 - Pages 6

Nobility and Social Class Essay

someone from a lower class was able elevate themselves to a higher social life. Social class from back during the Elizabethan Age definitely played an enormous role in William Shakespeare's, The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. As the main antagonist, Iago, becomes envious of the protagonist, Othello, for being a higher rank, he hatches up a devious, cunning plan to raise up the social rank. As Webster's dictionary explains a social class is , “people having the same social or economic status” (webster-dictionary…

Words 1712 - Pages 7

How Is Othello A Tragic Hero

The Shakespeare play Othello has a lot of great literary elements in it which help make it such a great play. Some of the literary elements include symbolism, Irony, Paradox, Characterization, Tragic Hero and many more. The literary element I chose to write and explain more about is the Tragic Hero aspect of the play. A tragic hero is defined as “A person of noble birth with heroic or potentially heroic qualities. This person is fated by the Gods or by some supernatural force to doom and destruction…

Words 923 - Pages 4

Is Othello a Tragic Hero? Essay

To what extent can Othello be considered a ‘tragic hero’? The extent of which Othello is a tragic hero has been open to much debate; the basis on which he is judged falls to Aristotle’s established view of the crucial elements that distinguish whether a person is truly tragic. According to Aristotle, a tragic protagonist is a nobleman or person from high status, who contributes to his own demise and illustrates a flaw or weakness in judgment. The tragic protagonist must make a fall from a high…

Words 1454 - Pages 6

Othello's Violence Essay

Lilibeth Castillo April 5, 2013 Othello is a story about race inter-relations, hate, jealousy and deception. In Act I it begins with Iago the villain explaining the reason as to why he hates the Moor (Othello) who essentially is meant to be the hero. The Moor is depicted as a warrior with a strong and noble character however, his character goes through a dramatic change. It continues with the villain’s helper Roderigo who is also jealous and envious of the Moor. The reason as to why Roderigo…

Words 566 - Pages 3

Othello and Odin Essay

play Othello and the movie "O" are similar in many ways. "O" is basically based on Othello.The play "Othello" was about a noble Moor, Othello that was in love with a woman named Desdemona. In the Movie "O" the characters name is Odin and that are similar in many ways. Odin is a superstar basketball player that is best friends with Hugo. They play on the same basketball team and Odin is the only black student at his school. In the play "Othello" he is the only black person around that is noble. Although…

Words 602 - Pages 3