Othello Analysis Essay

Submitted By lyall123
Words: 960
Pages: 4
Open Document
Jealousy is the feeling of envy towards one another. In Othello, jealousy, also known as “the green-eyed monster” (III, iii, 15), is the key piece of Iago’s plan to drive Othello mad. Iago makes Othello believe that Cassio is having a hidden affair with his newly wed wife Desdemona. Iago utilizes Othello’s jealousy of Cassio to break his mentality and make him go crazy with rage. Othello’s jealousy soon destroys his bond with Desdemona and corrupts his good nature. Iago manipulates Othello, through his anger and jealousy towards Cassio, to make him do the unthinkable. Jealousy is used as piece of irony, because Othello says to Iago:

“For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago;
I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And on the proof, there is no more but this,—
Away at once with love or jealousy!” (III, iii, 44-47).

Othello is saying to Iago that he does not think his life will be changed for he will not grow jealous from anything his wife may do and yet when the idea of Cassio and Desdemona having an affair becomes prevalent Othello becomes enraged with jealousy displaying how jealousy is a piece of irony in Othello. The role of revenge is found within the devious soul of Iago. Iago is Othello’s ensign who Othello has trusted with all his hearts. Othello goes to Iago when he is need of advice or confirmation on any of his next actions. But Othello recently gave away the position of Lieutenant to the Arithmetician known as Michael Cassio. Enraged by this sudden lose of power he so rightfully deserved, Iago wants to exact revenge on Othello for taking away his designated position as Lieutenant. Iago states to Roderigo, “Its seems not meet nor wholesome to my place/ To be producted, as if I stay I shall/ Against the moor”(I, i, 162-164). This statement from Iago means that he may stay with the moor but to work against him instead of with him. He also says “I hate the Moor:/
And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets/
He has done my office: I know not if't be true;/
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,/
Will do as if for surety.” (I, iii, 12-16). Iago messes around with his own mind to make him believe that Othello has slept with his wife Emilia in order to have a better reason to assert his vengeance on Othello. Iago plots to make Othello lose his sanity and get him removed from his current occupation as General of the Archduke. Iago’s vengeance is diabolical and encompasses many different people who are completely innocent but are twisted into the scheme. Loyalty is one’s ability to stay true and trustworthy to another. Desdemona displays her loyalty for Othello in multiple ways with only being married for less than a week. Even though Desdemona is loyal to Othello until the moment she dies, Iago uses Desdemona honesty to disfigure Othello’s sanctity by creating a false affair between her and Cassio. However all the things that Othello does to Desdemona does not change the way she felt about him, she thinks it is she has done rather than blaming it on Othello. She remains loyal to him even when he is smothering her in bed. As she is dying Emilia enters the room but Desdemona is not crying out that Othello is killing her but instead she is slaying herself. Desdemona says “Nobody. I myself. Farewell./ Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell.”(V, ii, 152-153). This proves that she is loyal to Othello because she is telling Emilia that she has slain herself in order to protect her husband’s good name. Emilia is also always loyal
Show More

Related Documents: Othello Analysis Essay

Race In Othello Analysis

Race and Othello Shakespeare's tragic play Othello depicts a black Moor thriving in a white society. The black Moor, Othello, marries Desdemona, a fair Venetian woman, despite her father's strong disapproval. Iago, who works for Othello, ploys to remove Othello's lieutenant out of jealousy and to eventually remove Othello himself. Through devious schemes, Iago uses Othello and nearly succeeds in taking his place. Although much of Othello’s meaning could remain unaltered without references to Othello’s…

Words 644 - Pages 3

Analysis Of Othello

njmvhjnggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg The fact that Othello is from a foreign land and might feel like an outcast (his race) adds to his insecurities. He might even at some points think Desdemona is too good for him which might lead to him believing she has been with Cassio who is younger and better looking than him. Pride is also one of Othello’s weaknesses because he thinks that he cannot live up to his wife's expectations and her position in society. Othello and Desdemona are pretty happy and in…

Words 1179 - Pages 5

Othello: Jealousy Analysis

Love, betrayal and so much more. You fall into these traps and you are done. But in this world we can learn something from Othello and take away something very important. It is the point of jealousy. Jealousy destroys and takes over leaving behind someone you love or don't and hurts them. But it hurts you too. Here is what jealousy can do. Destroy, take over and ruin. Jealousy can destroy us. It happens in the world all the time. When someone resents something someone else does it leads to anger…

Words 452 - Pages 2

Othello Analysis Essay

In Shakespeare’s Othello, race is clearly portrayed early on in the story. Seventeenth century England, the time this piece was written, a person’s race distinctly defined the role they played in society. In the beginning of the play, you see the obvious reactions of racism as Barbantio goes before the Senate to declare that his daughter had been a victim of Othello’s witchcraft. Othello’s father-in-law even calls him a “Moor” which is seen continuously within the book. The word is widely used for…

Words 913 - Pages 4

Othello Quote Analysis

In the play, “Othello” by William Shakespeare, the character of Brabantio, has a significant line that foreshadows an event, triggered by the meaning of his words."Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see. She has deceived her father, and may thee" (Othello I, iii, 293-294; 783). In other words, Brabantio who is the father of Desdemona, tells Othello that his daughter might betray him, the same way she betrayed her own father for marrying him. At first, Othello does not seem to worry about the…

Words 490 - Pages 2

Essay about Othello Analysis

Shakespeare, who is famous for his tragic genre, embodies this scheme of writing in Othello. As a common quality in many tragic stories, there is a character that centrally leads to the downfall of all the others. Serving as this trend in Shakespeare’s Othello, the character who is directly responsible for such downfall is Emilia. Although her intentions are not malicious, Emilia’s actions do lead to the defeat of many characters that are associated with the plot of this story. She is the catalyst…

Words 1413 - Pages 6

Othello Movie Vs Play Analysis

play titled Othello. In 2001 there was a movie made that was based on this play, titled O. This movie takes a modern spin on the classic play. The plot of the play was mostly all there in the movie, including the deaths of the cast, however; there are some key differences. There’s a presence of drug abuse in the movie that was not there in the play, the settings are drastically different, and the play of power switches between the play and the movie. In the original play of Othello there was no…

Words 548 - Pages 3

Othello Critical Lens Essay

Critical Lenses- Shakespeare’s Othello Sociological critical analysis is the relationship between literature and society. Time and place will influence the story in various ways. As a result, the stories will reflect the sociological structure that produced them. Shakespeare’s Othello was written during the early 1600s. During this period in time, plays were performed only by men, and the audience was predominantly male as well. The audience mainly consisted of the upper class, as well as the…

Words 563 - Pages 3

Essay on Character Analysis

Character Analysis for Othello Othello is the main character throughout the paly. He is different from all the other peoples in the play, he comes from Mauritania. They call him the moor, which is black people. In the paly, he is a leader with great reputation, people also respect him. The duke and the senate thinks he is a great leader, don’t mind his skin color. His love to Desdemona is very deep, he listens to her advice even at that time people thinks woman’s voice is not important. But he is…

Words 302 - Pages 2

Verbal Irony In Shakespeare's Othello

Situational irony refers to events that occur which contradict the expectations of the characters, audience, or readers. In Shakespeare’s Othello, the Moor of Venice, verbal irony, dramatic irony, and situational irony are used to propel the action forward and to intensify the drama as it proceeds. In the…

Words 841 - Pages 4