Othello Essay

Submitted By niboogie
Words: 1457
Pages: 6
Open Document
Williams

Nire Williams

Ms.Bernstein
Advanced Placement English Literature, Period 2
December 5,2014 Jealousy: The Green Eyed Monster
Aristotle’s “The Poetics” has been a major piece to many playwrights on the criteria of writing a play. Most importantly the criteria for writing a successful tragedy. According to
Aristotle there are many characteristics for a successful tragedy including the plot, the characters, and most importantly the effect it leaves on the spectators. Tragedy is supposed to be the imitation of happiness and misery. The plot of a tragedy should have a cause and effect with a chain of events(beginning, middle, and end). The reason it is called a tragedy is because the reversal of tragedy and there should be a scene of suffering. The main character in the play should be a person of great power. The change of fortune should come from hamartia, which is a mistake or a flaw. In other words, because of the main characters flaws, he/she will bring their own downfall because of their ignorance. This is what makes them a tragic hero, the tragedy can only be successful because the person fell from a high position. Lastly, Aristotle states the aim of a tragedy is to bring catharsis, the sense of pity or fear that is brought by seeing the change of fortune from the character. Based on the criteria set by Aristotle is Othello a tragedy?
“Othello, the Moor of Venice” by William Shakespeare is one of Shakespeare’s well known tragic plays. The play takes place in the 1600’s in Venice and later in Cypress. Othello is the Moor of Venice but he isn’t from Venice. The fact he is a Moor means he’s from North

Williams

Africa. Although Othello is of a great position he is often referenced with black epithets such as
“the thick­lips” (I.I.66) , “Old black ram” (I.I.88), and “A Barbary Horse” (I.I.113).There are only a few characters in the play that seem to make the color of his skin an issue, Venetian
Senator Brabantio( Desdemona’s father), Iago, and Roderigo. It is confessed that Iago hates
Othello for passing him in a promotion and giving it to Michael Cassio and because of rumors that Othello slept with his wife Emilia. Othello has a secret marriage with Brabantio’s daughter,
Desdemona. Iago, Othello’s ancient and Roderigo, a man that wanted to marry Desdemona went to go tell Brabantio of the news. When he realizes Desdemona wasn’t in her room he went to go arrest Othello for using witchcraft on Desdemona to make her fall in love with him. Desdemona comes and confesses that she loves Othello and there was no witchcraft involved. Othello has been called by the Duke to help defeat the Turkish fleet in Cypress. In Cypress is where
Othello’s downfall takes place and the tragedy begins.
Othello is a great man of great stature. At the beginning of the play we see that Othello has a great sense of passion and loves Desdemona with all his heart and has a conflict between duty and passion and explains that he can handle both. “I will you're serious and great business scant ,when she is with me. No, when light­winged toys, of feathered Cupid seel with wanton dullness.My speculative and officed instrument,That my disports corrupt and taint my business.”
(I.3.264­268) Othello explains that he will never let his love get in the way to the point where he can’t focus on the battlefield, He would never let his reputation be ruined that way. Othello is a very passionate man and when Desdemona and Othello first meet in Cypress they finish each others sentences in iambic pentameter. In act 2, scene 1, line 189 Desdemona says “Even as our days grow!” and on line 190 Othello completes the iambic pentameter by saying “Amen to that,

Williams

sweet powers!”. Besides the three characters stated earlier, Othello is well respected, Montano
(former governor of Cypress) refers to Othello as “a worthy governor” (II.I.30) This quote explains how Othello’s stature keeps growing
Show More

Related Documents: Othello Essay

Essay Othello: Othello and Desdemona

the weakness of the brave Othello is famous art of work that focuses on the dangers of jealousy. The play is a study of how jealousy can be fueled by mere circumstantial evidence and can destroy lives and change people’s integrity. In Othello, the hero succumbs to jealousy when Iago convinces him that Desdemona has been an unfaithful wife and in the end Othello murders his wife and then kills himself. It is interesting that Iago uses jealousy against Othello, yet jealousy is likely the source…

Words 837 - Pages 4

Othello: Othello and Desdemona Essay

Othello: My beautiful warrior. Desdemona: My dear Othello! Othello: I’m amazed you got here before me. But I’m overjoyed my love, if the calm after the storm could always be this wonderful, I’d want the wind to blow until it woke the dead and whipped up waves as tall as mountains! If I died right now I’d be completely happy, since Ill probably never be as happy as this again in my life. Desdemona: I pray to God our love and our happiness will increase as we get older. Othello: Amen to that!…

Words 525 - Pages 3

Othello: Othello and Iago’s Word Essay

Othello through the play is a victim of racism, he is referred to as the “Moor “even by his beloved Desdemona. Despite the love Othello had towards Desdemona Iago’s intentions where too powerful towards Othello’s mind and made him blind towards any possible explanation besides Iago’s. Iago is not stupid, he knows exactly what he wants and he has a set up mind goal of what is his purpose towards the future of Othello. Iago guided Othello’s mind through many key events that didn’t took too much to…

Words 1005 - Pages 5

Othello and Shakespeare Portrays Othello Essay

Othello’s character throughout the play and to what extent is he a tragic hero? Shakespeare portrays Othello’s character as a complex one. Throughout the whole play Othello experiences different emotions such as love, hate and even jealousy. Othello’s journey is shown through a intense series of ups and downs. At the beginning of the play Othello was known as a hero of ‘being in the military success’. He was known to his people to be confident, brave and courageous; all qualities that hero’s have. However…

Words 1043 - Pages 5

Essay about Othello: Othello and Desdemona

Bernard Smoakes Professor Barbara Russell Com 1102 5 April 2014 Othello Compare and Contrast the differences of Desdemona and Emilia characters In the play “Othello”, by William Shakespeare, there are two women in the play that attracts our attentions. Desdemona and Emilia are wives of two men of action, Othello the tragic hero and Iago is betrothed to one of the most greatest villian of all time. These two females can be compare and contrast in a number of ways that are part and parcel…

Words 1110 - Pages 5

Othello Essay

Othello Essay “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on;” This line from Othello, a play written by William Shakespeare, helps to explain one of the major themes of the novel—jealousy. According to dictionary.com, jealousy is defined as, “mental uneasiness from suspicion or fear of rivalry, unfaithfulness, etc., as in love or aims”. Jealousy is used within the play as the driving force behind various characters’ actions. It is also one…

Words 1934 - Pages 8

Othello Newspaper

Cassio was swearing . Iago then explains how Montano was seriously injured and the riot had been stopped by Othello and his guards . Othello shouts, “ Are we turned Turks? And to ourselves do that which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites? For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl .. .Honest Iago, that looks dead with grieving, speak, who began this? ”” (II,iii,133­141) . Othello insists Iago to speak the truth since Montano was badly injured . Although Cassio regretted his actions of drinking and causing a scene…

Words 941 - Pages 4

Othello Essay

Othello Essay Q: Does Desdemona bear any of the responsibility for the tragedy? Why or why not? Desdemona bears some of the responsibility for the tragedy in Shakespeare’s Othello. To understand and give the analysis of this topic, let’s try to back up to the end of the play and consider of understanding the tragedy at the deepest level. As we know, Desdemona is dead in the bed at the end of play, and the most shocking thing is that Desdemona got killed by Othello as a result of her remaining silent…

Words 1041 - Pages 5

Othello: Othello and Iago Appeals Essay

about the downfall of the other characters. Second, Iago capitalizes on Cassio’s trusting nature by pretending to be his friend while secretly misleading him. Iago pressures Cassio into drinking a lot, causing a quarrel. As a result of the fight, Othello demotes Cassio from his high-ranking position as lieutenant. Cassio’s reputation is of utmost importance to him, and having just been demoted exposes him to Iago’s schemes. Despite Iago being behind Cassio’s drunken confrontation, he backstabs him…

Words 1176 - Pages 5

Othello Essay

are deceived by the way someone looks or appears to be. One’s appearance may mislead other people into thinking that what they see is reality. Manipulations of someone’s appearance can be a powerful tool that can control an individual. In the play Othello written by William Shakespeare, it demonstrates how appearances can be deceiving. The theme of appearance vs. reality is evident through the main antagonist, Iago. This is exemplified through his morals, thoughts and actions. Ultimately, Iago easily…

Words 1234 - Pages 5