Essay on The Role of the Opening Act of William...

The Role of the Opening Act of William Shakespeares Othello The play Othello portrays the story of the protagonist Othello (The Moor) and his loved one- Desdemona- and his struggles to overcome a racist society in 17th century Venice. In the meantime Iago, one of Othello’s closest friends’ plots revenge on him, as Othello passed him over for an important position in the army and gave it to Cassio, an outsider from Florence. The outcome of the play reveals that Iago’s plan has been successful- Desdemona is murdered by Othello in a spate of jealousy and anger, caused by Iago’s cunning machinations. Othello soon realizes his mistake and damns himself by committing suicide. While Iago is found†¦show more content†¦Shakespeare thus implies that it will be Iago who ultimately determines the outcome of the play, and the way Iago flings around blasphemous phrases with impunity gives the audience the sense that he believes himself to be superior of others and therefore in control. Shakespeare further emphasises Iago’s superiority (or rather, how Iago himself believes it) through the following phrases; â€Å"Wears out his time much like his master’s ass†¦ whip me such honest knaves† Iago implies that servants who honestly serve their masters are fools, emphasised by â€Å"his master’s ass†- this imagery allows Iago to express his view that such servants are no more worthy than a mere donkey â€Å"Others there are†¦keep yet their hearts attending on themselves†¦when they have lined their coats do themselves homage. These fellows have some soul† Instead, Iago rather respects those servants who fool their masters and take advantage of trust. The phrase â€Å"these fellows have some soul† once again shows the blasphemous nature of Iago; he actually believes that those who fool and deceive are truly alive. The religious notion he uses again establishes his superiority complex â€Å"By Janus†¦ I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at. I am not who I am† Iago’s reputation as a blasphemer is fully revealed by the interesting notion that he swears byShow MoreRelatedOthello, By William Shakespeare1728 Words   |  7 Pagesroute. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, the word love has a key role throughout the play. In the opening of the play we are introduced to Othello, the general of the Venetian army, and the supporting characters such as Iago, his coworker, and Desdemona, his wife. A Moor in a European capital, Othello becomes insecure in his position of power, and turns to the false-hearted Iago as a source of advice. Throughout the play a great deal occurs, such as Iago’s vendetta against Othello, which primarilyRead MoreEssay about A Feminist Analysis of Othello1741 Words   |  7 PagesA Feminist Analysis of Othello  Ã‚   In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello there are numerous instances of obvious sexism aimed at the three women in the drama -- Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca – and aimed at womankind generally. Let us delve into this subject in this paper. In the essay â€Å"Wit and Witchcraft: an Approach to Othello† Robert B. Heilman discusses a scene which occurs late in the play and which is sexist: When Othello summons Desdemona and dismisses Emilia, â€Å"Leave procreantsRead MoreThe Many Evils of Iago in Othello by Shakespeare Essay examples1265 Words   |  6 PagesThe Many Evils of Iago in Othello by Shakespeare Iago is a man of jealousy, and he is proposing revenge against Cassio and Othello. He claims both Cassio and Othello have seduced his wife, Emilia, a warm-hearted, simple woman. He proposes, as revenge of wife for wife, to put Othello into such a jealousy as judgement can cure (Jorgensen 59). We know therefore from the start why Iago hates Othello . . . (Modern 3). Iagos hatred for the Moor is deep, and there is apparently reason. TheRead MoreAct One Scene 3 of William Shakespeares Othello Essay1008 Words   |  5 PagesAct One Scene 3 of William Shakespeares Othello Referring to the passage in page 155, I have analysed several points in conjunction to background knowledge, in attempt to answer the task set above. Initially, I feel that it is very important to relate to the character of Iago. As a character, Iago has the potential to be a man of extreme power but he does not have the tool that we refer to as money. All that he has is ambition; and he remains malcontent until he attainsRead More How Does Othello Rate?1896 Words   |  8 PagesHow Does Othello Rate?  Ã‚        Ã‚   Is this the best, the second-best, the worst of William Shakespeare’s tragedies? Where does it place in the lineup? Let’s consider where it deserves to be and why in this essay.    The play is so quotable; consider Desdemona’s opening lines before the Council of Venice: â€Å"My noble father, / I do perceive here a divided duty,† or Othello’s last words: â€Å"Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.† Could the continuing reputation of Othello be attributed to the quotableRead More‚Äà ºIago Is an Evil Genius‚Äà ¹ Discuss1135 Words   |  5 PagesIn William Shakespeare’s play Othello, Iago is seen by many as an honest and trustworthy person, though in reality he is a man of deceit and malevolence. This duplicitous nature of Iago’s is arguably one of Shakespeare’s most intriguing antagonists. From the outset, the audience is immediately drawn in by his sinister, yet unclear motives by revealing to them – â€Å"I am not what I am†. Iago is truly an evil character: he is extremely immoral and wicked, associating himself with the devil. He shows noRead More Othello – How it Ranks Essay2151 Words   |  9 PagesOthello – How it Ranks  Ã‚         In the context of thousands of plays written by hundreds of dramatists since 500 years prior to the time of Christ, how does William Shakespeare’s play Othello rank? In this essay let us find the proper place for this play, and consider critical opinion in the process.    Othello would appear to have a beauty about it which is hard to match – thus ranking high. Helen Gardner in â€Å"Othello: A Tragedy of Beauty and Fortune† touches on this beauty which enablesRead MoreRacism By William Shakespeare s Othello1197 Words   |  5 Pageshuman race are imperative, the issue of the race is one of the most significant themes that play a huge role in worldwide literature. In Othello, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in the 17th century, racism is certainly displayed throughout the play, an issue that remains relevant to a contemporary audience in today’s society. Othello was written during the third period of Shakespeare’s life (1601-1609) when England was extremely homogenous, essentially meaning that everyone looked alikeRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello And The Green Eyed Monster Essay2065 Words   |  9 PagesShakespeare s Othello as a tragedy of jealousy is but to echo the opinion of every critic who ever wrote about it† (para. 1). In this essay, the role of jealousy is examined in legendary William Shakespeare’s play Othello. Roderigo is not a major character, but he shifts from an introverted character to a wrongfully brave character because he is driven by jealousy over Othello’s role in Desdemona’s life. He lets his inner green-eyed monster cloud his judgement and commits atrocious acts to Cassio. OthelloRead MoreEssay on Iagos Soliloquies in William Shakespeares Play Othello1188 Words   |  5 PagesIagos Soliloquies in William Shakespeares Play Othello Othello is a tragedy which was written in 1622 by William Shakespeare, the title Othello is eponymous which means that a character gives its name to the title. Othello is not the main character, where as in Macbeth Macbeth was the main character. Right from the beginning Shakespeare is trying to hide the importance of Iago. Iago may be in the first scene but it starts off half way through a conversation