How is Imagery and language used in Othello to reveal things about the characters?
Shakespeare uses Imagery and language in the characters dialogue and this helps the audience to gain insight into those that are described and also reveals things about the character's themselves.
In Act 2 the characters descriptions of Desdemona reveal how they perceive her as a person, and at a deeper level it reveals how they think about her.
Cassio speaks very fondly of Desdemona, almost exaggerating her beauty by describing her as
'A maid that paragons description and wild fame, one that excels the quirks of blazoning pens' and as 'The divine Desdemona'. This poetic language expresses Cassio's feelings of Desdemona and her beauty and because we know Iago's plot to tell Othello they have been having an affair, speaking of her in this way helps Iago in convincing others.
It also reveals about Cassio that he is romantic and appreciative of writers and artists when he says 'Does tire the ingener' meaning it exhausts the mind of an artist to try and capture her beauty in words and descriptions.
However Iago may have a harder time convincing Roderigo of Cassio and Desdemona having an affair as Roderigo speaks of her as 'She's full of the most blessed condition' This reveals the purity and innocence that is thought of about Desdemona, and this imagery helps to contrast against the evil and dark plot of Iago's, making it seem all the more treacherous.
Shakespeare uses Imagery and language in the characters dialogue and this helps the audience to gain insight into those that are described and also reveals things about the character's themselves.
In Act 2 the characters descriptions of Desdemona reveal how they perceive her as a person, and at a deeper level it reveals how they think about her.
Cassio speaks very fondly of Desdemona, almost exaggerating her beauty by describing her as
'A maid that paragons description and wild fame, one that excels the quirks of blazoning pens' and as 'The divine Desdemona'. This poetic language expresses Cassio's feelings of Desdemona and her beauty and because we know Iago's plot to tell Othello they have been having an affair, speaking of her in this way helps Iago in convincing others.
It also reveals about Cassio that he is romantic and appreciative of writers and artists when he says 'Does tire the ingener' meaning it exhausts the mind of an artist to try and capture her beauty in words and descriptions.
However Iago may have a harder time convincing Roderigo of Cassio and Desdemona having an affair as Roderigo speaks of her as 'She's full of the most blessed condition' This reveals the purity and innocence that is thought of about Desdemona, and this imagery helps to contrast against the evil and dark plot of Iago's, making it seem all the more treacherous.