Although the play was named after Othello, Shakespeare brings in a true villan whose name is Iago

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The play "Othello" was written by the playwright William Shakespeare, one of the best and well-known writers of that period and upto the current day. He wrote it in 1604 to be performed to the new King: King James I and for that reason he included themes in it such as Turkish history, witchcraft and black magic which he knew King James I liked. The play is named after one of the main characters who has a fatal flaw. The character in question is Othello, the Moor of Venice, a believing and honourable member of the Venetian community and a general of the Venetian army. Although the play was named after Othello, Shakespeare brings in a true villan whose name is Iago. At the time Spain was Englands enermy and Iago being a Spanish name makes the audience sure that Iago is evil. Iago could arguably be the main character, making the play a tragedy which is a play in which characters must struggle with circumstances in which most meet death and despair which in this case the Moor's torture and eventually his, and other innocent characters' demise. Shakespeare seems to suggest in this play that white Iago is a very negative character and Othello the black general is the hero. This would have been at a time when much of England would have questioned these views. Shakespeare may have been trying to make a social comment and putting forward a negative attitude towards racism.

The story is based around a tale by the Italian writer Giraldi Cinthio. It begins in Venice, a `nice', civilised city, and moves to the chaotic war in Cyprus. This change has a lot of significance and relevance in the play because it symbolises the changes in Othello's life and perceptions. Cyprus is an island that is exposed and can be easily attacked which brings in irony when Othello moves there Iago's plan succeeds. The play begins with a conversation between Iago and a Venetian nobleman Roderigo. They are discussing about how Desdemona, whom Roderigo loves, has eloped with Othello. Through this early conversation it is evident that that Iago is manipulative and cunning as he is already taking advantage of the rich and love struck Roderigo, whose money he has full use of: "Thus do I ever make my fool, my purse.." The first word we hear from Iago is "Sblood", a strong swear word in the British language at the time. We learn through the conversation that Iago uses crude language and is not well spoken, or noble, but a simple man, a soldier. Iago explains to Roderigo why he hates the general, Othello. It seems that he had pleaded with Othello for the position of lieutenant in the army, but despite his efforts Othello promotes Cassio, a nobleman: "One Michael Cassio, a Florentine,....That never set a squadron in the field" >From this statement we know that he despises Othello for this decision because not only is Cassio inexperienced, but he is also not from Venice but from Florence.

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As Iago tells Roderigo of what he thinks as a mistake we become more aware of his bitterness. Iago here also gives a further reason why he hates Othello to the audience in the way of a soliloquy, a dramatic device whereby a character talks directly to the audience about his feelings and opinions. This way of conveying an idea to the audience is used by Shakespeare a lot because it builds up tension because the audience know things the other characters don't.

In this soliloquy, Iago tells the audience of his suspicion that Othello has slept with his ...

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