Shakespeare uses language to present the decline in Othello’s character. At the outset Othello’s language is confident, poetic and flowery. He is a dignified and controlled general of the Venetian and his gift for oratory both inspires those under his command and makes Desdemona fall in love with him. He uses long and complex sentences and it is implied that his voice has a musical and lyrical tone.
“I will around unvarnish’d tale deliver Of my whole course love; what drugs, what charms, What conjuration and what mighty magic, for such proceeding I am charged withal, I won his daughter” and
“She wish’d she had not heard it, yet she wish’d That heaven had made her such a man: she thank’d me, And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her”
Othello is noted for the beauty of his speaking about which makes falsely modest jokes, claiming to be rude in his speech “rude am I in my speech” Also his language conveys an assertive, composed and assured character to this audience. He has status and integrity, dignity and the audience recognises this.
Othello’s development from a gallant, confident, and strong general to jealousy, insanity, revenge and murder, Can be seen initially in act III scene IIII where Iago skilfully begins to manipulate him by planning seeds of doubt in his mind about Desdemona’s fidelity. The audience sees how effectively Othello can now be manipulated. How he reacts to Iago shows a change in his personality. There is a shift in power or a role reversal occurs. Othello becomes increasingly dependent on Iago who is controlling his thoughts. Othello’s short sharp questions convey his increasing doubt and confusion regarding Desdemona.
“What dost thou think?” and “why of thy thought, Iago?”
Othello’s questions here convey his increasing turmoil and doubt. By act 4 scene 1, Othello’s character has undergone a complete transformation.
He has a fit and becomes insane. Shakespeare shows this to his audience in his language. He is rambling and anxious and looses his dignity as he falls into a trance. His language shows he is confused and agitated. He repeats himself
“Lie on her, lie on her and lie on her”
“Confess, confess, and confess”
“Handkerchief, handkerchief and handkerchief”
Overall in this scene the language used by Othello gives the effect of escalating violence, increasingly aggressive and jealous thoughts conveyed through images of poison, decay, and jealousy. Othello makes his murderous intentions known
“Get me some poison Iago”
This is a metaphor, jealousy is a poison. Othello says of Desdemona
“Let her rot, perish”
Regarding his jealousy
“As if there is some monster in his thoughts too hideous to be shown”
This has the effect of making the audience think of danger, evil and violence.
Othello becomes a misogynist saying that he doesn’t know Desdemona or women anymore and he would not risk anything for a woman now.
“I took you for that cunning whore of Venice”
This is quite a contrast to his character at the start of the play where he risked marrying her in secret because he loved her so much. Othello’s mind and emotions are in terrible conflict although he has come to hate Desdemona, he also remember her good qualities using positive adjectives
“A fair women! A fine women A sweet women!”
At the start of the play of the play he boasts about winning her hand in marriage and his love for her
“She loved me for the for the dangers I had pass’d”
The audience sees that he was proud of his accomplishments and eager to boast them – but now he says “Hang her!” He loved Desdemona but now he’s gone to the emotional extreme of wanting to kill her. As this happens, his language becomes increasingly aggressive. “I will chop her into messes”. Othello’s language looses its poetic tone, becoming harsh and strong with a lack of cohesion as he unleashes his anger and fury for example “Impudent strumpet!” and “heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell.”
Regarding the dramatic structure of the play, during Act 1 scene 3, there is very little action, no aggression or aggressive tones as such; there is very little controversy between the characters. However in Act 3 scene 3, the pace of the play increases and the action intensifies as the moor and Iago are involved in a rapid interchange of questions and counter-questions. Othello looses his poised state of mind and answers in a concerned and un-confident manor compared to Act 1 Scene 3; this is because of the perfectly executed manipulation of Iago. In Act 4 scene 1 the tension and intrigue quickness further with the dramatic sight and sounds of Othello falling into a trance. Act 4 scene 2. In this stage of the play Othello confronts Desdemona face to face – the audience would feel a sense of anticipation/anxiety. Othello remains aggressive and accusing he is singled minded ignoring Desdemona’s pleas of innocence.
A number of dramatic devices are used in the play most notably the handkerchief is a symbol of treachery and betrayal and convinces The General that his wife Desdemona has been disloyal and unfaithful to him. It is the visual, physical proof of Desdemona’s infidelity for Othello, but obviously not to the audience who know the truth. The handkerchief is the dramatic device that causes Desdemona to be seen as guilty and untruthful in Othello’s mind. The moor’s reaction to the handkerchief falling into a trance is a good dramatic device both visually on stage and in displaying the contrast between Othello at the start of the play and Othello now. Its sudden onset would undoubtedly shock the audience. The General’s incoherent would also be disturbing, indicating his change in character to the audience to someone who is jealous, insecure, unconfident, unsure and manipulated.
In conclusion Shakespeare uses a variety of techniques to present the development of Othello’s character in the play Othello. In particular the dramatic devices those that are visual and the use of language that chart the downfall of Othello’s character from a respected general to a rambling jealous murderer who commits suicide are most effective. Shakespeare builds up tension and intrigue in the dramatic structure of the play and the intricate plot, which includes affairs, infidelity murder and betrayal would certainly have invoked an outraged response from the Jacobean audience. I feel that Shakespeare still admirably succeeds in both entertaining and possibly shocking a modern day Christian audience.
