In Shakespeare's Othello, Iago character stays the same throughout but Othello's does not. How and why does this happen?
Othello's character undergoes a dramatic transformation, the man of calm integrity seen at the beginning of the play deteriorates into a man infected with ideas of revenge and death.
This essay will focus on the attitudes and relationships between the central characters and the mistrust that is apparent as the play progresses.
Othello is the protagonist of this tragedy who can be solely described as the tragic hero of the play. Aristotle defined a tragic hero as a person who moves from the highest point to the lowest. Othello was once referred to as the saviour of the Venetian state but later appeared to be a mentally disturbed murderer whose mistrust and jealousy for Desdemona brought about his downfall.
A common finale in Shakespeare's plays is having the central character killed in a bloody and violent fashion. In plays such as Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet a death occurs early on in the play which triggers off conflict between the central characters. The death at the beginning of Othello is that of principles and trust, the kind, loving soldier within Othello dies and a new violent man is born.
Othello's race is a source of tension in the play, in Act 1 Scene 1 Roderigo and Iago discuss 'The Moor' and all references to him appear derogatory. They conjure up a false image of him mocking him for his unfair choice of lieutenant, ultimately displaying jealousy and racism towards Othello.
Brabantio's rude awakening by Roderigo and Iago is a racist section of the play. Brabantio is informed that his daughter has eloped with Othello a disobedience so shockingly unnatural to Brabantio that it's obviously due to charms and chants used in witchcraft by 'the sorcerer' Othello. The strong racist perceptions of Othello continue throughout the play, he remains an outsider who is accepted by only a few characters as a important military figure and a respected individual. In this scene he is confident and deals with Brabantio's insults in a relaxed fashion, if anything he appears over-confident, qualities which he lacks in following scenes.
The reason that Othello became so insanely jealous may have simply arisen from his own personal conflicts. Othello does not seem to know his own worth which makes him feel insecure and alone. He is an intelligent man and to be constantly judged because of his race would have proved difficult. Perhaps Othello has an inferiority complex, a man of his background would expect to endure a life of slavery as opposed to being a high ranking soldier. In Act 3 Scene 3 , Othello addresses the matter of his race in a soliloquy, he reflects that his colour, speech and age may be the cause of Desdemona's infidelity: 'Haply for I am black, and have not those soft parts of conversation that chambers have.' His jealousy is not the only factor contributing to his downfall and sudden change in character.
Act 3 Scene 3 is the most significant and effective section of the play, this scene displays dramatic power within the characters and it is at this point that Iago wins Othello's trust. It is the pivotal scene where jealousy, mistrust and deception are recurrent images.
The scene opens with a conversation between Cassio and Desdemona, this conversation is completely innocent with Cassio expressing his needs for Othello's 'love and service'. Iago manages to convince Othello that this innocent meeting is in fact a meeting of two deceitful lovers, arousing suspicion by questioning Desdemona's loyalty to her father. 'She has deceived her father, and may thee.' were Brabantio's final words in Act 1 Scene 3. Brabantio has unwittingly reiterated the question of Desdemona's loyalty which will know doubt create further veins of suspicion in Othello's mind.
Othello's character undergoes a dramatic transformation, the man of calm integrity seen at the beginning of the play deteriorates into a man infected with ideas of revenge and death.
This essay will focus on the attitudes and relationships between the central characters and the mistrust that is apparent as the play progresses.
Othello is the protagonist of this tragedy who can be solely described as the tragic hero of the play. Aristotle defined a tragic hero as a person who moves from the highest point to the lowest. Othello was once referred to as the saviour of the Venetian state but later appeared to be a mentally disturbed murderer whose mistrust and jealousy for Desdemona brought about his downfall.
A common finale in Shakespeare's plays is having the central character killed in a bloody and violent fashion. In plays such as Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet a death occurs early on in the play which triggers off conflict between the central characters. The death at the beginning of Othello is that of principles and trust, the kind, loving soldier within Othello dies and a new violent man is born.
Othello's race is a source of tension in the play, in Act 1 Scene 1 Roderigo and Iago discuss 'The Moor' and all references to him appear derogatory. They conjure up a false image of him mocking him for his unfair choice of lieutenant, ultimately displaying jealousy and racism towards Othello.
Brabantio's rude awakening by Roderigo and Iago is a racist section of the play. Brabantio is informed that his daughter has eloped with Othello a disobedience so shockingly unnatural to Brabantio that it's obviously due to charms and chants used in witchcraft by 'the sorcerer' Othello. The strong racist perceptions of Othello continue throughout the play, he remains an outsider who is accepted by only a few characters as a important military figure and a respected individual. In this scene he is confident and deals with Brabantio's insults in a relaxed fashion, if anything he appears over-confident, qualities which he lacks in following scenes.
The reason that Othello became so insanely jealous may have simply arisen from his own personal conflicts. Othello does not seem to know his own worth which makes him feel insecure and alone. He is an intelligent man and to be constantly judged because of his race would have proved difficult. Perhaps Othello has an inferiority complex, a man of his background would expect to endure a life of slavery as opposed to being a high ranking soldier. In Act 3 Scene 3 , Othello addresses the matter of his race in a soliloquy, he reflects that his colour, speech and age may be the cause of Desdemona's infidelity: 'Haply for I am black, and have not those soft parts of conversation that chambers have.' His jealousy is not the only factor contributing to his downfall and sudden change in character.
Act 3 Scene 3 is the most significant and effective section of the play, this scene displays dramatic power within the characters and it is at this point that Iago wins Othello's trust. It is the pivotal scene where jealousy, mistrust and deception are recurrent images.
The scene opens with a conversation between Cassio and Desdemona, this conversation is completely innocent with Cassio expressing his needs for Othello's 'love and service'. Iago manages to convince Othello that this innocent meeting is in fact a meeting of two deceitful lovers, arousing suspicion by questioning Desdemona's loyalty to her father. 'She has deceived her father, and may thee.' were Brabantio's final words in Act 1 Scene 3. Brabantio has unwittingly reiterated the question of Desdemona's loyalty which will know doubt create further veins of suspicion in Othello's mind.
