Othello - Show how, in Act Two, Shakespeare links, builds upon, and extends the ideas and the plot, which were begun in Act One.

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Othello Essay

Show how, in Act Two, Shakespeare links, builds upon, and extends the ideas and the plot, which were begun in Act One.

The beginning of Act One gives us an introduction to the politics and worldly issues of the play. The beginning of Act Two, we are in Cyprus. The weather and the characters are in turmoil. There is a theme of tension and anxiety running throughout the first scene. The parallels between the macrocosm (nature) and the microcosm (the characters) are shown from the beginning. The changed situation is from the previously political concerns now becoming domestic. The macrocosm of the outer world has been removed from focus. God has ‘sorted out’ the political scene so we are now primarily concerned with the microcosm. That is Othello, his wife and the surrounding characters.

Some of the themes that are initially presented in Act One reappear throughout Act Two also. Shakespeare links these themes throughout the play, and uses them to build up a bigger picture of each character. This is especially obvious with the theme of deceit, which is largely linked to the character of Iago. Iago’s initial presence in act one showed much irony. He was often described with a pre-fix of honest, referred to as honest or noble Iago. He appears to be the one character who all of the other characters trust; (“As I am an honest man.”) However in the development of the play we begin to see how sly and deceitful Iago really is. He is always plotting and scheming to find out as much as he could about the other characters, primarily Othello, Cassio, and Desdemona who are always his main concern. Iago subtly enquires after all of the characters whereabouts and plans, he also aims to avoid implication at all times, and never wants anyone to suspect him of being anything but honest. In Act Two, Iago directly lied to Roderigo, by telling him, “Desdemona is directly in love with him! (Cassio)

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The theme of betrayal also extends into act two. In act one, Brabantio felt betrayed by his daughter. The theme of misplaced trust links with betrayal also. This is shown continually throughout Act Two. The character betraying the others most in the play is Iago. This is ironic because he is also the most trusted character. Othello should trust Cassio, Desdemona and Emilia, but misplaces his trust in Iago and so is lead into believing that his wife is an adulteress. The theme of jealousy also continues through Act Two. The sub plot involves Bianca being jealous of Cassio since ...

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