Hemant Patel 10HEC
Othello Essay
“Othello” is famously regarded as one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies. It explores the downfall of a great general Othello through a series of unlucky circumstances. Othello’s character shows a man of high status whose job, marriage and life is ruined because of his insecurities by a man named Iago. Iago (Othello’s ensign) is able to manipulate Othello, Othello’s wife Desdemona and his own friend Roderigo (a Venetian gentleman). He uses Desdemona’s love of Othello and Roderigo’s money with his secret love for Desdemona, to manipulate them towards his own good. He is a psychotic driven to kill, from strangers on a battlefield to his wife in Othello’s bedroom. In the end he ends up with loosing everything he ever had, taking everyone else and their lives with him.
Othello is the general of an army. He is a characterised as a “moor”; he is seen as being alternately or simultaneously noble or monstrous, civil or savage. We know that he is black. He is the odd one out and is insecure because of his race. Othello was most probably a Muslim originally but there is evidence in the play that he rejected this religion in order to become more accepted in society. He comes from Venice. He is the general of a Venetian army, has power but only to a certain degree. He is good at his job and that’s why he is where he is. These are the few facts we know about Othello. In Act 1 Scene 1, Iago and Roderigo are arguing about Othello. They both seem to have separate complaints about the same person. Iago is arguing over the fact that he did not receive the job in the army that he wanted. He thought that Othello being his friend, surely he would get the job. However, in Othello’s eyes Michael Cassio (a Florentine lieutenant) seemed better for the job. Roderigo argues that he deserves to take Desdemona’s hand in marriage. His secret love for her drives him crazy inside at every sight he sees her and Othello together. During this Othello is described as an old black ram, “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram”. Iago thinks that Othello is too old and that he will not be around with his job for long. The play would have opened up with this conversation in the dark. It goes with the low yet angry dark toned language that Iago uses, “Rouse him, make after him, poison his delight” also “In personal suit to make me his lieutenant; off capped to him”. He is irritated after not getting the position in the army. While this was all going on Othello and Desdemona were secretly getting married. Roderigo and Iago hear of this news and go straight to Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, to wake him and tell him of his daughter’s whereabouts. The swearing and shouting by Iago and Roderigo towards Brabantio, would catch the attention of the audience. They would be eager to understand what is going on. There were no special effects so listening carefully to the characters was the only way you would understand what was happening. This made it a good idea to open the play during the night. So you in the audience would get the feel of whispers, people sneaking around etc. They did not have good costumes or any type of clear lighting. You would see flame torches lit all the way around the stage.
