Iago, othellos standardbearer, or ancient emilia, iagos wife and desdemonas attendant. The othello oral report focused on dishonesty and miscommunication, jealousy and regret, and gender and pride, as well as more themes that i consider less prominent and will therefore not discuss. Three themes critical to the play are doubt versus trust, monstrous imagery and the fallible love of man. Othello literary analysis the play othello is a story of a soldier who is an honorable and principled army general who encountered much military success, but due to errors in judgment and status as an outsider in the venetian society, destroys his most cherished relationship and himself. A study of contrast between english and persian translation international journal on studies in english language and literature ijsell page 21 if one wants to reproduce the original style satisfactorily, one must keep two points in mind before undertaking the translation. The titular and main characters engagement in murder, jealousy, and betrayal could easily portray him as the villain. Othello predicates his success in love on his success as a soldier, wooing desdemona with tales of his military travels and battles.
Othello is william shakespeares tragedy of the moor who loved not wisely but too well. Comprehensive discussion of the major themes in shakespeares othello, including corruption, honor. Thesis othellos major themes of jealousy, appearance vs. Othello and desdemona have a romantic relationship that is, perhaps, too good to last. You should know the main ones in othello and be prepared to answer a question on each. Iago newly appointed ensign to othello, moor of venice.
The play othello is one of the works written by william shakespeare. Unlike most of the analysis found herewhich simply lists the unique individual story appreciationsthis indepth study details the actual encoding for each structural item. The most prominent form of prejudice on display in othello is racial prejudice. Pride and jealousy othello, written by shakespeare, uses multiple thematic focuses to develop a tragic plot. Check out shmoop s visual take on what its all about.
An analysis of the themes of pride and jealousy in othello, a. Feb 04, 2011 the play othello is one of the works written by william shakespeare. In shakespeares othello, iago plots othellos destruction when he is passed over for a promotion. Themes in shakespeares othello throughout shakespeares play, othello, there are many themes interwoven to describe the authors perspective of the true nature of a mans soul. Need help on themes in william shakespeares othello. In true tragic form, at plays end othello can only regain his status as defender of the state by committing suicide. Although he holds a position of high power in venice, he is still a victim of racial. Act 3, scene 2 summary this scene, another short one, involves othello giving iago some papers to deliver to the senate while he examines the fortifications. In contemporary culture, othello has become known as the quintessential parable about the tragic effects of jealousy.
Themes are central to understanding othello as a play and identifying shakespeares social and political commentary. We understand their weaknesses and their strengths, their passions and their nobility. Othello centers around the timeless themes of racial prejudice, love, sexual jealousy, revenge, betrayal and eventual repentance and has been frequently adapted for film, theatre and opera, scroll down for a comprehensive list of literary essays that discuss shakespeares othello from various perspectives. Othello by william shakespeare summary, themes, and analysis. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in othello, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Othello and its major themes in william shakespeares play, othello, there are three major themes discussed.
Death is a part of every shakespearean tragedy, and othello is no exception. Shakespeares othello is a tragic tale of jealousy and deceit set in venice. Othello the moor of venice william shakespeare with related readings the emc masterpiece series access editions emcparadigm publishing st. Professor bradley greenburg of northeastern illinois university provides an indepth analysis of the plot, themes, characters, symbols, and motifs in william shakespeares play othello. After desdemona and emilia exit, iago goes to work on othello. Once the turks are drownedby natural rather than military mightothello is left without anything to do. It is written approximately in 1603 and was published in 1622, whereas the first performance of this play is in november 1604 wikipedia, chronology of shakespeares play. Themes checklist a theme is an issue or concern in the text which the writer is trying to explore. Othello and marks the beginning of his deterioration through jealousy. In the very first scene, roderigo and iago disparage othello in. Cassio, a lieutenant recently promoted by othello to the position iago had hoped for, arrives with an urgent message from the duke. Through its complexities and subtleties, shakespeare makes us care about the characters who people this story. Othello, like all of shakespeare s plays, particularly the tragedies, is complex and subtly nuanced. The third act of othello is his finest display, not of knowledge or passion separately, but of the two combined, of the knowledge of character with the expression of passion, of consummate art in the keeping up of appearances with the profound workings of nature, and the convulsive movements of uncontroulable agony, of the power of inflicting.
Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Brabantio, a venetian senator, father to desdemona. Othello by william shakespeare directed by joe dowling the guthrie lab production of othello is sponsored by american express, the national endowment for the arts and target. Desdemona and othello make up, and othello repeats his great love for her.
Iago is a character who owns tragic flaws, and is responsible for othellos demise. Jun 14, 2018 in shakespeares othello, iago plots othellos destruction when he is passed over for a promotion. One of shakespeares more famous plays, othello is a classic tragedy featuring love, jealousy, and ultimately, death. Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. The 2004 national tour of othello is sponsored by shakespeare in american communities, a national theater touring initiative sponsored by. She is the noblest and most unselfish character in the play. The main themes of othello are the differences between appearances and reality, the destructiveness of jealousy, and the importance of honor and reputation appearances and. Read a character analysis of othello, plot summary, and important quotes. Iago tells othello that desdemona has been unfaithful to him and provides circumstantial evidence for this. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of othello and what it means.
In othello, the major themes reflect the values and the motivations of characters. In othello, love is a force that overcomes large obstacles and is. Throughout the play, othello, a moor, is seen as an outsider. Iago tells othello that desdemona has been unfaithful to. The two couplesothello and desdemona, iago and emiliahave very different relationships.
Mar 07, 2020 an analysis of the main themes in othello relationships can be painful. They decide to wake up senator brabantio with the news that his daughter, desdemona, has secretly married othello, the general of the venetian army and a moor. Othello is the most famous literary work that focuses on the dangers of jealousy. Othello 1995 film study guide contains a biography of director oliver parker, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Should be used with other approaches to enhance them and to give clues to unlocking themes and symbolic meanings. Trust and betrayal are features of nearly every relationship in othello. In this thesis i will analyze the text of othello and the motivations of its characters, explore some of the more prominent themes of the show. The story of an african general in the venetian army who is tricked into suspecting his wife of adultery, othello is a tragedy of sexual jealousy. Othello wins desdemona with his stories of adventure, and his love is centered on her pity and attention. Through the first few acts, othello seems strong, noble and boastful, but this swiftly changes when iago puts his plan into action.
The play othello is a story of a soldier who is an honorable and principled army general who encountered much military success, but due to errors in judgment and status as an outsider in the venetian society, destroys his most cherished relationship and himself. Roderigo are meeting to discuss their hatred of othello. In contrast, iago and emilias relationship is plagued by mistrust and misogyny. Daughter of brabantio, wife of othello, and victim of iagos machinations and othellos jealousy. Othellos assistance is needed to thwart a turkish invasion of the venetiancontrolled isle of cyprus. The following analysis reveals a comprehensive look at the storyform for othello.
Iago hates othello because he promoted cassio to lieutenant over iago, and roderigo is a heartbroken, failed suitor of desdemonas. Major themes in othello by english bazinet on prezi. Prejudice the most prominent form of prejudice on display in othello is racial prejudice. This study aims at investigating the psychological approach and translation analysis of the novel genre. For best practices, see our article with specific lesson plan steps on setting up your classroom and activities to teach themes, symbols, and motifs. In othello, love is a force that overcomes large obstacles and is tripped up by small ones. Shakespeare, explores the timelessness of shakespeares themes, as well as the pros and cons of. Title a teachers guide for the merchant of venice and othello. By making othello feel the torments of jealousy towards desdemona and her supposed lover, iago causes othello to suffer as much as he does. Othello is manipulated by the truly evil and duplicitous iago who has so few redeeming qualities. Iago knows, perhaps from his own experience, that jealousy is a form of psychological torture which will constantly torment othello. Iago, encouraging cassio to seek desdemonas assistance in returning to othellos favor, begins slowly poisoning othellos mind by making him think that desdemona is illicitly involved with cassio.
May, 20 othello predicates his success in love on his success as a soldier, wooing desdemona with tales of his military travels and battles. There is trouble with the turks in sio arrived with a cyprus. In this lesson, we will explore some of the plays strongest themes. Good signior you have i will be glad this is true, brabantio, this taken away my to talk to signior.
The villainous iago plans and executes his elaborate revenge on othello. Explore the different themes within william shakespeares tragic play, othello. A summary of themes in william shakespeares othello. Othello study guide contains a biography of william shakespeare, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. This is one of the most haunting and memorable lines of shakespeares othello. Iagos primary tactic in bringing othello to ruin is to sow seeds of distrust in the generals mind. Iagoagreestoquestioncassioaboutdesdemona whileothelloobservesfromadistance. Whether it is othellos relationship with desdemona, iagos with emilia or cassios with bianca, personal relationships can be badly complex and painful and thats what shakespeare seems bent on proving. The play is a study of how jealousy can be fueled by mere circumstantial evidence and can destroy lives. A study of contrast between english and persian translation mahzad mardiha sheikhbahaei university, iran email.
First performed around 1604, the play is also a pioneering exploration of racial prejudice. Iagos accusations of desdemona and cassios affair affect othello severely and. The main themes of othello revolve around the issue of love, jealousy, fidelity and also pride. Desdemona assures cassio that she will help him regain his position. The play opens in the grandeur style of military romance. Act 3, scene 2 analysis the main effect of this scene is to get othello out of the way so that cassio can be alone with desdemona. Get the entire othello litchart as a printable pdf. Feigning friendship and concern, iago warns othello of brabantios reaction. Othello literary analysis essay example graduateway.