Themes in Othello Essays - 994 Words

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. Three themes critical to the play are doubt versus trust, monstrous imagery and the fallible love of man. One central theme of the play is the major contrast of doubt versus trust. For whatever reason, Othellos trust of Desdemona is too weak to resist Iagos accusations. As happens in many of Shakespeares works, miscommunication and mistrust lead to prepostrous conclusions (1. 3. 323). Othellos heart tells him that Desdemona loves him; however the critical Iago can dismantle Othellos trust in his wife by planting seeds doubt through what appears to†¦show more content†¦3. 241). Othello fails to see that honor cannot be subject to empirical proof. Shakespeares exploration of the concept of jealousy leads to the theme of the human minds predisposition to favor the monstrous. Monsters of the human psyche are self-generating, even without the prodding of an evil manipulator such as Iago. He feeds this compulsion by encouraging Othello to behold, in his minds eye, his wife being topped by Cassio (3. 3. 412). When jealousy is labeled as a monster in the play, it is used to suggest how one can be overtaken by a passion. Iago defines jealousy as the green-eyed monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on (3. 3. 179-80), a foul parasite that torments its host. When Emilia explains jealousy to be a monster begot upon itself, born on itself (3. 4. 157), she underscores its self-generating nature. Jealous souls do not need real events to fuel their suspicions because, Emilia explains, they are not ever jealous for the cause (3. 4. 154-55). When Cassio is demoted for drunkenness, he laments that humans transform ourselves into beasts through alcohol that also provides joy, pleasance, revel (2. 3. 257-58). And for Othello, consuming jealousy transforms him into a violent predator that performs the monstrous act, as Montano describes it, of murdering Desdemona (5. 2. 197). Iago serves as a catalyst to carry out this monstrousShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Jealousy In Othello962 Words   |  4 PagesShakespeare often has common themes throughout all of his poems which include love, death, and betrayal. When talking about Othello, all of these major themes are presented. Although, the major theme is jealousy. Throughout the play, jealousy is shown in each character in some way and drives the decisions that they make. The beginning starts with Rodrigo being covetous of Othello for being with Desdemona, and at the end where Othello is envious because he believes Desdemona is having an affair withRead MoreTheme Of Manipulation In Othello806 Words   |  4 Pagesstudents, Shakespeare’s great tragedy ‘Othello’ sparks an interest in the audience as it represents the destructive nature that manipulation, deception and jealousy has on personal relationships. Focusing on Act 1 Scene 1 we will explore the catalytic natures of manipulation, deception jealousy, as well as the overall significance the scene harbours as the crux of the play, representing many ideas foreshadowing of what is to come throughout the rest of ‘Othello’. Shakespeare sets the scene on theRead MoreTheme Of Manipulation In Othello939 Words   |  4 PagesIn the play Othello by William Shakespeare, revenge and manipulation plays a major role. The manipulator is Iago and the fool is Roderigo. 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With a total of fifteen lines, Bianca is indeed a minor part of the plot, however, her role in the play holds a certain significance that makes her one of the most impactful characters in the play. Bianca is introduced in the play with an encounter with Cassio, the manRead MoreTheme Of Manipulation In Othello1210 Words   |  5 Pages The play, Othello, written by William Shakespeare is full of betrayal, death, and manipulation. It is a tragic play which follows the theme Shakespeare carries throughout most of his plays. Othello is a play about love and death and everything in between. Eric Iliff summarizes, â€Å"Othello is essentially a play about human nature and its ability to turn against itself, and a man whose inability to obtain self-awareness drives him towards an evil act that destroys not only his earthly salvation, butRead MoreTheme Of Feminism In Othello1006 Words   |  5 Pagesa story’s message. Whether it be greed, lust, or betrayal, Shakespearean themes never cease to deliver a cacophony of chaos to the stage. Shakespeare’s Othello, however, carries a theme that ultimately leads to the demise of its secondary heroin, Emilia. Was Emilia’s feminism-forward outspokenness against Othello’s patriarchal society worth her paying the ultimate price? Yes. Emilia is the handmaiden to the wife of Othello, Desdemona, and the wife of the story’s antagonist, Iago. Emilia frequently