William
Shakespeare was born in April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. His father was a successful merchant and prominent
member of the community who later fell on hard times. Shakespeare
spent most of his working life, some twenty-five years, in London, as one of a
troupe of players called Lord Chamberlain’s Men. He was an actor and the company’s principal
playwright.
In Play Othello PLACE: Begins
in Venice and in the island of Cyprus thereafter. TIME: Late sixteenth century,
during the wars between Venice and Turkey. In this Play Major Characters like
as :
Othello – General in the
Venetian military
Desdemona – Othello's
wife; daughter of Brabantio
Iago – Othello's trusted,
but jealous and traitorous ensign
Michael Cassio – Othello's
loyal and most beloved lieutenant
Emilia – Iago's wife and
Desdemona's maidservant
Bianca – Cassio's lover
Brabantio – Venetian
senator and Desdemona's father
Roderigo – dissolute Venetian,
in love with Desdemona
Othello as Tragic Hero
1. The traditional tragic hero must be
extraordinary in rank and deed – “of high estate,” “great reputation and
prosperity.”
Othello
is a highly successful general in the Venetian army with many heroic adventures
in his past.
2. A Tragic Flaw – “Hamartia”
A tragic flaw is the personality
trait or fated mistake that leads to a tragic hero’s downfall. Iago identifies
Othello’s tragic flaw at the end of Act 1.Othello is gullible, a trait Iago
exploits as Othello “thinks men honest that but seem to be so.”
. Outside elements cooperate in the hero’s
fall.
First, consider the role of Iago
in Othello’s downfall. But consider
other forces that conspire against him: bad luck with the loss of the
handkerchief and Bianca’s arrival with the handkerchief, Desdemona’s naiveté,
and more.
How do Othello’s foreignness and
race, the importance of which is signaled by the title of the play, affect his
relationships with the other characters?
How does being a Moor in Venice affect his own confidence and sense of
security? How does Iago use Othello’s
foreignness in his plotting?
4. Recognition – “Anagnorisis”
Othello experiences recognition
or “anagnorisis,” as he not only learns the specific truth about his wife’s
good nature and Iago’s evil plotting, but he also learns about the complexity
of human nature, human emotion, and the world itself.
- Willingness to Suffer
Othello serves as his own judge,
jury, and executioner. Is he fair to
himself at the end of play? Does he
depict himself accurately in his self-delivered eulogy ?
The Most
vital role in this action of important that of plot mover.
The Handkerchief
•
Shakespeare employs dramatic irony with the
handkerchief, one of the most famous props in theatrical history.
•
The audience is well aware of what happens to
the handkerchief, the symbol of Othello’s love for and trust in Desdemona.
•
Consider the trail of the handkerchief:
─ Desdemona loses the handkerchief and Emilia finds it
─ Othello demands Desdemona produce the handkerchief
─ Cassio gives the handkerchief to Bianca
─ Iago keeps the handkerchief, “ocular proof,” in the forefront
of
Othello’s mind
─ Bianca enters with the handkerchief
─ Othello learns the truth about the handkerchief from Emilia
Contrasting Loves
At the beginning of the play, Othello and
Desdemona demonstrate a pure love, untouched by base impulses.
In contrast, the speeches of Roderigo, Iago,
Emilia, and Bianca consider love in sexual terms, not as a spiritual
union. Iago has numerous references to
bestial sexuality – see Act 1.1, when he informs Brabantio of Desdemona’s
elopement.
What are the
implications of the corruption of Othello and Desdemona’s love? Why was it so difficult for their love to
survive?
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