Title: The Tragedy of Othello
Author: William Shakespeare
Publisher: Fingerprint Classics
Genre: Romance and Drama
Year of Publication: 1883
“Let heaven and men and devils, let them all, All, all, cry shame
against me, yet I’ll speak. I kissed thee ere I killed thee: no way
but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.”
About Novel
The Tragedy of Othello is a play written by William Shakespeare and is widely considered to be one of his greatest works. It was first published in 1622 and is categorized as a tragedy.
The play is set in Venice and Cyprus and is a depiction of the life of Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army who is driven to murder his wife after being manipulated by his friend and confidante. The play explores various themes and is known for its complex characters and intricate plot.
The play is set in a time period when racial prejudice was prevalent, and Shakespeare uses this to explore the issue of racism in society. Othello’s race and status as an outsider make him vulnerable to manipulation and betrayal, which ultimately leads to his tragic downfall. The play also explores the themes of love and loyalty, as Othello’s relationship with his wife, Desdemona, is central to the plot.
The play features a range of memorable characters, including Othello, Desdemona, Iago, Cassio, and Emilia. Each character has their own motivations and desires, and their actions drive the plot of the play forward.
Themes of The Tragedy Of Othello
Jealousy: Jealousy is at the center of the play, from the first scene Iago comes off as a jealous character, he is jealous that Cassio is promoted to lieutenant. His hatred for Othello also comes from the apparent jealousy, he believes the rumors of Othello having slept with Emilia, Cassio’s wife, even with no proof of infidelity he decides to punish Othello: “But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety.” (1.3, Shakespeare) Iago also uses Roderigo’s jealousy of Othello to his advantage.
Deception and Treachery: Othello falls prey to the treacherous plots of Iago, being totally deceived by him. He refers to Iago as “honest” several times implying that he was totally blind to the way Iago is tricking him.
Because he is honest and straightforward, Othello becomes vulnerable to Iago’s schemes, and Iago is well aware of this fact as he states: “the Moor is of a free will and open nature/That thinks men honest that but seem to be so, and will as tenderly be led by the nose/ As asses are”(1.3, Shakespeare).
While Othello believes in Iago blindly, he is convinced that his wife Desdemona is deceiving him, ultimately his inability to identify who is deceiving him and who is not he acts rashly and it makes him lead to violence and tragedy.
Cassio too was under the impression for the major part of the play that Iago wanted to help him in regaining the trust of Othello, whereas Iago was deceiving him too by instigating the Moor against him behind his back.
Reputation: “Reputation, reputation, reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial.” (2.3, Shakespeare) says Cassio, after Iago plots against him by taking advantage of his drinking problem and Othello under false pretenses removes him from the post of lieutenant.
Cassio believes that reputation is what makes us humans, and having lost this virtue, he was shattered. Iago tries to reassure Cassio that his reputation isn’t as important as he thinks it is, and that he hasn’t lost it unless he believes the same only to further his evil plots.
Racial Prejudice: Othello is referred to as the “Moor” a term used in this period to refer to either people of African descent, Muslim religion, or both. In the very first scene, Iago and Roderigo use explicitly racial terms to refer to him like calling him “old black ram”, “barbary horse” and “thick lips”.
Brabantio is also aggrieved that his daughter married an “outsider”. Even Othello has internalized these prejudices and often describes himself in similar racial terms. Shakespeare depicts a society in which characters’ perceptions and treatment are influenced by racist behavior.
He uses the character of Othello to explore the issue of racial prejudice and its impact on individuals and society as a whole.
Womanhood: A strong current of misogyny flows through Othello, and Iago serves as a mouthpiece for misogyny in the play. He repeatedly uses derogatory terms for Desdemona, he firmly believes that women are untrustworthy and sexually deviant.
“They are all stomachs, and we all but food; they eat us hungrily, and when they are full/ they belch us.” (3.4, Shakespeare), Emilia states the way that men treat women, this is an accurate metaphor for her relationship with her husband Iago, and also for Bianca and Cassio. Women in ‘Othello’ are all mistreated and face misogyny from the men in their lives.
Love and loyalty: The play also explores the themes of love and loyalty. Othello’s relationship with his wife, Desdemona, is central to the plot, and the play raises questions about the nature of their love and the extent to which they are loyal to each other.
The play also explores the loyalty of the other characters, including Cassio and Emilia, and the impact that their loyalty (or lack of it) has on the outcome of the play.
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Characters of The Tragedy Of Othello
Othello: Othello is the Moorish general in the Venetian army and the play’s tragic hero. He is confident and respected in his public life but is plagued by insecurity and doubt in his personal life.
He is deeply in love with his wife, Desdemona, but is easily manipulated by Iago into believing that she is unfaithful. Othello’s tragic flaw is his susceptibility to the lies and manipulations of others, which ultimately leads him to doubt and kill the woman he loves.
Iago: Iago is Othello’s ensign and the play’s villain. He is a manipulative and deceitful character who is jealous of Othello’s success and resentful of his relationship with Desdemona.
Iago sets out to undermine Othello’s confidence in his wife by planting false evidence of her infidelity and ultimately leading Othello to kill her in a fit of jealousy. Iago’s true motivations are never fully revealed, but his character is a masterful study of villainy and deception.
Desdemona: Desdemona is Othello’s wife and the play’s tragic heroine. She is a loyal and faithful character who loves her husband deeply but is falsely accused of infidelity by Iago.
Despite her innocence, Othello’s doubts and jealousy lead him to ultimately kill her. Desdemona’s character is a complex exploration of love, loyalty, and innocence, and her tragic fate is a poignant commentary on the destructive power of jealousy and suspicion.
Cassio: Cassio is a lieutenant in the Venetian army and a trusted friend of Othello. He is manipulated by Iago into unwittingly aiding his plan to undermine Othello’s confidence in Desdemona and is ultimately framed for her supposed infidelity.
Cassio’s character serves as a foil to Othello’s, as he is a more straightforward and honest character who is ultimately undone by the machinations of others.
Emilia: Emilia is Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s attendant. She is a loyal character who ultimately exposes her husband’s treachery and helps to reveal the truth about the events that led to Desdemona’s death. Emilia’s character serves as a contrast to Desdemona’s, as she is a more pragmatic and worldly character who is willing to speak her mind and confront injustice.
Roderigo: Roderigo is a jealous suitor of Desdemona who is deceived by Iago throughout the play. He loves Desdemona and is furious by the fact that she married Othello, but he accepts the fact that he can’t be with Desdemona now and tries to live with that truth.
That’s when Iago enters, he instigates him and gives him hope that he might still be able to be with Desdemona and starts treating him as a puppet, deceiving him on every step and finally even killing him, after he was no use to him.
These characters, along with several others, play a crucial role in the plot and themes of the play, and their interactions and relationships drive the story toward its tragic conclusion. Together, these characters drive the plot and themes of The Tragedy of Othello, and their complex interactions and relationships make the play a timeless masterpiece of literature.
Narrative Of The Tragedy Of Othello
Shakespeare’s writing style is characterized by his use of poetic language, rich imagery, and powerful emotions. It is written for characters to declaim rather than speak and contains many metaphors and conceits. “The Tragedy of Othello” is no exception, as it explores themes of jealousy, betrayal, love, and racism.
The play’s language is poetic and elevated, with characters delivering soliloquies and speeches that convey their innermost thoughts and emotions. It is written from the perspective of the antagonist, Iago. The descriptions of the characters and settings are vivid and detailed, painting a picture of the world in which the play is set.
Conclusion on The Tragedy Of Othello
“The Tragedy of Othello” is a deeply emotional play that evokes a range of feelings from the audience. The jealousy and insecurity of Othello, the scheming of Iago, and the innocence of Desdemona all elicit powerful emotional responses from the audience.
It can be compared to other Shakespearean tragedies such as “Hamlet,” “Macbeth,” and “King Lear” in terms of themes and characterizations. It can also be compared to other Renaissance works such as “The Faerie Queene” and “Doctor Faustus” in terms of its exploration of morality and consequences.
Additionally, it can be compared to contemporary works such as “Gone Girl” and “The Kite Runner” in terms of its themes and character-driven approach. The play’s language is poetic and elevated, with vivid descriptions and powerful emotions evoking a range of feelings from the audience.
I would recommend “The Tragedy of Othello” to readers who enjoy Shakespearean tragedies and are interested in exploring themes of jealousy, betrayal, love, and racism. The play’s poetic language, vivid descriptions, and powerful emotions make for a compelling and thought-provoking reading experience.
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Authored by Rachit Sharma, a 2nd year Student at National Law University Odisha.