How Would You Present The Central Figure In Othello? Essay, Research Paper
My first impressions of the play as a whole were
that it was quite predictable and straightforward. As the play continues there
is a huge climax so, of course, I was expecting a really unexpected twist and
Iago to be discovered. Since Iago has created mistrust between most of the
characters you expect him to be caught out. As this happens, it just shows how
predictable the play is. The end is more realistic and this makes it much
sadder. By Othello killing himself I think that this means he could not justify
what he had done. Maybe he knew all along that she was not unfaithful, but it
is only after he killed her that he could admit it. He was a tragic hero and
the theme of justice. ????????? In
Act One Scene One I get the impression that Iago and Roderigo are scheming and
there is more to their characters than what first meets the eye. There was no
need for them to tell Brabantio about Othello and Desdemona?s marriage. The
rest of the play is really a result from this first scene. Act One Scene Two shows us
for the first time that Iago is two-faced. After telling Brabantio about
Othello and Desdemona, he goes to ?warn? Othello that Brabantio is coming and
lead him there unsuspectingly. ?Iago now presents himself as Othello?s
friend, will defend his honour, anxious for safety?now married to Desdemona?.
Quote from notes at the side of the play in ?Othello? book. In Scene Three I get the impression that the Duke
likes Othello because he is head of the army. When Iago talks of a new scheme
to get Desdemona to want Roderigo, we are once again reminded that he wants the
marriage broken. In Act Two Scene One we are
shown how Iago is still friendly with Desdemona although we know he is plotting
against her. He also creates trouble with Roderigo by suggesting that Desdemona
is in love with Cassio (Othello?s lieutenant). This suggestion leads to
Cassio?s humiliation in Scene Three. Leading on from Scene Two,
Scene Three is how Iage decides to see Cassio humiliated. Once again it is Iago
who creates all of the trouble. He gets both Roderigo and Cassio drunk and
before long a quarrel had begun. So, as usual, Iago runs to Othello and Cassio
is stripped of his title. ?Cassio, I love thee, But nevermore be officer of
mine.? This is exactly what Iago wanted, as he wished to take his place as
lieutenant. Iago has a soliloquy on stage and we hear his plan. ?And what?s
he then that says I play the villain, When this advice is free I give, and
honest, Probal to thinking, and the course to win the Moor again?? As he
assures Roderigo that it is all under control, we know he is working for
himself and if it helps Roderigo at all then it is just an added bonus. ????????? In
Act Three Scene One we se that Cassio wants to see Desdemona. He sent some
musicians to play for her. We are shown here that Cassio still likes Desdemona
although her husband stripped him of his title. Iago, again, creates trouble
for Desdemona by saying that he will enable Cassio to see her and he?ll keep
Othello out of the way. ????????? Scene
Three is where we see that Desdemona likes Cassio, but not in the same way. We
are told that she will try and get his position and friendship with Othello
back. ?Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do all my abilities in thy
behalf.? Iago causes Othello to suspect Desdemona of wanting Cassio rather
than himself. After Othello leaves, we see yet another part of Iago?s plan as
he pockets Desdemona?s handkerchief. With everything going Iago?s way, a
jealous Othello returns to the stage and Iago pretends that Cassio has
Desdemona?s handkerchief. Now Othello orders Iago to kill Cassio. ?Within
these three days let me hear thy say that Cassio?s not alive?. We get the
impression that everything is going Iago?s way. ?Now art thou my lieutenant?.
This is what Iago wanted to hear as this was one of his main aims ? to take
Cassio?s place as lieutenant. Already we are expecting Iago to be discovered.
This is because, in films and books the person who is in the wrong is usually
found out or someone has suspicions about them quite early on. In this play it
is not the case, no one suspects Iago until he admits everything in the final
scene. ????????? In
Act Three Scene Four Othello asks Desdemona for the handkerchief, but she wants
to talk about Cassio. This tells us that she does not know of Iago?s plan. To
Othello this would seem like she was avoiding one dangerous subject and trying
to talk about something even more risky. Othello would probably think that she
wanted to talk about Cassio and nothing else. We now know that Othello thinks
that there is something between Cassio and Desdemona, so he leaves. ?I pray,
talk me of Cassio.? The handkerchief!??
[Exit] Iago goes after Othello, so instantly the audience thinks that
another part of Iago?s plan will occur. We know that Iago?s plan is going well,
because Cassio finds the handkerchief in his room. ????????? In
Act Four Scene One we really get the impression that Iago will go to any
lengths to carry out his plans as he gets Othello really worked up. He makes
Othello so upset about Desdemona that he has a fit and passes out. This is
significant as Othello has had some sense of control up until this point. Now
he is passing out because of Iago. ?Iago continues to stir up the Moor?s
jealousy until the Mooris completely overwhelmed? Since Iago
and Cassio have a conversation about a woman, he assumes that they are talking
about Desdemona and this convinces him that she is guilty. ?Whilst Othello
listens, Iago jests with Cassio about the woman that is in love with him. The
woman, of course, is Bianca ? Othello assumes Desdemona is being referred to?.
????????? I get
the impression in Scene Two that Othello wants some more proof about Desdemona.
In this scene, Iago prepares setting Roderigo up to attack and kill Cassio.????????? Othello
married Desdemona because he loved her. This one action led to many of the
events in the play. At the start of the play their relationship was perfect.
Well not really perfect, but their relationship never has been. They had to run
away when they wished to get married and they did not even dare to tell
Brabantio of what they had done. A relationship can hardly be perfect when the
husband is accused of bewitching the wife. At first they were safe in Venice
but they move to Cyprus, which is very unpredictable. They did not know many
people there aside from their own men. Iago managed to create suspicion, worry,
anger, confusion and eventually hatred between them. Little by little we see
how he begins to control what happens and what they think. Othello?s main
mistake was trusting Iago. Whenever he listened to Iago, another discordant was
introduced. Iago manipulated Othello to such an extent that he knew what would
be the result of anything said. He monopolised Othello?s emotions and
manipulated his thoughts. He could control what Othello did without him
realising it. If he hadn?t had this skill then the play would never have turned
out the way it did. ????????? Iago
had such a power over Othello that he was unable to listen to advice. When
people tried to talk reason, Iago had already made Othello believe what they
were saying was untrue. When Emilia said that Desdemona had not committed
adultery, Iago had already made sure that Othello had overheard a conversation
convincing him that she had. Iago seemed to know what people were going to say
to Othello, and he made sure that Othello would not believe any of it. ?Yes,
you have seen Cassio and she together.??
But then I saw no harm?never a whisper.? ?Why, what art
thou??? Your wife, my lord; your true
and loyal wife.?? Heaven truly knows
that thou art false as hell.? How am I
false??? Ah, Desdemon! Away, away, away!?
Usually Othello would have listened to Desdemona, but Iago has convinced him to
the extent that he can not listen to reason.????????? His
relationship with Brabantio is not a particularly good one, especially since he
is Othello?s father-in-law. Before the play began thay had a very good
friendship. Something went wrong though, and we are never told what. This
creates great tension between them. This tension is made much greater when
Brabantio finds out about the marriage. After this we do not see much more of
him. We find out at the end of the play we learn that he is dead. Othello does not have a
relationship with Emilia as such, but she was good friends with Desdemona.
Later in the play she tries to give him advice, make him listen to reason and
protect her friend. Yet, being married to Iago she can?t avoid accidentally
helping him. Eg. When she found and gave the handkerchief to him. Cassio was Othello?s
lieutenant, but we do not really see any contact between them until he is stripped of his
title. There is indirect contact. For example, when Othello orders Iago to kill
Cassio. ? My friend is dead; ?Tis done at your request.? When Othello
thinks that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair Othello refuses to speak
to him. ????????? She
is blinded by her love for him enough to get married to him when she knows her
father hated him. We are never sure if Othello feels the same way about her.
There is no signal that he has very strong feelings for her, especially at the
end. How can you kill someone you truly love??
This is the two sides of passion, ?truly love? positive and ?kill?
negative. ?Oh Lord, Lord, Lord!??? He
smothers her?. Iago is trusted by Othello throughout the play. This turns
against him, but he does not know this. Iago uses this trust to subtly
over-power him. He is probably the cleverest person in the play. The way he
planned ahead and managed to please everyone while being truthful to
practically no one. He manages to appear helpful to Othello. Whenever there is
trouble he warns him. When Brabantio was coming, he ran to warn Othello. When
Cassio and Roderigo were fighting, he ran to inform Othello. This was so that
he could become one of Othello?s trusted friends and hopefully lead to him
becoming lieutenant. We are told this in the very first scene of the play.
However, it is almost unbelievable to imagine that he could get away with it. ????????? ????????? To
make any scene effective, it must be set in the right way.? For example; if Othello and Desdemona were
to have a private conversation, then it is no good them being on opposite sides
of the stage. They would need to be close on one side of the stage or in the
middle. Or if musicians had not been playing right under Desdemona?s window, then
it would not have been very good. They could have been playing on the street
and the audience would not have known that Cassio had sent them as he
desperately needed her to plea to Othello on his behalf. He wanted his title
back and he was prepared to send her musicians (to flatter her) then ask her to
plead with Othello to let him become lieutenant again. ????????? In
Act One Scene Two, we have the conflict of Othello and Brabantio over
Desdemona. This has to be set so that all the people, their torches and swords
are visible to the audience. Othello?s face must be seen especially when he
says, ?Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them?. We need
to see him for this line as it shows he is brave and quick minded. It tells us
that he can still joke in a tricky situation and that he is not particularly
afraid. This is his fighters? instinct. We also need to clearly see Brabantio?s
face for his reply, ?Oh foul thief! Where hast thou stowed my daughter?? ????????? ????????? In
conclusion I would say that ?Othello? was a very cleverly written play.
Although I did not fully appreciate it myself, I was impressed with the play. I
think that the way that Shakespeare managed to write a play in which there are
such contrasting characters is very clever. Especially as he really manages to
make us empathise with Desdemona who is trapped in the middle of Iago?s plans
without setting a foot wrong. ?????????
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