Othello Character Analysis - 1555 Words

According to Smith, a barbarian’s inherent weakness lies in his linguistic capabilities, the very same capabilities Othello uses to win over Desdemona, and to defend himself during his trial in front of the duke. In Smith’s reading, Othello only reverts to his barbarian state when experiencing extreme pressure, as he lacks the other means to express the futility of what is felt, which results in violence. However, when a closer look is taken at what Othello knows about the culture he has tried to hard to assimilate to, it can be seen that Othello’s attempted restoration of his integrity after the news of his wife’s purported affair is littered with the notion of blood drawn in chivalric combat - blood drawn in combat that has been†¦show more content†¦The final actions in the play do not reveal Othello’s identity as truly barbaric, instead Othello’s character manifests the one solution that can alleviate the tension between static an d fluid identity. He uses violence and his multi-faceted understanding of the body to unify the all physical, social, and psychological aspects of identity. The true tragedy of Othello is that nothing can be more fragile than his self-constructed identity. His attempted rebirth and assimilation into Venetian society through and ideal of chivalry and heroism, is increasingly vulnerable the more his character achieves. The third act of the play brings with it the demise of his constructed identity, his nobility destroyed by rage and despair. Even after the murder of Desdemona there isn’t real cause for him to mourn the loss of his position as a soldier, because punishment for his actions has yet to be exacted. However, the collapse of the civil identity he has so carefully constructed is inseparable from the loss of the soldier identity he used to bolster it. Before Othello destroys any identity he has left with his suicide in the final act, he refers to himself in the third pe rson: â€Å"Where should Othello go?† as if â€Å"Othello† is a separate entity from the man who says these words. While T.S Eliot has identified Othello’s final speech as escapism, a more realistic reading canShow MoreRelated Character Analysis of Othello Essay1653 Words   |  7 PagesCharacter Analysis of Othello â€Å"Othello† is a tragedy and Othello is a tragic hero. Othello is a general in the service of Venice. He is good, courageous, brave and trustworthy. However he has some weaknesses such as insecurity; he is too open, naà ¯ve, and gullible, Iago plays on his weaknesses which brings about his downfall and he kills himself. This causes the suffering of innocent people like Desdemona, Emilia, Cassio and Roderigo. The audience also feel pity forRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Othello1235 Words   |  5 PagesOthello is not just about one tragedy but several tragedies of suffering and injustice. The play ends in fatalities and heartbreak from the consequences of jealousy and racism. Othello is a well-respected military man who does not let race stand in the way of earning his reputable status and attention of beautiful Desdemona. But, when the seed of jealous is planted, Othello becomes easily manipulated into believing false accusations because of his own personal insecurities. He becomes a menace toRead MoreOthello Character Analysis1076 Words   |  5 PagesThe Mediterranean Sea of Jealousy Harriet Williams delves into the waters of jealousy and deceit in Oliver Parker’s Othello. Adapting Shakespeare for the screen can be problematic, as Oliver Parker discovered with his 1995 directing debut, Othello. 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Othello by William Shakespeare is set in 16th century Renaissance Venice before transitioning to the island of Cyprus. It follows the relationship between the black Venetian general and â€Å"valiant Moor† Othello and his new wife Desdemona, the daughter of an important Venetian senator. Throughout the play, we encounter three main female characters; Cassio’s mistress Bianca, Othello’s wife Desdemona as well as her maid and Iago wifeRead MoreOthello Character Analysis905 Words   |  4 Pages1. Throughout the drama, â€Å"The Tragedy of Othello†, Iago successfully manipulates Cassio various times. In the writing, Shakespeare creates Iago’s plan to demote Cassio from being Othello’s lieutenant, the role Iago dreamt of, by tricking Cassio to get drunk so that he will raise chaos and result in Cassio being demoted. This worked out for Iago when Cassio accepts Iago’s encouraging words and began to drink heavily, this would result in Cas sio ultimately fighting and stabbing Montano in a drunkenRead MoreOthello Character Analysis1241 Words   |  5 PagesOthello, a play written in the setting of Venice City during a period of war between Venice and Turkey in the 16 century is one of the numerous William Shakespeare’s plays. Othello a middle-aged black moor who is also a general in the defense forces marries Desdemona, a white aristocratic lady against the wishes of her father. Their love, however, does not have the happily ever after ending due to the manipulations, deceptions, and scheming of Iago who is driven by revenge and selfish ambitions.Read MoreOthello Character Analysis Essay801 Words   |  4 Pages12/12/2017 A Character Analysis of Othello in William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Othello† The main character, Othello, in the Shakespearean play Othello, is a man of many strengths, but also a man of great weakness. The play is center around Othello’s downfall despite Shakespeare presenting him as a distinguished and respected soldier. He is also depicted as courageous and loving to his wife Desdemona. However, Othello starts to show his insecurities and weaknesses during the play. Indeed, Othello becomes a belligerentRead MoreOthello Character Analysis1378 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s play â€Å"Othello† like most of his plays is about the premature death of a character who may or may not be considered a tragic hero. Othello, the Moor of Venice, follows him, his wife Desdemona, Cassio, and the main protagonist Iago through a series of unfortunate events that are supposed to be about jealousy between coveting a boss’s wife and a job promotion. The story turns to Iago when he turns into a commanding force that dishevels every cha racter in the play. This is all doneRead MoreOthello Character Analysis863 Words   |  4 Pagesis being harmful or tending to harm. In the novel Othello, by Shakespeare, character Iago is presented as a villain who doesn’t respect moral beauty, nor the grand nobleness of the mighty souled Othello. Iago betrays Othello knowing how strong Othello’s trust is towards him. As you keep reading the novel you notice the cruelty Iago has for his wife Emilia and how his plan of getting Othello jealous caused the deaths of his own wife Emilia, Othello and Desdemona. Iago is a man full selfishness