Othello and Identity - 1730 Words

Identity is a very key, important thematic issue in William Shakespeares tragic drama, Othello. Identity, or what may be better explained as a characters public perception, is highly valued in the Elizabethan Age in which Othello is set. There is a varying range between the characters in the extent that how they are perceived in public is not how they behave in private or how they really are, thus creating more than one identity per character. A characters identity is the overall essence of that character, however, in plays such as Shakespeares there must always be an element of tragic flaw to the play thus creating conflict. In Othello, conflict ultimately arises through the plotting and scheming of one central, manipulative†¦show more content†¦It is here that the audience begins seeing a different identity of Othello. Who was once regarded as so valiant and courageous, was now beginning to show signs of severe insecurities dealing with matters, most importantly, such as his lack of experience in love and marriage causing shadows of doubt over his confidence in himself and his ability to be loved by and worthy of someone like Desdemona. Desdemona, although not intentionally, seems to be the reason for all the unrest in Othello. This is an instance in the play when irony shines its smiling face upon Shakespeares most tragic characters. Othello feels truly happy with the presence of Desdemona in his life (Act II.1, 181-187): It gives me wonder great as my content To see you here before me. O! my souls joy, If after every tempest come such calms, May the winds blow till they have wakened death And let the laboring bark climb hills of seas, Olympus- high, and duck again as low As hells from heaven! If it were now tow to die, ‘Twere now to be most happy; And yet he also feels severe discontent with this same presence and feels that this love and triumph in his life is too good to be true and as all things too good to be true, cannot last, But I do love thee, and when I love thee not,/ Chaos is come again (Act III.3,Show MoreRelatedIagos Description And Identity In Othello1932 Words   |  8 PagesShakespeare’s most infamous villains, uses this line to warn Othello of the dangers of jealousy, although it is later revealed that Iago is the most jealous character in the play. Is Iago’s description of the green-eyed monster only a symbol? How real can it become to those who become too obsessed with it? How does this fit together with race? I aim to answer these questions by examining the relationship between William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello and Kwame Anthony Appiah’s definitions of ascription andRead MoreOthello Tragic Flaw1643 Words   |  7 PagesOthello’s Own Faults In Shakespeare’s Othello, Othello is a highly acclaimed general and because of his many achievements he has transcended stereotypes projected upon Moors in Venetian society. Desdemona and the nature of her affair, although it is false, is considered to be the root cause of Othello’s downfall and violent demise. Othello feels anxious about the racist nature engrained in Venetian society and eventually projects this manner upon his identity. The differences gave to his rise of paranoiaRead MoreOthello Character Analysis1555 Words   |  7 Pagesinherent 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 seenRead MoreAnalysis Of The Play Othello 1119 Words   |  5 Pagesplay â€Å"Othello†, by William Shakespeare and film adaption by Oliver parker explores the idea of how an individual’s sense of identity affects their actions and how this can be manipulated to create conflict. Shakespeare uses techniques such as soliloquies, dramatic irony, imagery, foreshadowing, and symbolism to show us how tragedy occurs from counteracting to patriarchal rules and stereotypes. Identity is a very key, important thematic issue in William Shakespeare s tragic play, â€Å"Othello†. IdentityRead MoreA Postcolonialist Analysis of the Tragedy of Othello849 Words   |  4 PagesPostcolonialist Analysis of the Tragedy of Othello Syllabus 1. Introduction Different people have different opinions towards the tragedy of Othello. Personally, I am deeply impressed by the racial bias in this tragedy; therefore I try to analyze it from the view of postcolonialism. As you know, the tragedy of Othello has a close relation with Othello’s blackness identity. In the play, the viperous Iago makes full use of Othello’s special Moor identity, which is different from the dominantRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare1709 Words   |  7 Pagescharacter Othello is a unique character in English literature, because unlike the other members of society, Othello is an outsider in Venice. He is a black man living in a white world, married to a white woman, and a leader of white men in battle. Othello is persuaded that his wife, Desdemona, is cheating on him, leading him to murder her. Some argue that because Othello was the typical black stereotype he killed Desdemona, but evidence suggests that Othello viewed his own racial identity as undesirableRead MoreHarlem Duet-Modern Play Essay1304 Words   |  6 Pagesaffects them on a regular and frequent basis. These external factors, such as a racist society, can be seen affecting and challengi ng Billie’s identity in the play. Due to this factor, Billie feels like she is constantly looked down upon and automatically is considered inferior by the society just because she is black, but this doesn’t weaken Billie’s identity, but further strengthens it. The quote in Act1 Scene 4, â€Å"I don’t have that...that luxury. When I go into a store, I always know when I’m beingRead MoreThe Power of Self-Destruction in Shakespeares Othello Essay802 Words   |  4 PagesOthello, the Moor of Venice published in 1622 by William Shakespeare, one of the greatest writers known in English literature. Othello has been said to be of the most touching and intimate of Shakespeare tragedies. The source of Othello comes from Girald Cirthio’s Tall of the Moor, considering the modification of a few details, this was a manifestation of Shakespeare’s ability to take a reputable story and elevate it into poetic tragedy (Cahn 106). Othello is the stor y of love, deception, and powerRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello And Othello Essay1282 Words   |  6 PagesOthello speaks to Iago in Act Three of the play saying, â€Å"certain, men should be what they seem† (3.3.131). This excerpt foreshadow events in which Othello will begin to question the actions and morality of Cassio and Desdemona, all orchestrated by Iago’s scheming nature. This is a very important concept to showcase because Othello devoutly loves Desdemona and trusts Cassio until conniving language from Iago causes him to think otherwise. Drawing on Shakespeare’s source story by Cinthio and otherRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare Essay1659 Words   |  7 PagesCritics have debated the significance of Othello’s race in terms of portraying his identity for a long time. The negative connotations of â€Å"blackness† have led to the creation of many racial constructs associated with the â€Å"Moor†; this denigration has inf used the opinions of many critics, such as Albert Gerard, proposing that Othello’s â€Å"negroid physiognomy† reaches down to the â€Å"deepest levels of personality† and that he is a â€Å"barbarian†. However, many other critics like Edward Berry and Martin Orkin