Class as a dominant feature in Othello, utilises the hierarchal structure of Venetian society at the time of the play’s setting, providing a rigid framework within the play to explore cultural and societal values. At the time of Shakespeare writing Othello (1604), England was experiencing political and social unrest as a result of tensions between the monarchy and land owners. There was widespread poverty with the average man not having the right to vote and women possessing no rights at all.1 Shakespeare appropriated the existent political climate and contextualises the piece within an exotic and similarly hierarchal setting. Othello, to the everyman, represents a rare glimpse into the upper echelons of a society in which he has not been born…
Aristotelian is referring to the Greek philosopher Aristotle or his philosophy (Webster Online Dictionary). According to Dunn (2006), Aristotle was born in 384 B.C.E. in Stagira. After his father’s death, Aristotle spent 20 years in Athens attending and teaching at Plato’s Academy. Plato and Aristotle highly respected each other; however, they often debated many beliefs and theories (Dunn, 2006). Dunn (2006) also noted, Aristotle traveled back to Athens and opened his own school when he was 49, called the Lyceum, writing and teaching his philosophy (Dunn, 2006).…
To really understand a piece of literature is to know the cultural and contextual elements of it. Particularly in this case, with a book like Othello, it is important to be able to clearly understand background details. To begin with, place and time had a significant sized part in the work. The beliefs and culture from back in the time period of Othello completely differ from nowadays. This makes it so much more interesting to look into and read.…
The play that I have done my examination on is a Greek disaster composed by the William Shakespeare, Othello. To give a brief foundation of the play, Othello goes into a story of a Black Male by the name of Othello who was a general in the Venetian Army. He furtively weds the King Brabantio's little girl, Desdemona, who is Caucasian, accordingly making pressures inside the kingdom. Iago who is to some degree a colleague to Othello gets to know him, yet just out of envy from Othello position in the Army. Iago envy drives him to attempt and damage Othello by any methods conceivable and sees fit.…
A telltale sign of a good story is when one can identify and relate with the characters. Shakespeare is known as one of the absolute best at creating flawed characters that are still worth caring for. It’s difficult to connect with real people and fictional characters alike when they present themselves as flawless, because human beings aren’t perfect and they relate and bond over these imperfections. One of Shakespeare’s greatest yet most troubled characters is Othello; a courageous man, blind to his own detriments,who that has worked for everything he has despite imposing circumstances. Othello is an extremely complex individual whose personality traits coincide remarkably well with those of world-renowned rapper and fashion designer Kanye…
Greed and jealousy can be effortlessly used to manipulate mankind and the decisions that are made. In Othello “Act V” by William Shakespeare the theme lectures about emotions, and at times, the free will of others that can be morphed to fit the needs of the antagonists. The manipulation of one’s perception can be warped and twisted to compensate for the truth and to suit the needs of the antagonists. William Shakespeare creates a detailed description of the misrepresentation through a characters usage of dialog.…
Aristotle believes that a tradgey is a way to exclusively promote political agenda and not just a drama in a public art form, this is a ploy that allows ploitical agends to idolize and celebrate heroes who consider themselves to be nobles. Audience members relfection on the plays and makes them think of their own family values traditions, and make them hold onto their cultural idology. Aristotle preceives that Otherllo who is the protaganist has to fall from power and lose his happiness. The drama of it unfolds is displayed when the King takes away Othello’s command while he was in Cyprus.…
Shakespeare’s introduction of the characters allows him to communicate Othello’s calm and composed state of mind as a result of his balanced trust between Desdemona and Iago. Through Othello’s rationale behind loving Desdemona, Shakespeare displays the resulting strong bond of trust between the two and its impact upon Othello’s mental state. Amidst the controversial announcement of Othello and Desdemona’s marriage, Othello declares that “[Desdemona loves] me for the dangers I [have] passed,/And I [love] her for that she [does] pity them” (1.3.166-167). Here, Othello asserts that he loves, and in extension trusts, Desdemona because of her ability to support and validate him. This history of loyalty and ‘pity’ refers to the basis of Othello’s…
The impact of the Silk Road upon European and Asian civilizations was immense. Resulting in cultural diffusion on a massive scale the Silk Road provided a conduit for the migration of foreign ideals, philosophies, and religions. Along with this wealth of information came the silk and spice trades, the founding products that led to the original creation and prosperity of the Silk Road. Together these two basic principles of wealth and a lust for knowledge drove the forces that changed European and Asian civilization forever. Geography Coined through the observations of the German geographer Ferdinand von Richtofen, the Silk Road was a series of trade routes stretching from the Mediterranean and the empires of Western Europe to Eastern civilization…
Iago is shown to have a good reputation, an honest and loyal man to Othello and the society, but that does not mean it is the reality. Othello believes Iago without knowing his true nature and refers to others "Iago is most honest," (2.3.7). Iago is shown to be trustworthy in the past because he has not deceived anyone, and proved his loalty to Othello with several years of service for him. Also being the reason why Othello believes in him. Since Iago has a good reputation and is respected by most, Othello can easily finds Iago trustworthy and believes Iago tells him.…
Sarah Waters, British author of Tipping the Velvet once said, “Respect your characters, even the minor ones. In art, as in life, everyone is the hero of their own particular story; it is worth thinking about what your minor characters’ stories are, even though they may intersect only slightly with your protagonist’s.” Minor characters are often considered insignificant to the plot of a novel. They are frequently overlooked; yet inevitably hold an unrecognized importance, even if their actions are not willful in their nature. Minor characters in Shakespeare’s Othello, such as Emilia, Roderigo and Cassio are a large factor in the plot’s advancement.…
Marcus Kopp Mr. Vetter AP English Literature October 16, 2015 The setting of Othello is crucial for the reader to better understand when the play is in a state of order or chaos. The play Othello takes place in both Venice, Italy and an island right off of Italy called Cyprus. In Venice, Italy, the play is set to be a city where everything in the play is ordered and when the play is set on the island of Cyprus, it is said that the play is in a chaotic state. William Shakespeare’s 1604 poem “Othello” demonstrates how Shakespeare uses the conventional poetic form to show how the main character, Iago’s villainy and how it enhanced his work.…
The Romans need the trade route in order to get their precious silk while China could have needed it for the fabrics from India. Now that we have seen the items that would be traded on the Silk Road it is time to go deeper into why the route was more benefits beyond trade. (Items and Products of…
The play “Merchant of Venice” by William Shakespeare, takes place in 16th century Venice and talks about the brief encounter between a merchant called Antonio and a Jewish moneylender, by the name of Shylock. The play is filled with different kinds of ethical, national and gender encounters, but the biggest problem is the religious issue between Christians and Jews. The Jewish people were classified as outcasts from Christian beliefs and also treated inhumane. Anti-Semitism is a reoccurring issue that appears throughout the Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice” play. The problem starts when Bassanio, Antonio’s friend that needed money to impress Portia who was known as the heiress of her dead father’s money.…
How and to what extent does Shakespeare create sympathy for the character of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice? In the Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare depicts Shylock as a complicated character whom is easy detest due to his headstrong, money-hungry and vengeful nature. However, there are many instances in which sympathy for Shylock is generated, especially when he is pushed around and abused by the Christians and when he deals with losing his daughter. Shakespeare gives an insight into all these aspects of Shylock’s character through the exploration of the themes of social injustice and revenge, the motifs of the law and gold and the relationship between Shylock and Jessica.…