Lodovico as Moral Commentator

Paper Summary:

The paper illustrates how Lodovico defines the immorality and cruelty in Othello's behaviors that will eventually end in his tragic death. The paper explains that Lodovico as a marginal character is written into the play by Shakespeare to help the reader realize the gravity of Othello's actions and the inevitable tragedy that surrounds the deceptions of Iago.

From the Paper:

"Lodovico's role as moral commentator on Othello's behaviors brings insights into the tragedy of the play, which many of the other characters are too self-involved to perceive. In latter parts of the play, Othello's increasingly violent behaviors are clearly noticed when he strikes Desdemona: "Is this the noble Moor whom our full Senate/Call all in all sufficient?" (IV, i., ll.2712-2713). This increasingly potent sense of volatility on the part of Othello is clearly defined by Lodovico, who can see the immorality of this action against a woman. Shakespeare portrays Lodovico as a moral gauge that allows the audience to realize the effects of Othello's behavior through an external source (Bloom 45)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Barthelemy, Anthony. Critical Essays on Shakespeare's Othello. New York: MacMillan Library Reference, 1994.
• Bloom, Harold. Othello. New York: Chelsea House Publications, 1990.
• Cunningham, James. Shakespeare's Tragedies and Modern Critical Theory. Madison, Jew Jersey: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1997.
• Kolin, Philip. Othello: New Critical Essays. New York: Taylor and Francis Inc., 2001.
• Shakespeare, William. "Othello." 2006. Open Source Shakespeare. 21 February, 2007. <http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/views/plays/playmenu.php?WorkID=othello>

More papers on Lodovico as Moral Commentator:

• Creative Essay # 132421 : "Medical Care as Moral Ideal"
• Essay # 137292 : "John Mackie's Argument for Queerness & Railton's Moral Realism."
• Research Paper # 97434 : "Moral Development"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: