Abstract This paper is a character analysis of Cassio, the representation of "good" in William Shakespeare's tragedy "Othello". This paper showsthat, regardless of Othello's suspicions of Cassio, Cassio's character still upheld his faith and respect for Othello.
Abstract This essay discusses how, in William Shakespeare's tragedy, "Othello", the characters of Iago, Desdemona, and Cassio shape the title character's actions.
Abstract This paper discusses how the characters in William Shakespeare's "Othello" are what really make the play come to life. It provides a brief summary of each of the main characters with a character analysis and a description of their contribution to the plot of the play. It shows how Othello is bold warrior and a good person, how Iago brings all of the evil and fallacy into the play, how Desdemona is young and innocent and how Cassio's character is vulnerable and easily manipulated.
From the Paper "The character of Desdemona is young and innocent. When she is wrongly accused of infidelity, her innocent response to his rage is "I never gave him cause!" (III.iv.155). Desdemona's innocent nature is highlighted in the play, through the contrast with the two other female characters, the cynical Emilia and Cassio's mistress, Bianca. These women are harsh and ugly, and make Desdemona seem all the more pure. Her love for Othello is a major part of her character. She permits his abuse of her, although it shakes her self-confidence. She is an obedient and devoted wife. She carries her love for Othello with her even as he strangles her to death."
Abstract This paper explains how Shakespeare uses the soliloquy in Act 2 ,Scene 3, lines 335-362, in "Othello" to demonstrate to the audience Iago's nature and to provide insight into his character. It shows how, in this scene, Iago reveals a devious plot that involves three other characters in the play with the intention on destroying two of them, Othello and Cassio. The third, Desdemona, is secondary, and her function for him is only as a vessel to carry his plan into action.
From the Paper "By content alone, one may deduce that Igao lacks strong character and a high moral value. It is difficult to believe that a character with a strong sense of morality would hatch such a plot, regardless of the circumstances that causes Iago's actions. We know that the circumstances that fuel his motivation certainly do not warrant this type of action by Igao. But for argument's sake, even if the circumstances were different and Iago was not fueled entirely by jealousy, his obvious lack of respect for the other characters? well being provides strong clues into understanding the type of character he is."
Abstract "Othello" by William Shakespeare is a play demonstrating that we all have strengths and weaknesses and that, while the best of us will focus on people's strengths, the worst of us will not only focus on their weaknesses, but use them in destructive ways. It discusses how, throughout the play, the weakness of jealousy directly or indirectly brings the destruction and downfall of all the major characters, including not only Othello and his bride Desdemona, but Iago, his wife Emilia, Roderigo, and Cassio.
From the Paper "Othello is particularly vulnerable because, being a Moor, he is somewhat an outsider (Weller, PAGE). He is accepted as a leader in society and as a great military man, but he is aware of his differences. He used them to charm those around him, wooing and winning the beautiful Desdemona and then defending her marriage to others, but the villain of the play, Iago, knows that it can be easy to cast doubt on an outsider, and he uses Othello's differences to his own perverted and personal advantage."
Abstract This paper discusses three women in William Shakespeare's "Othello" and their different relationships with the men they love. It looks at Desdemona and her adoration of Othello, at Emilia and her loyalty to the abominable Iago and finally at Bianca as the sensual mistress of Cassio. The paper describes the characters' love throughout the play and looks at the various outcomes of that love.
From the Paper "Cassio, Othello's lieutenant, is a young blade, the dashing, handsome man whom Iago admits has virtues that Iago cannot match. (V:i:18-20) In Bianca, he has a mistress rather than a wife, apparently a prostitute (IV:i:95-96), and while his actions suggest that he is reasonably fond of her (III:iv:167-78), he apparently does not intend to marry her (IV:i:116-117, 120-22, 124-26, 128-30), and while he will try to attend to her when he can (III:iv:176-77), he offers her no assurance that he will give her anything more than a handkerchief he has happened upon. (III:iv:186) When he gives this to her, she is jealous, that this is something from another woman, but there is a youthful innocence and exuberance in her remarks, not the burning rage of Othello's jealousy. (III,iv:178-81; IV:i:147-161) She becomes a tool in Iago's scheming, as he speaks of her to Cassio, while Othello believes that the conversation is about Desdemona. (IV:i:94-144) Although she ordinarily treats love as a mere commodity (Kernan), when she finds Cassio wounded, she seems genuinely concerned for him. (V:i:115-20) Iago turns his malice on her, suggesting she had a role in the attack, which is all Iago's doing. (V:i:85-86, 100-01, 104-10, 116) She recoils at the accusation, but can do little about it. (V:i:122-23)"
Tags: mistress, Iago, Cassio, adoration, character
Abstract This paper discusses how, in William Shakespeare's "Othello", Desdemona, Bianca, and Emilia, the three main female individuals, are shown in different lights through the usage of both uplifting and demeaning descriptions. It looks at how Desdemona's humble and benevolent character is contrasted greatly against the harsh words used by Othello to describe her, how Emilia's outgoing and outspoken personality is revealed when speaking to both Desdemona and Iago and how Bianca's allegiance to Cassio differs significantly from her darker hypocritical side. It also analyzes how all three female characters reflect their personas through their actions, displaying their emotional outpourings, opinions on controversial issues, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.
From the Paper "The main object of affection is Desdemona, the one woman who is known by all men as the wife of Othello. She is called by Othello "gentle" (I.I.28) as well as "gentle mistress" (I.3.205) by Brabantio. Cassio describes her as "a most exquisite lady" who is "most fresh and delicate creature" (2.3.20, 22-23). Desdemona displays her gentleness through her actions with her father and Othello. She attempts to be diplomatic and faithful to the people she most loves, especially when she is confronted by her father about Othello (I.3.208- 218). She is "bound" to her father "for life and education," showing how loyal and grateful she is towards to her father for raising her as a notable parent. Desdemona also believes that she should take the role that her mother once took by stating that she must upkeep the "duty" by "preferring you (Brabantio) before her father.""
Abstract This paper discusses jealousy as one of the central motives in William Shakespeare's play, "Othello." It discusses the jealousy between Iago and Cassio, the Moor and Cassio, as well as between Iago and the Moor. The paper shows how through Iago's deceitfulness, hatred and disloyalty, the tragedy of the play occurred. The paper suggests that if it had not been for Iago's unsympathetic sentiments and the jealousy, the play might have had a different ending.
From the Paper "Even though many blame the tragedy on Othello's gullibility, it is Iago's tricky and devious behavior that launched and triggered it. Since Othello profoundly trusted Iago, he hardly ever suspected any infidelity from him and that is proven throughout the whole script, in statements such as, "Honest Iago,/ My Desdemona must I leave to thee"(Act I, Scene III, 295). As a consequence, Iago took advantage of Othello's trust and kept revealing more of his forged love, which is proved in the play when Iago alleged that, " Though I do hate him as I do hell-pains,/Yet, for necessity of present life,/I must show out a flag and sign of love" (Act I, scene I, 154-156). It is the "flag and sign of love" which Iago revealed, that instigated Othello's gullibility, and if it wasn't for that advantage, Othello would've not fallen in Iago's trap. Unfortunately, the one closest to the heart is the greatest enemy; because it is him that knows the weakness of one's heart and mind. Iago was indeed very disloyal to his Moor, and deceitful by his behavior toward him."
Abstract This paper is a detailed look at the villain Iago from William Shakespeare's play, "Othello". The author discusses how Iago had no motive for acting in such an evil manner, or what his intentions truly were. The paper speculates that Iago was villainous purely for the pleasure of being evil.
From the Paper "One of the most important questions for any of us to try to understand in our lives is what makes some people good and others evil. We look to our own experiences for guidance, to the standards of any religion that we might follow, to our cultural and political leaders ? and to the realm of art. For surely one of the marks of the great artist is that he or she is able to encapsulate and articulate the important elements about the debate over what makes some people take the path of moral conduct while others become evil. William Shakespeare is one of those artists who has for four centuries helped us to clarify the nature of good and evil by presenting us with complex characters that allow us to understand human motivation."
Abstract An introduction and discussion of William Shakespeare's play, "Othello". The writer of the paper also discusses the concept of the tragic hero within the context of the play.
From the Paper "Othello is a tragic hero because he allows the actions of others to determine his own fate, and his own demise. This is one common definition of a tragic hero, especially in Shakespeare's works; the hero must die in the end. Othello certainly fits the definition here, because he falls on his sword in the end, after discovering that he murdered his wife without a shred of real evidence, she was never unfaithful."
Abstract This paper examines the various aspects of Iago's character in Shakespeare's play, "Othello". It focuses on his seemingly conflicting emotions and feelings for Othello and describes how his latent homosexuality leads him to cause the breakdown of Othello's marriage.
From the Paper "Many readers who have enjoyed Shakepeare's literary works credit the character Iago in Othello as his most wicked villain. His most intriguing characteristic is the fact that he does not really convince the reader on his true motives for creating the havoc he inspires in the play (http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/othello/canalysis.html, 2). His plethora of reasons for hating various characters in the play are too loud and muddled, one minute expressing his hatred for Othello, his irritation over his wife Emilia, his envy of Cassio, his desire for Desdemona, etc. This paper endeavours to provide another motivation that truly drives Iago to create havoc in the relationships between other characters. It is Iago's latent homosexuality, ultimately for Othello (http://www.geocities.com/corrinenefurness/othelloquestion3.htm, 3) yet also transferred to Cassio, which drives Iago to divide the marriage of Othello and Desdemona and distance any would-be rivals from Othello's confidence."
Abstract The paper shows that the story of the original sin was a vitally important one for Christians throughout history, and in the extensively Christian world for which William Shakespeare wrote, its absolute truth went unquestioned. The paper discusses how in many ways, the play "Othello" may be seen as a political, emotional, and tragic response to the same questions of knowledge, culpability and death that this creation myth inspires. It shows how the serpent, Iago, convinces the original and ideal man to rebel against god in search of knowledge that he ought not have, and which will only destroy him: Thus Othello falls from strength and purity to weakness, depravity, and death.
From the Paper "Act III, Scene III, is by far the most loaded and pivotal scene in the play. It is in this scene that Othello is truly seduced to take the forbidden fruit in his hand and to let that "green-eyed monster" of jealousy to run loose in his heart. Like a newly created creature, at the beginning of the seen he is a lighthearted 16 year old bridegroom. Certainly he has seen his share of the world, won battles and undergone dire straits, but he is still in many ways childlike and innocent. "
Abstract This paper examines Shakespeare's villain Iago in "Othello". The paper portrays Iago's different persona which are projected so skillfully, the central ones being of the villain and the arch-hypocrite. The paper illustrates the apparent identity crisis as Iago, who is supposedly the arch-villain of the play, spends a great deal of his time masquerading around as the honest, truthful, helping friend. The writer points out that Iago constructs his identity and his actions around the way others see him, which ultimately reveals his own insecurity about both his masculinity, and more importantly, his identity.
From the Paper "Shakespeare's main character, Othello, is the first to announce Iago's honesty, "my Ancient./A man he is of honesty and trust" (1.3. 281-82). Considering the fact that Othello and Iago have served together in various military campaigns, it tends to put "honesty" into the context of the ?soldier persona.? That is, Iago's reputation for truthfulness relies heavily on his blunt speaking as a soldier, moreover, that sort of tough realism that spills over into cynicism. In favor of this military complex creating Iago's ?honesty,? Michael Cassio points out, "He speaks home, madam; you may relish him more in the soldier than in the scholar" (2.1. 162-163). Cassio is implying that Iago's very mannerisms stem from his militaristic nature, not his scholarly views. He is not alone with this judgment, many of the other characters hold the same convictions against Iago. Montano demands of Iago to tell the truth in his report of Cassio's drunken behavior to Othello, warning that if "Thou dost deliver more or less than truth,/thou art no soldier" (2.3. 213-14). Iago himself uses these expectations to his own benefit, for when Othello forewarns that he will damn him if he is lying, Iago offers to resign his post, vagely protesting: God bu"y you: take mine office. O wretched fool, That lov"st to make thine honesty a vice! O monsterous world! Take note, take note, O world! To be direct and honest is not safe. (3.3. 373-76) Here, Iago insists that it is his vary nature to be honest, and that such exploitations of his so called ?soldier persona,? with its license both to speak bluntly and unmask underhanded dealings, is in fact an attack on his very values and virtues."
Abstract Explores the characteristcs of Desdemona, Bianca and Emilia and their status, roles and power within the largely male dominated society. The paper suggests that the male dominated society leads to, ultimately, all three women falling victims.
From the Paper "Othello by William Shakespeare is a play set in Venice at the height of it's powers. There are three significant female characters in the play, Desdemona, Bianca, and Emilia, who are representative of the female gender. Their characters within the play are presented as being victims of their gender, and victims of the male dominated society of the time. They are seen as victims in their treatment, their status and roles and their power within society, and in the ultimate death of two of the three female characters in the play."
Abstract This paper reviews Act IV of William Shakespeare's "Othello" which discusses and illustrates Othello's lapses from sanity to insanity. It examines how Othello's insanity is the result of jealousy, betrayal and rage and how Act IV of "Othello" provides two incriminating pieces of evidence that make Othello confirm Desdemona's betrayal and adultery. Because of the supposed betrayal of two individuals that he trusted most, Othello wasn't able to gain control of his anger, jealousy and embarrassment - he later fell into an epileptic seizure, a sign of both physical and mental instability of his state.
From the Paper "The first 'evidence' is the presence of handkerchief in Cassio's (in actuality, Bianca's) possession, while the second evidence is the conversation between Iago and Cassio that Othello had witnessed. Othello thought that the two men were talking about Desdemona, but in actuality, Cassio and Iago were talking about Bianca, to whom Cassio had relations with. With these two 'incriminating' evidence presented to Othello discreetly by the traitor Iago, Othello began raging about Desdemona's betrayal, about his hurt ego (although this is only implied), and the fact that Desdemona's treachery has to do with Othello's trusted man, Cassio."
