Abstract This paper compares and contrasts two WilliamShakespeare plays: "Antony and Cleopatra" and "Romeo and Juliet." It provides biographical details of Shakespeare's life. It also looks at the common themes of political and romantic issues in the two plays, the lyrical poetry of both plays and the different appeal of both plays.
Tags:WilliamShakespeare, plays, Antony and Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet
Abstract This paper discusses the submissive victim role played by Desdemona in 'Othello' by WilliamShakespeare, and how it is the central aspect of Othello's demise. She is privately inquisitive as to why Othello is angered at her, but she cannot properly stand up to her husband and fend off the allegations set against her by Iago. This provides the various episodes of jealousy and rage that will culminate in the destruction of their marriage.
From the Paper "In this drama study, the character Desdemona in Othello by William Shakespeare will be analyzed for her various submissive roles as the wife of Othello. In many ways, she does portray a victim role, as she is clearly unaware of the seriously necessity to confront her husband. Although she is at once penetrating in her thoughts about her husband inwardly, she does not publicly surmise the danger of her husband's anger throughout much of the play. In essence, Desdemona is a submissive victim role character that cannot reveal the plot set against her by the vicious Iago. "
Abstract This paper reviews WilliamShakespeare's tragic play, "Othello" through character analysis and descriptions of the play. The paper is a lively summary of the play, spiced with quotes from the theatrical play.
From the Paper "William Shakespeare's tragic play, Othello, pits an outsider ? Othello, a Muslim, black, war hero ? against a villainous, cunning European, Iago. The play opens in Venice, a city of law, order and high culture, with the recent marriage of Othello to Desdemona, a beautiful, white, European woman. Their marriage has stirred controversy in Venetian society, for it was both uncommon and somewhat scandalous for a white woman to marry a black man. Iago, the antagonist of the tragedy, jarred by the recent advancement of Cassio to lieutenant, a position that he believed rightfully belonged to himself, determines to destroy Othello's marriage and wreak havoc on his life. However, the setting transforms quickly to the island of Cyprus where Othello is newly stationed, placing him out of his secure environment and aligning him for Iago's successful manipulation of his marriage. "
Tags:othello, william, shakespeare, character, analysis, theatre, english, tragic, literature
Abstract This drama study historically critiques the theme of political corruption as it evolves in the play, "The Tempest", by WilliamShakespeare. The paper analyzes the various characters of this play to illustrate how the struggle for power is complex and that power and greed are the basis of corruption. The paper also points out that ,although Prospero dissolves the aggression set against him in the play, Shakespeare uses "The Tempest" to reveal a commentary on political intrigue and corruption that reflects the historical Elizabethan monarchal class system and the politics of Shakespeare's times.
Abstract This paper reviews the play 'Twelfth Night' by WilliamShakespeare with a special focus on the relationship between the characters Cesario, or Viola in disguise, and Maria, Lady Olivia's lady-in-waiting.
From the Paper "William Shakespeare's middle-period comedy, 'Twelfth Night', is one of several plays he wrote that deal with mistaken identity, gender, and facade. In the play, young Viola, a girl who has high social status by birth, is involved in a shipwreck and must survive in a new and strange world with only her wits and her wiles. Viola disguises herself as a boy, Cesario, and finds employment and shelter with a wealthy nobleman, Orsino. Finding herself falling for Orsino, Viola also finds that her new employer is smitten by a fellow member of the aristocracy, Lady Olivia, who in turn falls for "Cesario," who she does not realize is young Viola. One of the interesting relationships in this play is that found between Viola and Olivia's young lady-in-waiting, Maria."
Abstract This paper explain that the use of animal imagery in WilliamShakespeare's "Othello, the Moor of Venice" reflects the base instincts, which bring about the tragedy of the main character and his innocent wife. The author points out that negatively characterizing Othello as an animal might imply that he is as base and beastly as Iago, but his honor and nobility throughout the rest of Act I makes the reader doubt that Othello is the animal. The paper concludes that comparing the characters to animals suggests that the play is not about race, politics or social convention but rather about the predator and the prey, which is something deeper and more innate than the trappings of society. The paper includes several quotations.
From the Paper "The innocent and good Cassio is deceived into believing himself a beast because of the machinations of Iago. Knowing that Cassio cannot tolerate alcohol, Iago encourages him to get drunk and orchestrates a fight in which Cassio appears the violent aggressor. Such behavior, especially because it interrupts the marriage bed of Othello and Desdemona, is perceived negatively by Othello who dismisses Cassio from his service. Cassio then likens himself to an animal, disparaging the effect of alcohol that "put an enemy in their mouths ....transform ourselves into beasts!""
Abstract This paper discusses Othello's soliloquy from WilliamShakespeare's "The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice". This soliloquy is critical for framing the dramatic center of the play. Using the play as the primary text and beginning with a brief summary of what has happened up to this point, the paper presents a discussion of the critical third scene soliloquy of Othello. An analysis of the characters of both Othello and Iago follows logically into an explanation of Artistotle's catharsis, the emotional roots of the play.
From the Paper "We find that Iago, who has been scheming from the first Act of the work, turns his full powers upon Othello. From line thirty-four and following, we see Iago directly attack Othello's emotions, both to suggest that Cassio is up to no good with Othello's wife, and that she herself is succumbing to his charms as seducer. "Ha! I like not that!" Iago proclaims when he and Othello come upon Desdemona and Cassio speaking together (III.iii.34). The timing of events is very important in Act III. Iago anticipates and manipulates the other characters so skillfully that they seem to be acting simultaneously of their own free will and as Iago's puppets."
Abstract This paper reviews WilliamShakespeare's play "Othello". It examines how the theme of 'other-ness' and 'outsider-ness' that is evidenced by the ability of appearances to lie, rather than tell the truth, runs through the play, though it is most clearly embodied in the character of Othello himself. Othello is a Black man, a Moor, who is fundamentally "other" or perceived as alien by the society in which he dwells. It discusses how Shakespeare represents alienation as not just being evil in terms of blackness, but alienation in ?Othello? also means that a character is existing in a constant state of tension with his or her environment.
From the Paper "The idea that one can become a stranger to one's self permeates even to the lesser characters of the play (2.3) Othello is deeply disappointed when he sees Cassio, the man he promoted, brawling in the street. Cassio blames himself and wine for his loss of a position, for the wine making him a stranger to himself. Of course, it is Iago who has skillfully manipulated Cassio to drink to much wine. Iago tells his wife Emilia that he wants the handkerchief that Othello gave Desdemona, which she promised him she would never lose. Emilia obeys him, becoming duplicitous in her actions if not in her thoughts to the mistress she loves. "
Abstract This paper discusses jealousy as one of the central motives in WilliamShakespeare'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 One of the most popular characters to illustrate the theme of evil is Iago from WilliamShakespeare's play, "Othello". Iago is the definition of true evil genius. By observing his character and actions, this paper shows that we can understand his philosophy of life, which includes no regard for others. In fact, the more pain and destruction he can cause, the happier he seems to be. The paper shows that, through Iago, Shakespeare has painted the portrait of evil in human flesh.
From the Paper "Iago also demonstrates his capacity for evil when he tricks Othello. He uses what he knows about Othello against him. In fact, he can manipulate him so easily because he knows him so well. For example, he convinces Othello that he actually cares for him and that he is concerned about his future. He cautions him that being jealous might lead to ruin by telling him, "O, beware, my lord of jealousy!/It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock/The meat it feeds on" (III.iii.166-9)."
Abstract This paper suggests that, in WilliamShakespeare's "Othello", racial discrimination could have been the unconscious motivation in the plotting against Othello. The play was published around the time when people of color were just making their way into the British scene. The author points out that Othello is the only person or character of color in the cast. The paper also describes other key characters, Desdemona, Iago and Roderigo, and their interactions with Othello, which forms the core of the drama. The author emphasizes that Shakespeare's characters are very real and so true to human nature that, centuries later, they seem to represent mankind today.
From the Paper "As a product of her time and circumstances, Desdemona should be a typically and stereotypically weak and submissive daughter to Branbanzio and wife to Othello. She is the young and sexual daughter of a prominent Venetian citizen who falls for the marvels and tales of courage of Othello. Her comfortable life allows her to pursue a dream husband and also assert her independent will and influence over him when she wants to. Women in those days, as represented by Shakespeare's characters in this play, are subjugated to men."
Tags: blackamoors, racial epithets, power venetian tricks
Abstract This paper explains that Iago, from WilliamShakespeare's play, ?Othello,? is probably one of the best evil characters ever created. The author points out that he is an interesting case study because he is proud of his evilness and plans to use it to his utmost abilities to bring Othello down. The paper relates that another aspect about Iago's character that makes him so detestable is that he really has no reasonable excuse to hate Othello so much; he is not crazy, but rather is smart and clever, two characteristics that make him even more dangerous.
From the Paper "Another characteristic of Iago that is unforgettable is his cleverness throughout the entire play. Iago must know Othello well because he demonstrates that he knows just the right things to say to Othello to spur his anger and jealousy. Robert Heilman claims, ?Wit is Iago's instrument to compensate for what he does not have. He perversely hates and yet lusts after what he does not have . . . and he undertakes to disparage it, minimize it, debunk it, and destroy it.? Once he knows what it is he wants to do, he has no trouble achieving his goal. Critic Harold Bloom states that Iago's ruination of Othello is in some ways too subtle for criticism to paraphrase. Iago suggests Desdemona's infidelity by at first not suggesting it, but hovering near and around it.? This is all too true."
An analysis of the character flaws that lead to calamitous falls of Othello and Oedipus in Sophocles' "Oedipus the King" and WilliamShakespeare's"Othello".
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 2 sources, 2006, $ 44.95
Abstract This paper discusses Oedipus's and Othello's character flaws or weakness in the two plays, Sophocles' "Oedipus the King" and WilliamShakespeare's"Othello". The paper describes the two plays as classic dramatic tragedies, in the sense that the audience experiences fear and pity as they witness the hero undergo a huge and disastrous change. It then suggests that in both plays one crucial reason for this calamitous fall is character flaws or weaknesses in the protagonists, Oedipus and Othello.
From the Paper "Discuss Oedipus's and Othello's character flaws or weaknesses Sophocles' Oedipus the King and Shakespeare's Othello are two plays with much in common. Both are classic dramatic tragedies, in the sense that the audience experiences fear and pity as they witness the hero undergo a huge and disastrous change. Moreover, in both plays one crucial reason for this calamitous fall is character flaws or weaknesses in the protagonists, Oedipus and Othello. This paper will examine and compare the character flaws and weaknesses of these two protagonists. Both plays begin with their protagonist in a very good position."
Abstract This paper studies Shakespeare's usage of evil in his plays. The essay attempts to reveal the function of this device by analyzing its usage in seven Shakespeare plays: "Macbeth", "Henry VI", "Hamlet", "Julius Caesar", "Richard III", "King Lear" and "Othello". The author includes complete character and plot summaries, and supports his theses with quotes from the texts.
From the Paper "'Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair'. Unfortunately for Steve Bartman and the 2003 Chicago Cubs, this famous phrase does not apply to baseball playoffs. William Shakespeare wrote this line to describe the relationship between good and evil in his play Macbeth. By casual definitions, good is right and evil is wrong. However, Shakespeare operated with larger concepts that go beyond passive terminology. In his works, balance, harmony, justice and righteousness represent good. Evil is represented by disorder, temptation, corruption and immorality. There is inherent tension created when these principles collide."
Abstract The paper discusses how WilliamShakespeare is one of the most famous playwrights of English literature today. He is still one of the majestic emblems of the British people and one of the great representatives of his time. The paper explores his limited biography and explains that little is known for certain about his life. The paper illustrates how Shakespeare experienced one of the most turbulent periods in history and describes in detail the era in which he lived. The paper looks at "Othello", one of Shakespeare's most acclaimed works.
From the Paper "Despite rigorous research made to complete Shakespeare's biography, little is known for certain about his life. He was born at Stratford-upon- Avon in April 1564. His family was rather prosperous and highly regarded in town. However, by 1582, he had married Ann Hathaway, a woman eight years older than him; a fact that especially at that time stirred some controversy, as it was considered to be against the moral values of the era. Nonetheless, they had three children. The records show scarce evidence of his existence until his arrival in London in 1585. "There is no tradition, not universally accepted, that he fled From Stratford because he was in trouble for deed stealing, and had fallen foul of Sir Thomas Lucy, the local magnate; another that he was for some time a school master." (Shakespeare, 7)"
