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Example research essay topic: Act 3 Scene 3 Act 1 Scene 3 - 1,874 words

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Is Othello a noble hero brought down by a devil of motiveless malignity or is Othello flawed and self regarding and brought down by a worldly realist? As is shown above, there have been many differentiating opinions of the two most inscrutable characters in Shakespeare's history. As both these characters never fully reveal their true selves or their motives, it has always been difficult to determine their disposition from just the play as a source. Yet, despite this many scholars have brought forward their suggestions for the nature of both Iago's and Othello's characters. One of the first examinations into the true characters of these players comes from the nineteenth century, proposed by the scholars Coleridge and Haditt.

This suggestion was that Othello was the character of innocence, whilst Iago was the devil ultimately responsible. From the first time and the first words we hear from Othello it is obvious to the audience that he has a natural patience with people, and seems to be a laid back character. His first line can be termed, as composed Tis better as it is is what Othello answers, when hearing that men have spoken bad words of him. Iago is the one to inform him of this and even suggests that he should fight them about it. Since these are Othello's first words it would be quite easy to determine that he is a peaceful man, and it could be considered unrealistic that he could kill his own wife without some one to bring him down.

Othello's love for Desdemona is shown quite precisely in Act 1, Scene 3, where Othello explains that he has not won Brabantios daughter through any witchcraft but with tales of heroic defeats. She had loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them. Desdemona also portrays the intensity of her commitment in this scene I saw Othello's visage in my mind, and two his honours and his valiant parts this shows that Desdemona is truly obedient to Othello through all his military work. Throughout this scene allot of anger is intended for Othello and it is made clear.

Compared to Brabantio, who is most understandably angered, Othello is calm and in control of his emotions even with the prospect of loving his beloved wife. This reflects that his true temperament is not that of a hotheaded man but of a composed character. Both the fact that he is patient and peaceful could be seen as a desirable quality and Othello can be seen as a noble hero here. Again further on in the performance in Act 2, scene 3, Othello proves himself as a passive individual once again. This is when Othello willingly prevents a fight between Rodrigo and Cassio, which was in fact stirred by Iago in the first place.

For Christian shame put by this barbarous brawl Here Othello even describes this violence as shameful, which is ironic since he himself is yet to commit a much sinful act than this. Looking at this evidence for Othello's innocence could mean that to bring him down to the depleted level he reaches, would take a devil of motiveless malignity in other words Iago. Well this is according to Coleridge and Haditt, who have not just brought forward their opinion on Othello's character but on Iago's also. To say that Iago is motiveless in this play could be quite true, as the audience never get to know Iago's motives. This is why we could also call him a devil; as to have to motives to stir such a tragedy up could be seen as an evil thing to do. However we do get a two possible motives for Iago, yet even these are inadequate, the first being jealousy.

This in it self plays an enormous part in the play itself including the jealousy that Cassio has become lieutenant rather than Iago. And this is precisely what a possible motive for Iago could be, a reason for his hatred towards Othello. Iago proclaims his hatred in Act 1 Scene 1 Though I do hate him as I do hell-pains. Yet even this is a bit of a feeble reason to do such diasatourous deeds as Iago commits. Another possible motive could be that according to Iago only, Othello is alleged to have slept with Iago's wife. Yet this is extremely weak as there is never any evidence for it, only that of Iago's claim.

As Iago never reveals his true self it is difficult to find his true reasons for what he schemes, as he has a different face for a different character. To keep up such a vigorous appearance for such a long period of time seems quite impossible, so does the audience actually see Iago's true nature all along, the nature that is evil? Another reason for thinking Iago as this truly evil individual is the way he is constantly played as blasphemous. By Janus I think no is one example of this, Janus was ironically a God with 2 heads, which could be reflected as a 2 faced image. Another example is where Iago talks of Gods blood Sblood, but youll not hear me! talking of Gods blood in this way would be like swearing in the present time.

Yet as Iago says himself I am not what I am, in other words he never reveals truly who he is, yet what is left for us to think of him is the devil of motiveless malignity. As time went on to the twentieth century there became more varied opinions of the make-up of Othello and Iago. It seems that the opinions have reversed in this period of time as Othello is now thought as the foolish one the flawed and self regarding man and Iago the worldly realist. To now see Othello in a reversal of roles seems quite un -likely after all the evidence just mentioned of his character naturally being reserved and peaceful. Yet this is only to be seen at the very start and very end of the play, the rest of the time it seems that Othello is being influenced greatly to become something else. For example in Act 3, Scene 3, Set on thy wife to observe this is a while into the play and therefore a sufficient amount of time in which Othello has lost control.

What he is asking Iago to do is literally to spy on his own wife. The fact that Othello does not give Desdemona the chance to justify her actions reflects how egotistic and therefore would back up this twentieth century view of him. It is this and other example's that shows Othello to be easily influenced and this is just one that shows just how low he can sink. Yet earlier on in the scene, when first hearing of Desdemona's affair for the first time Othello seems quite intent on only believing Iago's word with some kind of proof Ill see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; yet Othello fails to keep to his word as he becomes angered by the mere thought of his wife deceiving him. It is due to this that he asks Iago to examine Desdemona to seek out the truth, yet the truth never is found. It is only the lies that Othello seems to believe and this seems to be because Othello is uncomfortable with himself, it is only the lies that seem plausible to Othello because he fears the worst.

Nearing the end of Act 3, scene 3 Othello has worked into a frenzy and threatens to tear her all to pieces in other words he threatens to kill her, this is again without solid proof and with only the word of Iago. In the book Letts Explore for Othello it explains The prejudice against Othello in the play is one of the sources of his own self-doubt and insecurity The fact that Othello's race is such a big deal to him and others makes it seem quite possible that Desdemona would leave him for this reason. And all it takes is for Iago to amplify this prospect and Othello is hanging on his every word. Othello could be seen as flawed and self regarding yet this could be due to his extreme lack of self- assurance. The way Iago is determined a worldly realist seems to have a lack of evidence. Although on some basis you could back this up, there is not much else to make it a worthy possibility.

If it was however a description that Iago was being realistic, it would still not give him a right to make up that Desdemona was having affair or to use the people that trusted him to get his way. If it was so that everyone except for Iago was living a dream like life and Iago saw this as a reason to change it and open there eyes then this may be a possible reason to describe him like this. An example is the way Iago spots in the first scene that Cassio is a great arithmetician that never set a squadron in the field, could it be this that makes Iago so angry? That Othello has unrealistically picked someone unsuitable for the job that Iago would otherwise be suited for. Even if this were so would it really be a logical reason to go through such an evil scheme and deception. Another illustration is where Iago gives the audience an analogy of life, this is basically that we have choices and we can act as we would like, could this be a realists point of view.

This is put across in Act 1 scene 3, where he gives the analogy of the gardener Our bodies are our gardens, to which our wills are gardeners. Iago also gives his views on love, a highly topical theme of Othello, Our lusts, where of I take this that you call love to be sect or scion in interpretation what Iago is saying could be that love is something that Is fixed on you and it can be controlled, almost referring it as a nuisance or not an emotion. Again this could be a motive for Iago, the fact that Othello is so attached to Desdemona could seem pathetic, and with the added annoyance of choosing the wrong person for lieutenant, this could make Iago want to teach Othello a realistic view on life. As we can see by blasphemous behaviour from Iago, such as Sblood, but youll not hear me, he is clearly not a religious person like allot of others of his time, but is a logical thinker. Yet this seems still weak for a reason to go to so much effort to bring about a mans downfall. In my opinion I would agree with all statements to some extent, yet the nineteenth century view seems more plausible and matches with the plays evidence more closely.

The way both characters are portrayed relates to these views more specifically than that of the twentieth century and since the play is the only evidence available it seems realistic to go for these examinations. Bibliography: Othello for A level - Letts Explore


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