Explore how shakespeare examines the themes if jealousy and deception in othello the play and othello the character. A central theme or motif in the play othello, is jealousy essay. Many times throughout the play, we see the characters using openly racist. It is the greeneyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on. Othello hands some letters for delivery to iago and decides to check the fortifications. The play is a study of how jealousy can ruin lives even with only the most circumstantial evidence of guilt. The fall of a proud, dignified man, the murder of a graceful, loving woman, and the unreasoning hatred of a motiveless villainall have evoked fear and pity in audiences throughout the centuries. Some observations on the construction of the tragedies madelon gholke sprengnether. Othello has often been considered the most painful of shakespeares tragedies.
Iago newly appointed ensign to othello, moor of venice. Quick and easy othello synopsis, analysis, and discussion of major characters and themes in the play. Chapters and chapter sections are designed to be consulted independently, so that users can discover more about various facets of this tragedy and the critical discussion they have generated. Othello and iago, with a cyprus gentleman walk at a nearby citadel, discussing matters of state. Iago is the antagonist in the play othello by william shakespeare.
Anyway, i thought book of eli would be less scary so i went into the theater expecting something good. Read a character analysis of othello, plot summary, and important quotes. Original motion picture soundtrack the book of eli atticus ross disclaimer. Othello william shakespeare edited by alvin kernank samuel taylor coleridge. Summary in the opening of the play, roderigo, a young gentleman who loved and hoped to get desdemona, is talking about the elopement of desdemona with othello, the moor.
A summary of themes in william shakespeares othello. What the hell was the theme of the movie book of eli. And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas olympushigh and duck again. A compilation of over twenty short stories that revolve around the folk who live in the fictional township of muddy fork, usa. Cassio believes reputation to be the immortal part of himselfits also iagos reputation as being honest that allows him to deceive many othello takes iagos word. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. The californians tale theme analysis by andie moore in the story the californians tale there is one main theme that leads to others. Iago plots with consummate sophistication, carefully manipulating othello without any real. Themes in othello love othello says, for know iago, but that i love the gentle desdemona, i would not my unhoused free condition put into circumscription and confine for the seas worth. He says hes going to put out the light and then put. Iagos i am not who i am foreshadows much of what follows. He has also just recently made an enemy of iago without even knowing it. What motives inspired iago to plot revenge against othello.
Join now to read essay themes of othello and other term papers or research documents. In othello, several themes appear to have formed the foundation of the play. He is the beloved of the duke of venice, and has won the beautiful desdamona as his wife. A guide to the play is a reference work that aims to open up othello to students as well as to interested readers and spectators. Othello by william shakespeare read free book online. Apr 18, 20 during the course of the initial three scenes in othello we see the character of othello turn from valiant othello i. Racism in othello, by william shakespeare racism in. One of shakespeares more famous plays, othello is a classic tragedy featuring love, jealousy, and ultimately, death. Introduction othello is unique among shakespeares great tragedies.
Free study guideothello by william shakespearetheme. Not saying that the movie was bad or anything but i left the theater wondering what the hell was the point of the movie. Othello is a play, better said a tragedy, in which the main theme it othellos jealousy and revenge and the main motives are racism, love, jealousy, betrayal and fraud in the main conflict between othello and cassio. It was either that or legion ironically both have something to do with religion lol. Redridge entreats eli to surrender the book and eli tells redridge where he hid it. Throughout the novel, pi makes his belief in and love of god clearit is a love profound enough that he can transcend the classical divisions of religion, and worship as a hindu, muslim, and christian. Because othello is a totally jealous man, he easily falls prey to iagos plotting and scheming. Themes are central to understanding othello as a play and identifying shakespeares social and political commentary. Othello the tragedy of othello, william shakespeare othello the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice is a tragedy by william shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603. So i went out with my bf last friday to watch book of eli. He based othello on a story in a collection of tales, called hecatonimithi, written in 1565 by giraldi cinthio, an italian. The basics othello has just recently married the love of his life, desdemona.
Shakespeare builds many differences into his hero and heroine, including race, age, and cultural background. In othello, william shakespeare explores love, jealousy, betrayal, and racism through a complicated love triangle. Being too easily duped and manipulated, he threw away. Unlike hamlet, king lear, and macbeth, which are set against a backdrop of affairs of state and which reverberate with suggestions of universal human concerns, othello is set in a private world and focuses on the passions and personal lives of its major figures. The major theme of othello is the destructive power of jealousy. After othello and desdemona have left, iago remains with roderigo. Warning othello of the nature of jealousy, in an effort to further fan the flames iago says. Free study guideothello by william shakespearethemesmajor. The book of eli original motion picture soundtrack atticus ross. His chief aide, and a man othello regards as his closest male friend, iago, the old one, is jealous of othellos success. Othello, in a moment of foreshadowing, responds that his life rests upon desdemonas faithfulness.
Iago is enraged at his misfortunate and declares his hatred for the moor. Roderigo and iago go to inform about the incident to her father senator brabantio. The plot is settled in cyprus between 1489 and 1570. In othello, the hero succumbs to jealousy when iago convinces him that desdemona has been an unfaithful wife in the end, othello murders. Oct 12, 2010 check out william shakespeares othello video sparknote. Mar 30, 2016 othello by william shakespeare book summary minute book report duration. The story of an african general in the venetian army who is tricked into suspecting his wife of adultery, othello is a tragedy of sexual jealousy. Themes of deception in william shakespeares othello essay. The book of eli casts bible as a major theme baptist standard. That is why othello, even after killing desdemona, is in a position to be in full possession of this heavenly sight of his dead beloved. Although othello is a cultural and racial outsider in venice, his skill as a soldier and leader is nevertheless valuable and necessary to the state, and he is an integral part of venetian civic society.
Prejudice is a major theme in othello, mainly because othello is black and desdemona is white. Free study guideothello by william shakespearethemes. Othello by william shakespeare book summary minute book report duration. What are the themes of othello written by shakespeare. Explore the different themes within william shakespeares tragic play, othello. Take your hr comms to the next level with prezi video. Throughout othello the theme of jealousy in the main character is presented as a poison, planted by iago it spreads from a small idea to the cause of multiple deaths, destroying lives of even more. Themes of deception in william shakespeares othello deception is one of the main themes running through othello, along with love, pride and society.
In othello, the hero succumbs to jealousy when iago convinces him that desdemona has been an unfaithful wife in the end, othello murders his wife and then. Introduction this is a study guide for the book othello written by william shakespeare. Carnegie threatens to kill solara, to the dismay of redridge. Eli and solara are surrounded and dragged out of the house. It gives me wonder great as my content to see you here before me. Roderigo, a venetian gentleman is in love with desdemona, the daughter of senator. Check out william shakespeares othello video sparknote. First performed around 1604, the play is also a pioneering exploration of racial prejudice. His jealousy and envy cause him to destroy the lives of his boss othello and. It is the most famous literary work that focuses on the dangers of jealousy. In othello, love is a force that overcomes large obstacles and is tripped up by small ones. Washington, a twotime academy award winner widely known in hollywood for his christian beliefs, portrays a lone warrior making his way across a desolate american landscape defending the worlds last remaining copy of the king.
Othello is a play about so many different things the nature of being a solider, a friend, and a leader. In othello, the major themes reflect the values and the motivations of characters love. The reader watches in awe as iago weaves his web around othello, to bring about his downfall. Iagos honesty in particular is the undoing of most of the characters. The bible plays a starring role in the book of eli, a postapocalyptic action film starring denzel washington that opens in theaters jan. Othello was obtained by florence as a slave, but was the son of a chieftain. In othello, the major themes reflect the values and the motivations of characters. Indeed, it is deception that provides the fuel for the plot and deception that is leads to the classic downfall of the hero as is common in shakespeare tragedies. In william shakespeares othello, racism is certainly featured throughout the play. Shakespeare does an excellent job of showing the main characters weaknesses in this play. The text is a rich tapestry of plot, character, poetry, and theme elements which come together to form one of the bards most engaging tragedies.
May, 2011 in othello, william shakespeare explores love, jealousy, betrayal, and racism through a complicated love triangle. Jealousy is the central theme in the play othello by william shakespeare. Othello was written some time between 1600 and 1605. During the course of the initial three scenes in othello we see the character of othello turn from valiant othello i. As he feels right in having desdamona as his wife, he is in tune with social order and the superiority of those of. Othello background information the source of othello shakespeare delighted in taking old stories, adding his own particular brand of genius, and creating something new and better. This production is of particular importance because it marked the first time a woman was accepted on the english stage. Othello instructs iago to take desdemona along with iagos wife, emilia, on the journey to the battle area. Othello s villain, iago, may be literatures most impressive master of deception. He gave cassio a promotion when iago feels he was the more deserving man. The book of eli soundtrack panoramic by atticus ross youtube. When othello blows out the candle it represents the end of her life. Cassio and desdemona discuss the previous nights transgressions and desdemona agrees to speak on his behalf because of the friendship between them.
The main character shakespeare presents in othello to display the theme of jealousy is othello himself and the impact jealousy has on him. It centers on the recently married othello and desdemona as well as iago, who is deeply jealous of othello and in love with desdemona. While we spend the next three weeks looking at the ideas of race, women, and tragedy, take this time to consider the many different ideas that come out through this text. In an time were ethnic minorities were so unimportant that they were almost ignored, a black man rises and has a position of a general in venice, and is a well respected and trusted by his white leaders. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of othello and what it means. In his opening argument with roderigo, iago says that his anger stems from the fact that othello unfairly passed him over for promotion and made michael cassio. The play is a study of how jealousy can be fueled by mere circumstantial evidence and can destroy lives.
Even though othello loves desdemona he is easily tricked into hating her. In an time were ethnic minorities were so unimportant that they were almost ignored, a black man rises and has a position of a general in venice, and is a. Written in true hillbilly style, and with an authentic voice, by the author, who currently resides in kentucky. Othello is the most famous literary work that focuses on the dangers of jealousy. In this lesson, we will explore some of the plays strongest themes. The symbol of love is destroyed by othello, the lover. Abp the bible plays a starring role in the book of eli, a postapocalyptic action film starring denzel washington that opens in theaters jan. A quiz over the play othello by william shakespeare. Even though othello loves desdemona he is easily tricked. He demonstrates the evil in others, while hiding the evil within himself.
Iago complains to roderigo that he was not named lieutenant by othello, but rather ensign. Othellos status as an outsider may be the reason he is such easy prey for iago. Redridge recovers the book, with a locked flap, and gives it to carnegie, who releases solara. Invision employees share their remote work secrets. In shakespeares othello, themes are essential to the working of the play. Othello, the moorish general, made cassio lieutenant. Yet most readers and audiences believe the couples strong. His mind is poisoned by the jealousy, and it leads, both directly and indirectly, to the deaths of desdemona, roderigo, emilia, and othello. Othello the moor of venice william shakespeare with related readings the emc masterpiece series access editions emcparadigm publishing st. Othello states that he only did what he thought was right and that his biggest sin was in loving too much. In othello, shakespeare creates powerful drama from a marriage between the exotic moor othello and the venetian lady desdemona that begins with elopement and mutual devotion and ends with jealous rage and death.