Makes Othello example essay topic

Othello Consider how Othello changes from the 'noble moor' to the 'backer devil' in one scene (Act sc ). Focus on how Iago manipulates Othello, how this is reflected in the styles of language, and what effect this has on the play. Othello is a play about a black 'noble moor' having the perfect marriage'. This perfect marriage, however, is destroyed by another mans deception and trickery. The mans motives are unclear but through planting the seeds of suspicion into the moors mind his marriage dies and in its place jealousy and anger grows to the point of death.

Iago starts off as a passive character in his series of suggestions that generally speaks in a polite manor as more of an acquaintance than a friend. Even early on he seems to present himself as a friend, in an attempt to gain Othello's trust, however. He does this by saying to Othello 'You were best go in'. This makes Othello think that Iago is a friend trying to help. This shows us that Iago plans develop early on to destroy Othello's marriage. When he has established the moors trust however he begins to make much more direct comments but are still subtle enough to make Othello think Iago is simply trying to make these comments as a concerned friend.

An example of this is when Iago says 'the cuckold lives in bliss'. Which simply makes Othello consider the possibility of Desdemona being unfaithful. Iago increases the intensity of accusations until he effectively is dictating the method of killing Desdemona. 'Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, Even the bed she hath contaminated.

' Even at this point though he does not reveal his villainous intentions by suggestion himself to not kill Desdemona. This simply means that Iago is practically innocent, as he has not physically done anything. When Iago does this though he makes suggestions that plant images in Othello's mind that make him picture the situation from an angle he has never thought of before. An example of this is when Iago poses the question is a kiss wrong and then says, Or naked in with her friend in bed, An hour, or more, not meaning any harm? When he says this he is obviously referring to Cassio and Desdemona. This makes him picture it though and asks himself questions like if this is really possible.

Then when Iago asks questions if this wrong Othello asks himself if Desdemona being in bed with another man is wrong. He already knows the answer to this though which angers Othello and makes him jealous. Iago does not seem to have a fixed plan throughout the play though as he shows an un expecting response to the sequence of events that unfolds this can be seen when Iago steals the handkerchief, as he makes up the scheme when he takes the handkerchief from Emilia. This is probably because Iago is walking on thin ice, as one crack by someone finding out one of schemes will cause him to fall and everyone to find out his 'cruel intentions'. This situation means Iago has to very careful not to provoke Othello's suspicions.

To do this he often agrees Desdemona is not unfaithful which makes Iago look even more innocent. Iago develops a relationship with Othello by always referring to him as an important person and in a higher position than himself. Examples of this are when Iago refers to Othello as 'your honour', 'noble moor' and making comments like 'I love you'. This makes Othello perceive Iago much more as a friend than anything else.

By doing this Iago makes his worst enemy his best friend. This trust Othello feels though eventually leads him to his death. For Iago, however, Othello is a lot easier to manipulate. In spite of the fact Iago has very good persuasive skills he does not posses the ability to speak graciously like Othello and many others. He often does try but fails when attempting this. 'Witness you ever-burning lights above.

You elements that clip us round about. ' This example shows how Iago tries to speak graciously but in this instance he describes the elements as clipping, which shows how forced his attempt of speaking graciously is. Othello is one of the from essay bank. co. uk e most highly regarded and respected characters because he saved the country from the Turkish fleet and is generally a high classed man. He feels because he is black he 'have not these soft parts of conversations that the chambers have'. It is shown through out the play he can speak graciously and dramatically, however, as is descriptions are always very detailed and he uses a range of literary devices.

An example of this is when he says: "As if there were some monster in thy thought Too hideous to be shown. Though didst mean something" This example does not show Othello using very descriptive language but it shows how he uses in regular speech he uses comparisons to different subjects. The idea of a monster is used other times in the play like when Othello states "jealousy is the green eyed monster that doth mock the meant it feeds on". This idea portrays how Iago almost infects Othello's mind by burning his insides with jealousy. Cassio is in a different situation to every one else as he is the victim of Iago's schemes. As he needs help form Othello he often speaks around him in a polite and formal manor instead of as a friend.

This causes him to develop a passive and humble attitude in Othello's presence. This makes him less tempted to accept any alcohol because he claims it 'dislikes him'. Iago's persuasive techniques in the end make him fall into Iago's plans perfectly though. This makes Cassio the perfect person for a target.

Othello has the most gracious and exquisite use of language out of all the characters despite his claims to lack this. To enhance this he speaks he speaks in blank verse throughout the first part of the play another example of his description is when he comes back from the battles abroad he says, "If after every tempest comes such calms, May the winds blow, till they have waken'd death". By this statement he means if after every storm it becomes this calm and tranquil, let the wind become as intense as possible. Othello uses imagery of good and evil very often.

He uses these extremes to represent the ideals of bad and good. This poetic language does not last throughout the whole play though as he later stars to talk in prose. He uses this language when "chaos is come again" as is deteriorating because of the anger and jealousy he feels towards Desdemona and Cassio. When Othello looses his gracious touch'E begins to use a less extensive vocabulary and his speech is detached with the theme of heaven and he clings to images of the devil and the elements. We can see this by the use of words like 'zounds which is considered a very rude word in Shakespearean times. He even here though seems to love her though and describes her as 'fair' that shows how strong his love was prior to these events.

To help the audience understand the anger Othello feels he uses hyperbolic language like", I had rather be a toad and live on the vapour of a dungeon" Othello simply says this to illustrate how badly he feels about Desdemona's affair. He uses the image if a toad because it is thought of as being slimy and almost 'the lowest form of life'. So form saying he would prefer to be a toad emphasises his anger to the situation he is faced with. Othello's last speech is undoubtedly the most dramatic in the whole play when he says, "Of one you must speak that lov'd not wisely but too well" We can almost see a moral to from this which shows us how true love can blind you of your logic and sense leading to an almost insanity which can be almost sparked from nothing. The sequence of events that lead to the death of Othello is very unexpected because even though there is a plan of Desdemona's death, Othello dying is totally unexpected to the audience and leaves a morbid air about the play. This dramatic irony is important because it makes the audience part of the play because it encourages them to think about what has happened and it imposes the question upon the audience as to why it all happened and what were Iago's motives.

Shakespeare does not make it clear what Iago's motives were though so it leaves an almost rhetorical question lingering in the audiences mind..