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    In the play Othello, Bianca is a prostitute who, on the order of Iago, tries to convince Othello that Desdemona is not pure because she has been sleeping with Cassio. Othello Play Summary

    In the play Othello, Bianca is a prostitute who, on the order of Iago, tries to convince Othello that Desdemona is not pure because she has been sleeping with Cassio.

    Othello Play Summary

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    The character of Rodrigo, despite his apparent lack of importance in the beginning, proves to be an important character in the end. He begins the play as an antagonist who manipulates the other characters, but he eventually wins them over. Rodrigo's death at the end of the play thus serves a thematiRead more

    The character of Rodrigo, despite his apparent lack of importance in the beginning, proves to be an important character in the end. He begins the play as an antagonist who manipulates the other characters, but he eventually wins them over. Rodrigo’s death at the end of the play thus serves a thematic purpose.

    Summary of the Play Othello

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    Othello has been called a revenge tragedy because he is about a man who avenges himself on his wife for the wrongs done to him by Iago, whom Othello mistakes for Cassio. The play also features a tragic love story between Othello and Desdemona. Othello is a revenge tragedy, but it’s not a pure revengRead more

    Othello has been called a revenge tragedy because he is about a man who avenges himself on his wife for the wrongs done to him by Iago, whom Othello mistakes for Cassio. The play also features a tragic love story between Othello and Desdemona. Othello is a revenge tragedy, but it’s not a pure revenge tragedy.

    Othello Summary

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    Othello by Shakespeare is interwoven with various themes that make the text more interesting and. Shakespeare has skilfully employed these themes that provide a strong structure and base to the story. Adultery Adultery is an underlying theme throughout the story. The female protagonist of the play iRead more

    Othello by Shakespeare is interwoven with various themes that make the text more interesting and. Shakespeare has skilfully employed these themes that provide a strong structure and base to the story.

    Adultery

    Adultery is an underlying theme throughout the story. The female protagonist of the play is wrongly accused of committing adultery. She receives cruel treatment from Othello, her husband and her character is put under suspicion from the very beginning of the story.

    Race

    Othello is one of the most initial black heroes. He rises to power in a white people dominated society and ultimately gets caught in a web created by their trickeries. Othello is treated in a condescending manner by his wife’s father who believes that such a racially different marriage can only be a result of witchcraft and trickery.

    Gender

    Antagonistic treatment of women highlights the gender biased society of that time. A woman like Desdemona is entirely helpless irrespective of her numerous efforts to prove her innocence. Women are treated with cruelty and hostility throughout the story.

    Manipulation

    This is the most major theme of the story as the play revolves around the manipulation of almost all character of the story. Othello is manipulated to the extent of killing his own wife. Rodrigo, too, falls victim to manipulation. Secondary characters like Emilia are also influenced to contribute to the tragic ending of the story.

    Jealousy

    Theme of Jealousy also plays an important role in the play. Rodrigo, who wanted to marry Desdemona, gets jealous of Othello and desires to kill Othello. Iago is also angry with Othello because he has promoted Cassio above him and he is jealous of it. Othello becomes jealous of Cassio when he mistakes him to be in affair with his wife.

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    Othello’s error refers to an error of judgment when verdicts are made on behalf of preconceived notions and by disregarding any fact or possibilities that may go against such presumed bias. In the play, Othello considers Desdemona’s reaction to Cassio’s assumed death as a proof of her unfaithfulnessRead more

    Othello’s error refers to an error of judgment when verdicts are made on behalf of preconceived notions and by disregarding any fact or possibilities that may go against such presumed bias.

    In the play, Othello considers Desdemona’s reaction to Cassio’s assumed death as a proof of her unfaithfulness. He already thinks they were lovers and does not consider that his wife might be shocked and hurt by the accusation and the news of the death of only person who could absolve her truly.

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    In Othello, Shakespeare expertly uses the role of the clown to provide some well deserved comic relief. Both in Act III, first when he converse with Othello about his wind instruments i.e haughty like Iago and then with Desdemona where he uses a play on the word \’lie\’ when she inquires about the wRead more

    In Othello, Shakespeare expertly uses the role of the clown to provide some well deserved comic relief. Both in Act III, first when he converse with Othello about his wind instruments i.e haughty like Iago and then with Desdemona where he uses a play on the word \’lie\’ when she inquires about the whereabouts of Cassio.

    The use of puns and double entendres brings a level of levity to the otherwise intense acts and scenes and also help buld character sketches of Desdemona, Cassio etc.

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    Peripeteia according to Aristotle is the moment when the fortunes of the tragic hero turns for the worse and spell the beginning of is eventual doom. In Othello, this happens in Act III. Scene III, when Othello decides to believe the lies of Iago regarding an affair between his wife Desdemona and trRead more

    Peripeteia according to Aristotle is the moment when the fortunes of the tragic hero turns for the worse and spell the beginning of is eventual doom. In Othello, this happens in Act III.

    Scene III, when Othello decides to believe the lies of Iago regarding an affair between his wife Desdemona and trusted friend Cassio, Consumed with jealousy, he chooses to trust Iago over his beloved Desdemona and her pleas of innocence.

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    Prejudice is an emphasised note in Othello. It appears in several forms but predominantly as racial prejudice against black and coloured people. Othello being a black man is ridiculed and belittled through by Iago, Rodrigo and even by Othello himself. Apart from that there is anti-woman or sexist prRead more

    Prejudice is an emphasised note in Othello. It appears in several forms but predominantly as racial prejudice against black and coloured people.

    Othello being a black man is ridiculed and belittled through by Iago, Rodrigo and even by Othello himself. Apart from that there is anti-woman or sexist prejudice where both women, Desdemona and Emilia, are murdered by their husbands.

    Another form of prejudice is religious bias as ‘Moors’ and ‘Turks’ which are both used to describe Muslims are subjected to derision and abuse throughout the play.

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    Racial bias and prejudice is strident in Othello with the title character facing the brunt of it. Pitting his physical virtues against his wife Desdemona who is fair and pear white in complexion becomes a constant tone of discussion and attack. Iago, Brabantio, Rodrigo, Othello (self-flagellation) aRead more

    Racial bias and prejudice is strident in Othello with the title character facing the brunt of it. Pitting his physical virtues against his wife Desdemona who is fair and pear white in complexion becomes a constant tone of discussion and attack.

    Iago, Brabantio, Rodrigo, Othello (self-flagellation) all show a clear revulsion to Othello’s race and even his ethnicity being a ‘Moor’.

    Desdemona is probably the only person that decided to look past the racial difference between herself and Othello and accept him for his valour and courage.

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    Othello is based in 16th Century Europe when the Christian Venetians were locking horns with Muslims of the Ottoman Empire for the Mediterranean lands of Cyprus etc. The word ‘Moors’ used for Othello was used for Muslims and may suggest he was converted to Christianity and recruited to the Italian aRead more

    Othello is based in 16th Century Europe when the Christian Venetians were locking horns with Muslims of the Ottoman Empire for the Mediterranean lands of Cyprus etc.

    The word ‘Moors’ used for Othello was used for Muslims and may suggest he was converted to Christianity and recruited to the Italian army in the crusade against the Turks. The inspiration behind the text was a story Giraldi Cinthio’sfrom Hecatommithi.

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