First off is Othello, Here is just a bit about the play:
Characters:
Iago:
-Iago is a very interesting character and the first we really come into contact with in this play. The strangness of his character becomes apparent immedietely, as, instead of normally, shakespeare introduces the villain firsthand. he is an enigma in the sense that he sees himself as the bad guy and knows what he is doing is wrong, but has no concious sense of guilt in his actions. He is sociopathic and evil, yet his sense of social technique removes any sense of these traits to other characters. his speech is mainly in iambic pentameter, symbolising his snake-like personality. I like to think of him as the snake from the garden of eden. he entices your curiosity, even tho better judgement tells you its wrong. another thing about Iago is his homosexual tendencies he portrays towards othello, yet he also hates the man. this central tension is what gives Iago development and is what causes the story as a whole to progress. a modern example of him is the Joker from the Batman series. he is More or less just a man who wants to watch the world burn
Othello:
- The Character in which the play is named, othello is the single entity in which all that happens in this play revolves around. His character is one of complete trust, and this trait is what structures him as a tragic hero, a person who's one error of judgement eventually becomes their downfall, whether its their immense faith in the faithless, or moral guidline to protect those around him, etc. Othello himself is too trusting, and thus this manipulated and controlled by Iago towards the destruction of his own life and that of the the loved ones around him.
Desdemona:
-She is the love interest of Othello, But also, desdemona plays a significant role in influencing the decisions of both othello and cassio. Desdemona is strange in the way that she shows more love and affection and aggressive passion towards Othello than he does in return, giving a strange tension between the two that foreshadows the climax and devestation both see later on. Desdemona contradicts her personality on occasion, showing both an independent strong willed women and also a faithful submissive wife, especially in the scene of her accepting her fate. she is insightful in the fact that she seems to know of her impending doom, asking emilia bury her in her wedding sheets, the ones she is murdered in, symbolically representing her being smothered by the demands of her marriage.
Essential Plot Elements:
basically the way the story works
Introduction: the intro mainly revolves around placing the reader/audience directly into a story. in medias res is the proper term. THe first scene involves a conversation around iago and roderigo, giving immediete insight into both of the characters personality and moral standards, where Iago represents himself as the manipulating advisor in the shadows, and roderigo as the love lorn vengeful sucker.
Rising Action: Shakespeare displays a sense of tension within venice, where Othello and Desdemona have come under attack from Brabantio because of his belief that Othello Bewitched his daughter, and then immedietely changes the scene to Cyprus, lulling the audience and the characters into a false sense of security and meaningless. throughout the play they are just waiting around, doiong nothing in progress around the world.
Climax:
The climax comes witb the final loss of trust Othello has for Desdemona, showiwng Iago's success at manipulating a lax environment and controlling all aspects of Othello and his loved ones. Othello then Goes on to kill his wife, symbolically smothering her.
Falling action:
The falling action is Othellos realization of his crime, and of Iagos trechery. with this, he wounds Iago before kiling himself, showing his true remorse and love for his wife. after his death, Iago is Taken for execution.
Setting:
THe setting plays the key element of shift in the play. in venice, othello and desdemona are swept up in the politics of the city and it gives the reader insight on a location they know, but then shakespeare switches to cyprus, depicitng a tense environment. in Cyprus, the lack of turkish attack relays a sense of uneasienss and strangeness on a colony that is under no real threat. this environment masks the threat of Iago and his plotting.
Central Conflicts:
The Central Conflict in Othello is primarly the conflict between othello's trust in desdemona, and his trust in iago. Iago portrays himself as helpful and loyal to Othello, yet every decision he makes contradicts the trust othello gives him. Desdemona is devoted to othello and is in love with not him, but what he represents. the ideas he brings about when you see and hear him. Yet othello does not give her his trust like he does with Iago. This is ironic because othello does find himself to be honorable and trusting, yet he cannot trust anyone but the untrustworthy.
Major theme:
There is a major theme of race in this play. In the time period, othello is not a common looking man. His black skin, large build and lack of christian faith play him off as the exact opposite to what society looks like. and people in this book only play off this strangeness. Othello himself finds self consciousness in the fact that he is not of the right society, and this underlying lack of faith in himself may be the reason for his quick distrust of Desdemona when presented with "truth". in fact, i could go as far to say that Othello could've actually been looking for a reason to distrust her, becuase of his uncomfortabilty in situations involving her.
Desdemona:
-She is the love interest of Othello, But also, desdemona plays a significant role in influencing the decisions of both othello and cassio. Desdemona is strange in the way that she shows more love and affection and aggressive passion towards Othello than he does in return, giving a strange tension between the two that foreshadows the climax and devestation both see later on. Desdemona contradicts her personality on occasion, showing both an independent strong willed women and also a faithful submissive wife, especially in the scene of her accepting her fate. she is insightful in the fact that she seems to know of her impending doom, asking emilia bury her in her wedding sheets, the ones she is murdered in, symbolically representing her being smothered by the demands of her marriage.
Essential Plot Elements:
basically the way the story works
Introduction: the intro mainly revolves around placing the reader/audience directly into a story. in medias res is the proper term. THe first scene involves a conversation around iago and roderigo, giving immediete insight into both of the characters personality and moral standards, where Iago represents himself as the manipulating advisor in the shadows, and roderigo as the love lorn vengeful sucker.
Rising Action: Shakespeare displays a sense of tension within venice, where Othello and Desdemona have come under attack from Brabantio because of his belief that Othello Bewitched his daughter, and then immedietely changes the scene to Cyprus, lulling the audience and the characters into a false sense of security and meaningless. throughout the play they are just waiting around, doiong nothing in progress around the world.
Climax:
The climax comes witb the final loss of trust Othello has for Desdemona, showiwng Iago's success at manipulating a lax environment and controlling all aspects of Othello and his loved ones. Othello then Goes on to kill his wife, symbolically smothering her.
Falling action:
The falling action is Othellos realization of his crime, and of Iagos trechery. with this, he wounds Iago before kiling himself, showing his true remorse and love for his wife. after his death, Iago is Taken for execution.
Setting:
THe setting plays the key element of shift in the play. in venice, othello and desdemona are swept up in the politics of the city and it gives the reader insight on a location they know, but then shakespeare switches to cyprus, depicitng a tense environment. in Cyprus, the lack of turkish attack relays a sense of uneasienss and strangeness on a colony that is under no real threat. this environment masks the threat of Iago and his plotting.
Central Conflicts:
The Central Conflict in Othello is primarly the conflict between othello's trust in desdemona, and his trust in iago. Iago portrays himself as helpful and loyal to Othello, yet every decision he makes contradicts the trust othello gives him. Desdemona is devoted to othello and is in love with not him, but what he represents. the ideas he brings about when you see and hear him. Yet othello does not give her his trust like he does with Iago. This is ironic because othello does find himself to be honorable and trusting, yet he cannot trust anyone but the untrustworthy.
Major theme:
There is a major theme of race in this play. In the time period, othello is not a common looking man. His black skin, large build and lack of christian faith play him off as the exact opposite to what society looks like. and people in this book only play off this strangeness. Othello himself finds self consciousness in the fact that he is not of the right society, and this underlying lack of faith in himself may be the reason for his quick distrust of Desdemona when presented with "truth". in fact, i could go as far to say that Othello could've actually been looking for a reason to distrust her, becuase of his uncomfortabilty in situations involving her.
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