Second language, into question Othellos love for Desdemona. The number of times he is referred to with these adjectives before his name in the play is laughable, and would have generated a great deal of enjoyable dramatic irony to please the audience. As previously stated, Othellos strong appearance, high social status and overall merit shields his inherit Othellos strong appearance, high social status and overall merit shields his inherit weakness and self-doubt. Accessed 8 July 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Starting off, Othello allows Iago to tamper with his mind and does nothing to stop it. Othello was likely more convinced that Cassio did sleep with his wife as Cassio and Desdemona were both, white while Othello wasnt. Iago begins his manipulation by means of an outburst which he then tries to take back, Ha! For Desdemona in William Shakespeare's Othello, this is certainly true. This relates to the Shakespearean theme of deception, the idea that what you see, and what truly exists is completely different and often totally unrelated to each other.This again links with the society at the times obsession with reputation. Iago, The Downfall of Othello The racism in the story causes much of Othellos weakness and lack of confidence in himself. To What Extent Is Iago Responsible for Othello's Downfall The responsibility of Desdemonas death falls on many different individuals throughout the play. In Othellos own words. During this time, he also builds bridges with many of the other characters, before deceiving and betraying them. If Othellos fatal flat was jealousy, then it could be said that Desdemonas was generosity. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. Othello was an evil and villainous snake who is awfully jealous and therefore manipulates Othello to his eventual downfall. You can see her innocence when Othello tells Desdemona that her hand is hot and moist--a double entendre in which he is suggesting that Desdemona is promiscuous. His evil planning is shown when he says Myself the while to draw the Moor apart, and bring him jump when he may Cassio find soliciting his wife. Iago plays the role of the smart villain as he is both cunning and manipulative. She does not understand his coarse language. I like not that! (3.3.34) referring to Othello and him seeing Desdemona and Cassio speaking alone. However the complete opposite applies to Hamlet. She reveals of what importance this handkerchief is to the Moor as it was Desdemonas first remembrance from the Moor. (3.3.293) With the handkerchief in his possession, Iago speaks of how he has poisoned the Moors mind already with jealousy and words of betrayal and that this handkerchief, which he will place in Cassios lodgings, will be seen as proof of betrayal by the Moor. How does Desdemona's affection for Cassio make her responsible for her In a way the secret marriage of Desdemona and Othello foreshadows a fatal outcome when compared to the fates of Romeo and Juliet. "How does Othello abuse Desdemona? So, unfortunately, in murdering Desdemona, Othello acts in character. Shakespeare uses the technique of foreshadowing to help the reader predict the misfortunes that will befall the characters in the play, Premium Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. In Act 4 Scene 1 Othello is in hiding and sees Bianca approach Cassio with his handkerchief, in Othellos eyes this confirms his suspicion. Egged on by Iago, Othello's behavior becomes increasingly irrational and violent. The influence that Iago poses on Roderigo leads him into bringing down Cassio from his ranks, which as will be explored later on, leads to Othellos downfall. When it comes to her death, she offers no resistance, fighting to stay alive only because she believes that by doing so she will save Othello from further pain. Latest answer posted April 06, 2020 at 3:38:13 PM, Explain this quote from act 1, scene 3 ofOthello: "Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: she has deceived her father and may thee. Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. When confessing his love for her in front of the senate Othello says She loved me for the dangers I had passed/ And I loved her that she did pity them (I.iii.193-194). Shakespeare is known for his tragically clever plays; among numerous Shakespearean plays Othello is a brilliant example. Iagos manipulative and evil persona is fueled by his jealousy and hatred. The relationship between Othello and Iago is built on friendship, Free When Desdemona begs for her life, Othello says, "There is no pause," and when he thinks Desdemona may not be quite dead, he strives to ensure, being "cruel" but "yet merciful," that she is truly gone. Let's fix your grades together! Iago makes use of Cassio throughout the play to give proof to Othello and to heighten his already present weakness of rash temper and jealousy, spurring on the process of Othellos disgrace and once again circuitously leading to Othellos demise as was done with Roderigo. Copyright 2023service.graduateway.com. Othello is about many things and one of the most glaring of those things is race. It is in her dialogue with Othello after he has murdered Desdemona that Emilia contributes the most to the tragic ending. For this reason, the play 'Macbeth' contained several references to the Stuart dynasty. Romanticism is all about extremes of emotion, the emotional triumphing over the rational and can often be quite self-obsessed, as is Othello. Iagos amassment of jealousy and hatred begins at the start of the story when Othellos choses to promote Cassio rather than Iago. He doesnt care how many people he effects and ruins as long as he gets his way And I will turn her virtue into pitch and out of her goodness make the net that shall enmesh them all. Students who find writing to be a difficult task. Iago does this to such an extent that he can get other characters to even commit murder. The tale of Othello opens in argument as Iago is angry that Othello has chosen to promote a young handsome Cassio over himself. William Shakespeare, Tragedy of Desdemona Othello is responsible for murdering Desdemona; Iago is responsible for Othello's behavior but Emilia is responsible the person who takes the handkerchief and causes these events to take took place therefore she unwittingly is responsible for Desdemona's death. Humans feel the need to interact with one another to fulfil this need humans build relationships. https://www.shmoop.com/othello/jealousy-quotes.html, http://shakespeare.mit.edu/othello/full.html. Like Othello, Desdemona is a controversial character that has a role in determining the outcome of the play. Othello promotes Michael Cassio to the position of lieutenant and Iago becomes extremely jealous. Othello believes he was too honest and too loving however in reality he was just nave, foolish and weak. He does not belong to this world. All falling acting results from this decision. Nowhere in that quote does Shakespeare mention Macbeth saying, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and the three witches are all to blame for the tragedy that is Macbeth, Lady Macbeth through convincing Macbeth, Macbeth for following his ambition more than his conscience and the three witches for putting the idea of being king in Macbeths head. In Shakespeare's Othello, how does Othello blame Desdemona for doing bad things? When Othello dismisses Cassio as his lieutenant, Desdemona, sensing the injustice assures Cassio she will do all that she can to help, I will do all my abilities in thy behalf. It was really easy tocontact him and respond very fast aswell., "You must agree to out terms of services and privacy policy". Registration number: 16320965. Desdemona does seem to be an all rounded person however it is her weaknesses, which brings about her downfall. 'Othello has only himself to blame for his own tragic - Medium How is Iago presented inOthello? Professional writers that guarantee an on-time delivery. O! Even if Iago had not told any lies, and Desdemona had indeed been "false as water," this is not an excuse or valid reason for Othello to kill her. This leaves his mind susceptible to the tragic poisoning by the scheming Iago, even though Desdemona has done nothing wrong. In the play Othello, Desdemona and Othello have a relationship that is indestructible, they have a genuine and, The psychoanalysis of the characters from Othello allowed me to understand the way Desdemona acted throughout the play and how come she took the abuse that Othello gave her. To what extent is Macbeth responsible for his own downfall? Sex and Sexual Stories in Othello, Iago's Alter Ego: Race as Projection in Othello, That's She That Was Myself: Not-So-Famous Last Words and Some Ends of Othello, The Adaptation of a Shakespearean Genre: Othello and Ford's 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, Theatricality and Textuality: The Example of Othello, Voice Potential: Language and Symbolic Capital in Othello, Act III, Scenes 1-4 Questions and Answers. He is angry with Othello for promoting Michael Cassio, an officer with no real battle experience, to lieutenant over him. And so in conclusion, many different characters contributed towards the undeserving death of Desdemona, mainly Iago, but in the end, only Othello can be help solely responsible. Her last words are "Commend me to my kind lord," even as she tries to absolve him from blame, claiming that she herself took her own life. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. Another motive for Iagos jealousy is that he believes his wife to have slept with Cassio, too. Othello continues to verbally abuse Desdemona in act four, scene two by comparing her to a weed that pretends to be a flower and calling her an "Impudent strumpet!" Latest answer posted April 06, 2020 at 3:38:13 PM, Explain this quote from act 1, scene 3 ofOthello: "Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: she has deceived her father and may thee. Keep in mind: This sample was shared by another student. In some ways you could say that Othello was highly responsible for his own downfall as he was easily manipulated by Iago showing him to be gullible and naive.Iago manipulates Othello by making him suspicious through inference, "Ha I like not that". Iago is regarded as a powerful, Machiavellian villain and antagonist as he holds the majority of the lines, almost double to that of the protagonist and tragic hero, Othello, giving him power over Othello as well as the space to use the maximum amount of words to manipulate the hero into participating in his crimes. Who is responsible for Othello's downfall? - GraduateWay Who is responsible for Desdemona's death? Analysis - GraduateWay Perhaps Iagos most sorrowful victim of all is Othello himself. In Othello, how do the characters contributeto their own downfall? A devoted, loving wife, she is murdered by her husband in a fit of jealous rage. However, beyond Othellos choice to promote Cassio. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. To What Extent Is Othello Responsible For His Own Downfall? William Hazlett describes Iago as an aesthete evil, a traditional Machiavellian and a personification of rationality. The "sacrifice" (V.ii.65) is just and moral because Othello believes his indignant jealousy is warranted. Ist gone? 16:18 KJV). He himself seems to be suggesting here that the blame for Desdemona's death should lie upon those who drove Othello to do it, rather than upon Othello herself. He is an important man in Venice; a Venetian senator, a well-known citizen and landowner. Human beings must grapple with their emotions and check their actions, to prevent either from getting out of hand. Since her first lines, Desdemona has seemed capable of meeting or even rising above those demands. How does Iago convince Othello that Desdemona is cheating? 168). Iago devises his master plan as he is looking for vengeance. The eponymous character, Othello, is a Moor. It is his ability to persuade that gives him so much power over everyone else. Their decision to, A tragedy Is the story of an Individual whose downfall Is brought about by specific defects in his character, tragic flaws. The manner in which Desdemona is murderedsmothered by a pillow in a bed covered in her wedding sheetsis symbolic: she is literally suffocated beneath the demands put on her fidelity. However Iago needs an ally if he is going to destroy Othello this comes in the form of Othellos own inner demons. Using the knowledge of his love for Desdemona, Iago manages to turn Roderigo against Cassio by telling him that Desdemona is directly in love with him. (2.1.210). Desdemona excuses her husband's behavior and blames herself for losing his precious handkerchief. Education Pish!. I am/unfortunate in the infirmity and dare not task my weakness with/any more. (2.3.32-35) and convinces the imprudent Cassio to have yet another drink, blindly taking the bait. He is rationalizing here. I know not if t be true. (Act 1 Scene 3 Line 400) This time it is because Iago suspects Othello has been sleeping with his wife Emilia. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Othello makes a mess of his life and decides to end it prematurely when it becomes apparent to him that his downfall is his own fault. Copyright 2023service.graduateway.com. She is concerned about her safety but refuses to challenge her husband's aggressive behavior. The plays are similar in tragic downfall of main characters. Shakespeare wanted to make this internal conflict clear. Some might argue that Desdemona also shows a possibility of deceitful behaviour when she elopes in the opening of the play with Othello. In Othello, how does Desdemona contribute to the tragedy? At the beginning of the play Othello clearly states the reason why he and desdemona fell in love with each other. Othello likes people to be plain and open because that is what he, Graduateway.com is owned and operated by Clarketic O New York: Chelsea House, 1987). She is confused and upset, but she responds to this abuse calmly. This kind of self-apotheosis was brought on by the societys obsession with honour and reputation, which caused Othello to develop a desire to maintain his status so badly, that he killed his wife to do so.Also, the hypocrisy of the society took its toll upon Othellos mind. King James I supported Shakespeare by paying for the performance costs of his plays. Much of his weakness and self-doubt is caused by the racist society Othello lived in. This further angers Othello. Othello thought he was doing society a favour by murdering Desdemona in case she betray(s) more men. Oedipus is presented with a series of choices throughout the play, and his arrogant and stubborn nature push him to impulsively make the wrong decisions, the decisions that ultimately lead him to his downfall. 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Retrieved from, https://graduateway.com/responsible-othellos-downfall-essay/, You can get a custom paper by one of our expert writers, I am thane of Cawdor. The essay provides an overview of Iago's role in Othello's downfall, but it lacks a clear thesis statement to guide the reader. With his motivation of revenge, jealousy and ambition, Iago destroys the lives, and eventually caused the death of the people who trusted him, such as Othello and Desdemona, without any show of remorse or regret. Iago is fully aware of Rodrigos desperation to gain the love of Desdemona and he uses this knowledge to get Rodrigos money, and to drag Rodrigo to Cyrus to do his dirty work for him.It is shown at the start of the play when Iago is persuading Roderigo to go with him to Cyprus: It cannot be that Desdemona should long continue/ her love to the Moor- put money in thy purse-/ nor he his to her Iago also uses Cassio because he knows of his weakness with drink and gives the illusion that real men drink so that Cassio will not want to be left out. Iago started this because he was jealous of Othello because he was not made lieutenant, and Cassio was. Othello Act V: Scenes i & ii Summary & Analysis | SparkNotes Emilia plays a small but noticeable part in Desdemonas death for if she had not picked up her mistress hanker chief, then Iago would have had his main proof.
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