Othello

Introduction

Shakespeare's tragic masterpiece Othello contains many complex layers and issues that can be found by reading deeply into the play, and not simply reading it as a simple narrative.

Issue of Gender Relations in Othello

One such issue that is important in the play is how the women are portrayed as victims due to men determining social organisation. This conception is supported throughout the play through the representation of men and women. The play is divided into two distinct sections, Venice which is a site of order and the island of Cyprus a site of disorder and anarchy. Both settings allow for demeaning portrayal of women and their position within the patriarchal society of the day showing that social conditioning in the men's favour turns them into victims (Carl, Miriam and Bradford, 56-299).

In the tragic play "Othello" Iago is a complex and unique character who is thought of to many as a man of wit and pure evilness. “Neither merely coarse nor merely subtle, Iago constantly re-creates his own personality and character: 'I am not what I am'” as said by Harold Bloom. Iago has his ways to manipulate each and every character in the play, the way he wants them to act with the end result of pushing almost every character towards his or her tragic end.

Iago is able to play a number of roles convincingly; being able to improvise and adapt his style to suit any situation. He uses the fact that he is a great judge of people and their characters to his advantage. For example Iago establishes almost immediately that Othello is someone who relies heavily on the advice of others, bitter about the fact that Othello took the advice of others and chose Cassio as lieutenant(Shakespere, 14-259). In Act 3, Scene 3 Iago uses this knowledge to manipulate Othello into believing that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him. In addition, throughout this scene Iago is continuously deceiving Othello. However, Iago does it so well and with such innocence that Othello doesn't even think to question the accusations, given his emotional state, and continuously refers to Iago as “honest”.

There are three main female characters, in Shakespeare's Othello. Each of these women, Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca, has a distinct symbolic role in the play. Desdemona is Othello's loving and dutiful wife. She symbolizes purity and fidelity. Iago's wife, Emilia, symbolizes frustration and assertiveness, and Bianca, a court ...