Othello - Readings free essay sample

Othello, a Shakespearean tragedy, is about how jealousy and hubris shape the destruction of the protagonist, Othello. Iago, Othello’s right hand aide, is a cunning, jealous character and brings about Othello’s downfall through his clever manipulations to all the characters in the play, especially Othello. Iago’s manipulations of Othello conform to the post-colonial reading and the features of an Aristotelian tragedy. The post-colonial reading focuses on the marginalised group, referred to as ‘the other’. The other’, due to their different ethnic backgrounds, are perceived as inferior. The Aristotelian tragedy is about a patriarchal society containing a tragic hero the tragic hero is portrayed as a powerful, respected person with a fatal flaw, his hubris. His hubris leads to his ultimate, inevitable downfall. Through the post-colonial reading, Iago takes advantage of Othello’s ethnic background and feeling of difference from the whole Ve netian society. Othello trusts Iago to advise him about Venice. We will write a custom essay sample on Othello Readings or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In Act 3 Scene 3, after Iago reminds Othello of Desdemona’s disobedience to her father, Iago poisons Othello’s mind by saying that his wife, Desdemona, is unfaithful to him as she is having an affair with someone else. He says that Desdemona would be dissatisfied and bored by staying with a black, old Moor and that she would want to sleep with another man. Her will †¦ may fall to match you with her country forms and happily repent. He justifies his statement by asserting his knowledge about his Venetian culture and takes advantage of Othello’s ignorance of Venetian culture. I know our country disposition well. In Venice, they do let God see the pranks they dare not show their husbands. Their best conscience is to keep’t unknown. Iago suggests to Othello that Desdemona’s lover is a white man (Florentine) named Cassio. Look to your wife, observe her well with Cassio. This results in Othello’s insecurity and doubtfulness over his relationship with Desdemona and questions his wife’s fidelity. He feels neglected and abused by his wife due to his African race. He perceives his race as inferior and a factor in Desdemona’s resentment and infidelity towards himself. Another issue from the post-colonial reading is that racism is against Othello. Animalistic imagery is used to show Venetian society’s racist thoughts against blacks. An example of this is when Iago and Rodrigo use racist language to describe Othello and their disgust in Othello having sex with Desdemona. You’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse†¦ the black ram is tupping your white ewe. Through the Aristotelian tragedy reading, Othello’s egocentricity, arrogance and jealousy are the presiding factors of his destruction. Othello feels that his wife is unfaithful and has slept with another man, Cassio. His weak-mindedness and arrogance leads to Iago deceiving him and controlling him saying that Desdemona has sinned through cheating Othello and needs to be punished. Iago says and to see how he prizes the foolish woman your wife; she gave it him and he hath given it his whore. Othello feels conflicted and is in a dilemma. He still loves his wife when he says I would have Cassio nine years a-killing †¦ a fine woman, a fair woman, a sweet woman. Iago provokes Othello and incenses him with arrogance and rage as shown in if you are so fond over her iniquity; give her patent to offend for if it touch not you, it comes near nobody. Iago says that Othello can forgive Desdemona’s evil deeds if he adores very much. Instantly, Othello is furious and his hatred of Desdemona increases in his heart. I will chop her into messes. Cuckold me! He does not want to hear any truth from Desdemona as he is arrogant and vain, thinking that the ‘honest’ Iago’s suggestions and advice is for Othello’s welfare. Othello’s hubris is further demonstrated to a greater extent when he strangles Desdemona in her bed. He is proud and vain thinking that the handkerchief is enough proof that Desdemona is has faithlessness to her husband. Desdemona protests and in a respectful, polite manner, she begs him to stop and listen to her statements. However, despite Desdemona’s countless pleas, Othello brutally smothers her in his feelings of rage, ignorance, jealousy and arrogance. (Desdemona): I never did offend you in my life; never loved Cassio. Othello): O Perjured woman! Thou dost stone my heart. I saw the handkerchief in his hand. (Desdemona): I never gave it to him. Othello shows his vanity and cruelty to Desdemona by outlining his capability in killing Cassio as revenge. Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge had stomach for them all. This leads to Othello’s madness and desperateness in killing those who have abused and mocked him. He does not wish to spare anybody becau se his hubris facilitates him to kill the innocent ones without question. Othello: Out, strumpet! Desdemona: Banish me my lord, but kill me not. Othello: Down, Strumpet! (He smothers her) Othello’s ruthlessness and hubris energise him to throttle his wife, ignoring her desperate pleas. He is vain and ignorant as he thinks that he knows and controls his wife’s fate. Overall, Iago has manipulated Othello. This action leads to Othello’s ultimate destruction under the Aristotelian tragedy readings. For the post-colonial readings, Iago takes advantage of Othello’s race, as he conforms to ‘the other’, to destroy him.