Three Main Themes in Othello

Categories: Othello

Othello Essay

William Shakespeare, a well known author during the 1500s and was considered England’s national writer and thought to be the best playwright. From comedies to tragedies and so much more, Shakespeare has written and create a new world of the English language in his stories. One well known tragic story Shakespeare has written is ‘Othello’. There are three main themes in ‘Othello’ which are deception, manipulation and control, and appearance vs reality.

One may promptly see the theme of Shakespeare's "Othello" as deception.

Deception seems ordinarily in Othello, yet in relatively every occurrence the level of trickiness is unique. The first demonstration of trickiness is finished by the character Desdemona. Desdemona conceals her association with Othello from her dad, knowing he will object because of Othello's race.” How didst thou know ‘twas she? -O, she deceives me” (1.1.163-164). Although her reasoning from hiding her marriage was due to good intentions, she knew that their marriage would still give her father inevitable pain in the end.

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Another incident of deception has to deal with the character Iago who is constantly deceiving people for his own good. Iago sets up numerous traps to deceive people especially Othello. He somehow managed to convince Othello that his wife, Desdemona, is cheating on him with his general Cassio. The level of deception Iago had to use against Othello wasn’t hard since Othello trusted Iago a lot. So when Iago reveals to Othello that Desdemona gave Cassio his cloth, Othello naturally made a hasty judgment about Desdemona tricking.

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“ I know not that; but such a handkerchief - I am sure it was your wife’s - did I today see Cassio wipe his beard with”(3.3.434-436). This leads to major complications in Othello and Desdemona’s marriage and even leads to Othello strangling Desdemona.

Manipulation is also a theme of Othello. In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago, an ace of control, causes the hero, Othello, to lose confide in his dependable spouse, Desdemona. Look to your significant other; watch her well with Cassio; wear your eyes subsequently: not envious nor secure.(3.3.197-198). Iago effectively persuades Othello to question Desdemona and later murder her through his genius utilization of talk and control. Iago's utilization of clear symbolism and narrating gives Othello the feeling that Desdemona is unfaithful. “I will in Cassio’s lodging lose this napkin and let him find it. Trifles light as air are to the jealous confirmations strong as proofs of Holy Writ”(3.3.318-321). Iago utilizes this obscene correlation with influence Desdemona to appear like an unquenchable animal. When he says this, Othello promptly considers creatures and a need control over physical activities. He connects this with Desdemona, accordingly making him trust Desdemona a prostitute.

The play 'Othello' is a bombshell of a definitive fight between appearance versus reality in the regard that Iago is the direct inverse of what he seems to be. I tail him to serve my turn upon him. We can't be all experts, nor all bosses can't be really taken after(1.1.40-41). Throughout the story of Othello, Iago is portrayed as the most honest man alive. Unfortunately for Othello, this fills in as his inevitable ruin helping Iago play Othello like a harp, which brings about Desdemona's passing. Iago's two-sided confront and the other characters' availability to trust him before reconsidering is the main thrust of the play and its plot. “Men should be what they seem,or those that be not ,would they seem none!”(3.3.128-129). Iago has intended to influence himself to show up along these lines, so he can get to Othello and control him into trusting lies.

The themes of deception, manipulation and control, and appearance vs reality that are shown in Shakespeare’s Othello are often shown in real life as well. Whether we recognise it quickly or not, theses themes surround our daily lives everyday.

Updated: Feb 02, 2024
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Three Main Themes in Othello. (2024, Feb 06). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/three-main-themes-in-othello-essay

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