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¶ … Iago and Othello are taken from the play Othello penned by Shakespeare, a master at depicting psychological and personality nuances among characters. Othello is the same sort of a play that personifies vengeance more than any other emotion.
There are some fundamental differences between the character profiles of Iago and those of Othello that shall be discussed here. The plot of the play revolves around Othello who is the protagonist in this tale, sharing his limelight with Iago, who has more lines and wrecks more havoc than any other villain in Shakespeare's characters. (Rosenberg)
Othello is the moor who is in love with Desdemona, while Iago is his faithful soldier, who has been as Othello's side for a long time, but was superseded by Cassio, Othello's subsequent choice of an admiral for himself. While this might not have been the only reason of Iago's jealousy, it does add to the reason why he behaves the way in which he was portrayed to behave. (Stone)
Othello
Othello is a moor, who is a representation of what is noble and good in men. He is personified as a dark noble leader who loves the naive Desdemona, a fair lady whom he thinks he doesn't deserve. It is partially this feeling of insecurity that fuels his rage against his innocent wife and leads him to believe...
In fact critics have argued that Shakespeare was constrained by the stereotypes and ethnic discrimination that was a norm at the time in an in-depth portrayal of a dark man. (Stone)
Othello is a contradiction of his own noble values which he abandons as soon as Iago tells him that Desdemona is cheating on him.
Othello, at the core of his being is an uncharacteristically trusting and unsuspicious moor, who has complete trust in Iago's intent for giving counsel to him. Moreover, as Othello is insecure about his relationship with Desdemona, he, in his naivety is easily led asunder by Iago. All Iago has to do is to whisper in Othello's ear and stage a simple scene to have Othello going after his wife to kill her.
Once Othello does kill her, his temporary rage subsides and with the help of Emilia he sees the wrong of his ways. But by the time it is too late for him to remedy his fallacy.
In a way Othello also describes repentance when the mistakes that have been done cannot be corrected and represents repentance, which Othello is unable to seek, and damage he is unable to repair. (Witzel)
Iago
Iago probably is one of the most interesting characters created by Shakespeare. Iago fought beside the Moor, and is portrayed as loving Othello dearly. However, the vileness in his heart takes over him for several reasons;…
Bibliography
Rosenberg, Marvin. The masks of Othello: the search for the identity of Othello, Iago, and Desdemona by three centuries of actors and critics . Delaware: University of Delaware Press, 1992 .
The book is an avid source on how the three main characters in Othello are portrayed by the playwright. These three characters describe human nature, at its best in terms of Desdemona, an innocent girl, Othello a clear hearted man but who suffers from Jealousy and Iago who is wickedness personified. The book has helped analyze the characters of Iago and Othello from various perspectives.
Stone, Alan. Boston Review: Othello. 1996. 22 November 2011 < http://bostonreview.net/BR21.2/Stone.html>.
This review speaks of Iago in how it has been played out be various actors each of whom lent their own understanding of the character in its portrayal. This was helpful as actors who play out the character feel it in its heat and therefore are in a better position to understand the character's psyche.
Othello The audience is aware of Iago's nefarious nature from the opening scene of Othello. During his conversation with Roderigo, Iago confesses his hatred of both Cassio and of Othello, his commanding officer of whom he says, "I follow him to serve my turn upon him," (I.1.42). Iago's rage and vengefulness drive the play's plot forward, leading to the death and downfall of many of its main characters. Thoroughly humiliated by
Othello Aristotle's Poetics is the most informative piece of work on the nature of art. It is in the Poetics that Aristotle defines the fundamental nature of tragedy. For Aristotle, what defines tragedy (and all art, in general) is in the way that it is imitation (Golden 142). Every form of art (qua imitation) can be compared in terms of the artistic means, object, and manner used in their creation. In
They will go to far to hire a mercenary like Iago to pursue their goal for them. There are Othellos today as there was a shining one in Shakespeare's fiction or time. Military heroes like him have secret vulnerabilities, which reveal themselves in unguarded or trying moments. As a self-claimed victim of a foreign culture, Othello's cry of discrimination resounds in contemporary society despite his accomplishments. Contentment in life is
Othello Of the alleged chief tragedies penned by Shakespeare, Othello has led to a certain degree of embarrassment. This 'domestic tragedy' lacks the dynastic and political consequences that characterize Macbeth, Hamlet, and Lear. The protagonist, Othello, behaves like a blockhead. Readers are led into doubting his claims to greatness right from the start. The Bard of Avon is famous for his interest in identity issues. Antagonists may cruelly impose themselves on
Othello: The Tragedy of Internalized Racism William Shakespeare's tragedy of the Moor Othello is the only major drama of the great playwright in which race plays a major role. The title character begins the play a great and esteemed general, despite the fact that he is a member of an 'othered,' despised race against which some whites have great prejudice. Othello's apparent nobleness, his military prowess, and his eloquence (despite his
Othello and Justice Like many of Shakespeare's plays, Othello demonstrates how emotion and a strict personal ethic can lead to tragedy. The play is filled with intrigue, mainly on the part of Iago, another trait of Shakespeare's plays, and the characters seem to twist around their own insecurities. Linking this play to a central theme is difficult because there are so many threads that could be taken as the primary driver