Othello Essay

Othello Essay

“Othello is a tragedy of incomprehension at the deepest level of human interaction. No one in Othello comes to understand himself or anyone else. (Nick Potter). Explain.

P1: Othello loses his control over his reactions and level-headed nature + love and trust in Desdemona. – understand himself + Iago doesn’t know his motivations for deep hatred for Othello.

“She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them.” (1.3.166-67) – Othello

“Men do their broken weapons rather use than their bare hands.” (1.3.172-73) – Duke

“But words are words; I never yet did hear that the bruised heart was pierced through the ear” (1.3.216-17) – Brabantio {foreshadows that Othello will be brought down by mere words}

“If virtue no delighted beauty lack, your son in law is far more fair than black.” Duke (1.3.286) {Othello’s virtue has made him ‘beautiful’, more pure than the expectation of his race}

“I hate the Moor, and it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets he’s done my office. I know not if’t be true yet I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do if for surety.” (1.3.370-72) – Iago

“Trifles light as air are to the jealous confirmations strong as proof of holy writ.” – Iago (3.3.323) {Similie, something totally inoon=cent can set off a jealous man as ge dwells on it and looks for thw worse in everything. Suspicions enough to feed jealousy, irony as this is what has fuelled Iagos paranoia, aside}

P2: Iago is dishonest and does not let any character know his true intentions. – understand others

“I am not what I am.” (1.1.66) – Iago        

“Men should be what they seem; or those that be not, would they might seem none!” – Iago (3.3.119-20)

“I do suspect the lust Moor, hath leaped into my seat; the thought whereof, doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards. And nothing can or shall content me soul till I am evened with him, wife for wife.” – (2.1.276-80) – Iago

“A man he is of honesty and trust.” – Othello (1.3.280)

“I’d rather have this tongue cut from my mouth than it should do offence to Michael Cassio,” – Iago (2.3.202-3)

“I protest, in the sincerity of love and honest kindness.” – Iago (2.3.297)

“Divinity of hell.” – Iago (2.3.317) {Antithesis – restoring natural order? To break up Desdemona and Iago