Othello Summary
William Shakespeare

Everything you need to understand or teach Othello by William Shakespeare.

Othello Summary & Study Guide
119 Student Essays
1 Encyclopedia Article
68 Literature Criticisms
1 Book Notes
...and more

30 Othello Lessons
20 Activities
180 Multiple Choice Questions
60 Short Essay Questions
20 Essay Questions
Pre-Made Tests and Quizzes
...and more

Othello Summary

Othello is unique among Shakespeare's great tragedies. Unlike Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth, which are set against a backdrop of affairs of state and which reverberate with suggestions of universal human concerns, Othello is set in a private world and focuses on the passions and personal lives of its major figures. Indeed, it has often been described as a "tragedy of character"; Othello's swift descent into jealousy and rage and Iago's dazzling display...

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Study Pack

The Othello Study Pack contains:

Othello Study Guide

Free Quiz

Characters

Character Studies

Conclusion

Themes

Style

Criticism

Adaptations

Topics for Further Study

Compare and Contrast

What Do I Read Next?

Further Study

Encyclopedia Articles (1)

Othello

3,605 words, approx. 13 pages

Othello by William Shakespeare William Shakespeare adapted the tragic Italian tale of Othello to appeal to a British audience and, in particular, to the new king, James I. Shakespeare was a child a... Read more

William Shakespeare Biographies (5)

William Shakespeare

3,065 words, approx. 11 pages

The English playwright, poet, and actor William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is generally acknowledged to be the greatest of English writers and one of the most extraordinary creators in human history.The ... Read more

William Shakespeare

2,552 words, approx. 9 pages

Considered by critics, scholars, and the theater-going public the most important dramatist in the history of English literature, William Shakespeare occupies a unique position in the pantheon of great... Read more

William Shakespeare

30,475 words, approx. 102 pages

"He was not of an age, but for all time." So wrote Ben Jonson in his dedicatory verses to the memory of William Shakespeare in 1623, and so we continue to affirm today. No other writer, in English or ... Read more

William Shakespeare

10,061 words, approx. 34 pages

William Shakespeare's reputation is based primarily on his plays. With the partial exception of the Sonnets (1609), quarried since the early nineteenth century for autobiographical secrets allegedly ... Read more

William Shakespeare

35,432 words, approx. 119 pages

Biography Essay"He was not of an age, but for all time." So wrote Ben Jonson in his dedicatory verses to the memory of William Shakespeare in 1623, and so we continue to affirm today. No other writer,... Read more

Essays & Analysis (187)

Have You Not Read of Some Such Thing? Sex and Sexual Stories in Othello

11,003 words, approx. 37 pages

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Critical Essay by Kenneth Muir

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Critical Essay by Ruth M. Levitsky

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Critical Essay by Edward A. Snow

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Critical Essay by Michael W. Shurgot

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Critical Essay by Michael D. Bristol

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Critical Essay by Rosalind King

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Critical Essay by Ruth Cowhig

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Critical Essay by June Sturrock

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Critical Essay by Marianne Novy

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Critical Essay by Mark Rose

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Critical Essay by Graham Bradshaw

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Critical Essay by David Lucking

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Critical Essay by Mark Matheson

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Critical Essay by James R. Andreas

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Critical Essay by Kim Hall

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Critical Essay by James R. Aubrey

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Critical Essay by Margo Hendricks

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Critical Essay by Janet Adelman

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Critical Essay by Michael Neill

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Critical Essay by Patrick C. Hogan

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Critical Essay by Arthur M. Eastman

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Critical Essay by James R. Aubrey

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Critical Essay by Arthur L. Little, Jr.

12,873 words, approx. 43 pages

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Critical Essay by Ruth Vanita

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Critical Essay by S. N. Garner

9,580 words, approx. 32 pages

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Critical Review by Sharon Friedman

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Critical Review by Russell Jackson

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Critical Review by Judith Buchanan

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Critical Review by Peter Travers

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Lecture by G. K. Hunter

10,625 words, approx. 36 pages

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Critical Essay by Carol Thomas Neely

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Critical Essay by Valerie Wayne

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Critical Essay by John Simon

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Critical Essay by Caryn James

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Critical Essay by Paul Yachnin

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Critical Essay by Andrew Sofer

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Critical Essay by Edward Washington

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Critical Essay by Lucille P. Fultz

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Critical Essay by Thomas Moisan

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Critical Essay by Albert Gerard

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Critical Essay by Leah Scragg

8,289 words, approx. 28 pages

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Critical Essay by Emily C. Bartels

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Critical Essay by Millicent Bell

5,971 words, approx. 20 pages

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Critical Essay by Ben Brantley

1,214 words, approx. 5 pages

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Critical Essay by Barbara D. Phillips

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Critical Essay by Charles Isherwood

1,071 words, approx. 4 pages

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Critical Essay by Michael Feingold

1,675 words, approx. 6 pages

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Critical Essay by Leo Kirschbaum

6,834 words, approx. 23 pages

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Critical Essay by Michael C. Andrews

5,129 words, approx. 18 pages

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Critical Essay by Martin Orkin

13,495 words, approx. 45 pages

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Critical Essay by R. V. Young

5,901 words, approx. 20 pages

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Critical Essay by R. N. Hallstead

11,970 words, approx. 40 pages

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Critical Essay by Estelle W. Taylor

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Critical Essay by Piotr Sadowski

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Critical Review by Geoffrey Bent

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Critical Review by Alastair Macaulay

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Critical Review by Owen Gleiberman

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Rob Wilson

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Critical Essay by Julia Reinhard Lupton

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Critical Essay by Lorne M. Buchman

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Sara Munson Deats

5,319 words, approx. 18 pages

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The Character of Iago in Othello

1,819 words, approx. 7 pages

No one has ever failed to appreciate the skilled art with which Shakespeare has defined the characters of his plays; great and small alike, their distinctiveness, their dignity, their misery, and th... Read more

Narcissism in Othello

1,417 words, approx. 5 pages

In the play Othello, Iago and Othello are two main characters that bear the trait of narcissism. Narcissism is a dangerous trait that plays a large part in the tragedy of Othello. This psychological c... Read more

The Play "Othello" Vs. the Movie "O"

1,123 words, approx. 4 pages

Othello in all its forms convey a clear and simplistic theme where there is the fall of a tragic hero due to his/her flaw, which in this case happens to be jealousy for Othello. However, due to the c... Read more

Othello: Characters True Nature

1,200 words, approx. 5 pages

In the tragic play Othello by William Shakespeare the reader discovers many characteristics of Othello's true nature as the powerful love between he and Desdemona degenerates into a vehicle for Iago's... Read more

Examine and Account for Attitudes Towards Race in Act I

2,427 words, approx. 9 pages

Throughout Shakespeare's "Othello", one of the most poignant themes is that of race and racial prejudice. Various critics are of the view that "Othello" was written as a social commentary, depicting... Read more

Othello

1,341 words, approx. 5 pages

The play Othello, much like many of the other works of William Shakespeare's, is a tragedy. However, Othello is a rather unusual tragedy because it does not follow the rules that generally qualify a p... Read more

Race and Sexism in William Shakespeare's Othello

2,459 words, approx. 9 pages

bell hooks, also known as Bell Hooks, Gloria Watkins, and Gloria Jean Watkins, is a social critic whose books analyze the function of race and gender of the modern day (bell hooks online). She is well... Read more

Othello and Jealousy

2,549 words, approx. 9 pages

`In 1962 Thomas Rymer described Othello as a `jealous booby'. He was right.' Discuss this statement with close reference to the text, including your own opinion and the opinions of at least three ot... Read more

Characterisation of Othello

1,561 words, approx. 6 pages

Othello Othello is first introduced in the opening dialogue between Roderigo, Iago and Brabantio. His name is not used and he is referred to as `the Moor', `the thick lips' `the old black ram', `the... Read more

Discourse of Power in 'othello'

567 words, approx. 2 pages

Shakespeare uses the cultural assumptions, connotations and a discourse of power in his play Othello, and manipulates it as a didactic tool by challenging Elizabethan ideological structure. He does so... Read more

Iago's Purpose in Othello

1,284 words, approx. 5 pages

Iago's shear purpose in the play was to systematically destroy Othello's life. He did this by carefully convincing Othello that his wife, Desdemona, practiced infidelity. He plotted alone to do this, ... Read more

Othell-oh No!

3,659 words, approx. 13 pages

Jeff Martini Mr. Luks AP Eng. Lit and Comp 17 October 2004 Othell-Oh No! Many classify Othello as Shakespeare's "jealousy play." Though jealously figures prominently as a force which drives Othe... Read more

Racism in Othello

1,037 words, approx. 4 pages

The play, Othello, is certainly, in part, the tragedy of racism. Examples of racism are common throughout the dialog. This racism is directed toward Othello, a brave soldier from Africa and currently ... Read more

Trials in Othello

984 words, approx. 4 pages

    In Shakespeare's Othello there are three main trials that build the plot of the play. In each of these "trials", Iago though not always the judge tries to be the puppet master. He d... Read more

Othello Loved Unwisely But Too Well

1,232 words, approx. 5 pages

Othello claimed he loved not wisely, but too well'     Othello, the central character of William Shakespeare's play is an excellent leader but a poor reasoner and foolish lover. The ... Read more

A Modern Day Tragedy: "O"

1,562 words, approx. 6 pages

A Modern Day Tragedy: "O" When Shakespeare composed the tragedy Othello televisions were not. Along with no televisions, life in the late 1500s had many different qualities than it does today. This ... Read more

Living a Life of Deceit

1,141 words, approx. 4 pages

The old cliché "One bad apple ruins the bunch" is what enters one's mind when discussing the villainous, deceitful, protagonist Iago in Shakespeare's tragedy "Othello." It is amazing how one per... Read more

The True Colors of Humanity in Othello

2,064 words, approx. 7 pages

In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, the characters are symbolic of qualities found in every human. The main characters, Othello, Desdemona and Iago, are key examples of this. Othello is symbol... Read more

Shakespeare's Othello

2,043 words, approx. 7 pages

LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES Shakespeare's Othello uses a number of language techniques, to achieve a greater emotional impact on the audience. Othello uses a lot of simile, metaphor, even pun but mainly imag... Read more

Othello - Desdemona as a Character

669 words, approx. 3 pages

Emilia, One of the Great Characters of Shakespeare During Shakespeare's play Othello, there are characters such as Iago, Cassio and Othello who have an actual character that the plot revolves around... Read more

The handkerchief in 'Othello'

806 words, approx. 3 pages

The handkerchief in 'Othello' is one with an embroidery of strawberries on it. The handkerchief symbolizes different things to the different characters and plays an important role in the play. Sin... Read more

Shakespeare's Othello: Character Change

1,160 words, approx. 4 pages

Drama is dynamic, over the course of a play the audience's perception of the characters develops and changes as the plot is constructed and unfolded. A good playwright will create an impression for ea... Read more

The Shaping of Characters in Plays such as "Othello" Help Readers Respond in Various Ways

1,828 words, approx. 7 pages

As the storyline of a drama takes shape, so too do the characters of the play develop personality. As a character's personality develops in complexity through the drama, the audience is invited to res... Read more

Othello

2,555 words, approx. 9 pages

`The tragedy of `Othello' is caused by the fatal flaw in the eponymous hero'. What can be said for this view and what other factors contribute to the tragic situation" `Othello' delivered many trage... Read more

Othello's Free and Open Nature

459 words, approx. 2 pages

Set in the entrepreneurial, rich and cosmopolitan environment of Venice, Shakepeare's play, "Othello", gives us an insight into how a man, by the name of Iago, smoothly exposes the weakness of another... Read more

Why Editing Othello May Have Changed the Context

1,209 words, approx. 5 pages

An editor who is given the task to edit any play written by William Shakespeare has a sizeable task to fulfill. The main objective in editing is to both make the play more understandable with altered... Read more

Is It All Othello's Fault?

841 words, approx. 3 pages

It is uncertain who is directly at fault for the tragedy in Shakespeare's Othello. There are many characters who contribute to the deaths of Desdemona, Othello and Emilia. Despite Othello and his ensi... Read more

The Tragic Flaws of Othello

468 words, approx. 2 pages

Trust is a powerful emotion and can easily be manipulated. In Shakespeare's Tragedy Othello the Moor of Venice the character Iago uses trust as his sword. Othello is so easily duped by Iago because ... Read more

How and Why Does Iago Convince Othello of Desdemona's Infidelity

2,305 words, approx. 8 pages

Like any other Shakespeare tragedy, `Othello' deals with serious themes, traditionally ones in which a character or characters meet disaster as a result either of personal failings or circumstances be... Read more

"Othello" by William Shakespeare

1,051 words, approx. 4 pages

The quality of a text is judged through its ability to be read and understood from different perspectives. Othello by William Shakespeare is such a text as it allows the responder to access the play ... Read more

Different Reactions of a Modern and Elizabethan Audience to Othello

880 words, approx. 3 pages

In the Elizabethan era, many of the issues Shakespeare included in his plays were socially accepted by the audience. In contrast these issues are in large not accepted in today's modern society. The... Read more

Shakespeare's Racial Bias

971 words, approx. 4 pages

"In the old age black was not counted fair, Or if it were it bore not beauty's name;" -lines 1-2 of William Shakespeare's Sonnet 127 The first two lines of William Shakespeare's Sonnet 1... Read more

Is Othello a Racist Play?

427 words, approx. 2 pages

The concept of race is used to divide Othello from the other characters in the play by drawing attention to meaningless differences such as skin colour or attitudes towards love. This concept of race ... Read more

Seduction through Words

1,591 words, approx. 6 pages

People say that actions are louder than words. However, the art of persuasion are mostly about the usage of language; how words affect actions that follows it. What Machiavelli suggested is what e... Read more

Othello and His Character Flaws

724 words, approx. 3 pages

Othello's downfall was caused by a flaw in his nature that was exploited by Iago and manipulated through many circumstantial events. Othello is, by nature, a very trusting person. His job as the gene... Read more

Iago: Proud and Deceptive

909 words, approx. 4 pages

William Shakespeare's "Othello" is possibly his most complex play. "Othello" deals with the natural human qualities of self-pride, love and deception. Iago either exemplifies or significantly lacks... Read more

Othello: "Conflicts Brings Out the Worst in People"

1,661 words, approx. 6 pages

Through careful analysis of the texts Othello by William Shakespeare, Lord of the Rings: the Return of the Kings a novel by JRR Tolkien and the poem "But You didn't" by Merill Glass it is discovered... Read more

Iago's Muse Was Not a Unicorn: an Exhaustively Researched Paper Discussing Motivation

1,686 words, approx. 6 pages

Often in Shakespearean literature characters come to life with a vivacity and vitality that parallels reality. Holding steadfast to the common literary foundation within his novels, Shakespeare has t... Read more

Othello Vs. Iago

669 words, approx. 3 pages

In Shakespeare's Othello many different characters juxtapose each other throughout the play. It seems that for every characteristic one of the main characters have, another character is the opposite ... Read more

Othello Learns of Jealousy

775 words, approx. 3 pages

Othello understands more, as the play goes on, of his jealousy, his ignorance, and his outsider ness as he is overpowered by the prevailing social and ideological tides. Othello is brilliantly trick... Read more

What Kind of Man Is Iago by the End of Act 1?

1,123 words, approx. 4 pages

Othello, like many other William Shakespeare plays, is a tragedy which depicts the antagonist, Iago as the two-sided villain. The antagonist, Iago plays a very complex character, having to show both... Read more

Othello: Different Readings of the Play

1,009 words, approx. 4 pages

"Every new reading of Othello implies a reconsideration of the ways audiences value the play and respond to it." In this way, Shakespeare may not be the only author in the creation of Othello's them... Read more

Audience Response to "Othello"

1,029 words, approx. 4 pages

Change in Othello

1,086 words, approx. 4 pages

Change is defined in Webster's Dictionary as- `To alter; to make different; to cause to pass from one state to another; as, to change the position, character, or appearance of a thing; to change the ... Read more

Othello: a Tragic Hero or Not?

607 words, approx. 3 pages

A tragic hero can be described as one who is responsible for his or her own fate, meets a tragic death, falls from a great or high position, has a tragic flaw, and is bound to make an unwise judg... Read more

Review of "Othello" at Stonybrook University of New York

649 words, approx. 3 pages

A highly emotional production of William's Shakespeare tragic play "Othello" by the Aquila Theatre Company opened at the Staller Center, Stonybrook University of New York. Tickets were sold out and t... Read more

Social Origins of "Othello"

843 words, approx. 3 pages

Shakespeare adapted Othello from Giraldi Cinthio's "Hecatommithi," but he altered the original story. The central point of Cinthio's story is that one should look for marriage partners from the same... Read more

Othello Forum

1,296 words, approx. 5 pages

Othello... Keith Belt: Hello to all of you out there tonight, this is Theatre Today 98.7 FM and I am Keith Belt, your host. For the past month we have been bringing in students from the University o... Read more

The Lies Which Consume Othello

917 words, approx. 4 pages

S of O 1: In their courtship and early marriage Desdemona and Othello are very much in love and share loyalty and dedication to each other. S of O 2: Othello's feelings for Desdemona began to cha... Read more

Weakness of Othello Is the Women in It Are Too Weakly Portrayed

819 words, approx. 3 pages

I agree that the main weakness of Othello is that its female characters are weaker than is perhaps believable, or where they are not weaker than believable they are too strong than the time of the pla... Read more

Othello Analysis

522 words, approx. 2 pages

In Act V Scene II of William Shakespeare's Othello; the once dependent relationship between the characters Emilia and Iago (displayed thought Emilia's yielding to all of Iago's requests, and Iago's... Read more

Othello and Race and Gender

1,842 words, approx. 7 pages

Shakespeare's play Othello, reveals the racial, and gender demarcations of this Jacobean play representing Elizabethan values through acceptance and rejection of racial and gender related stereotypes.... Read more

The Tragedies of Othello

1,127 words, approx. 4 pages

The play Othello offers both the tragedy of greatness and the tragedy of innocence. The tragedy of greatness occurs when we witness the downfall of a man who had greatness within his reach yet squa... Read more

Assesment of Act I in "Othello"

1,273 words, approx. 5 pages

By the conclusion of Act One the main characters in Shakespeare's Othello have revealed their distinctive personality traits and their natures. Although Othello is absent at the beginning of Act One, ... Read more

Which is the Greater Tragedy: "Othello" or "Merchant of Venice"

1,427 words, approx. 5 pages

What makes a work of literature a tragedy? Is it a subjective matter? The answer is no; in literature, there are very strict guidelines, written by Aristotle, as to what characteristics define a tra... Read more

Comparison of "Othello" and the Movie "O"

849 words, approx. 3 pages

The Shakespearean play Othello and the movie "O" are similar in many ways. "O" is basically based on Othello. Although the characters are not the same, their names are very similar. In Shakespeare... Read more

How Does "Othello" Fit Into Your Modern Understanding of Tragedy?

1,661 words, approx. 6 pages

The modern understanding of tragedy is different from the past's understanding of tragedy, and it will be different from the future's interpretation of tragedy. Tragedy is developed as contemporary... Read more

Shakespeare's "othello" and Aristotle's Notion of Tragedy

1,008 words, approx. 4 pages

Aristotle's notion of tragedy states, "a tragedy is a form of drama exciting the emotions of pity and fear. Its actions should be single and complete, presenting a reversal of fortune, involving perso... Read more

Othello: A Discussion of Characters and Themes

1,323 words, approx. 5 pages

This extract is set in a scene in the play where Iago implements his plan of action to tear Othello and Desdemona assunder and implant untrue notions of Desdemona in Othello's mind to get back at Oth... Read more

Othello: A Feminist Criticism

960 words, approx. 4 pages

Every individual have different contexts, this is determined by things such as their background, culture, beliefs, and values; under these influences each individual interprets texts differently. Henc... Read more

Othello: Analyzing Iago's Motivation

849 words, approx. 3 pages

Throughout history men and women have plotted the ruin of others for power, love and social class. Typically it is the suppression of hidden desires, usually forbidden desires; that provoke power hung... Read more

Othello as a Tragic Hero

943 words, approx. 4 pages

In many of Shakespeare's plays, the title character is not the tragic hero, and in many works of fiction, the role of the tragic hero is debatable. Many would say that in Shakespeare's Othello, Othel... Read more

Racial and Gender Roles in Shakespeare's Othello

1,892 words, approx. 7 pages

Shakespeare's Othello is a play which reveals the racial and gender demarcations taking on the characteristics of Elizabethan values through acceptance and rejection of racial and gender stereotypes w... Read more

Analyzing Othello

1,384 words, approx. 5 pages

OTHELLO The character of Othello undergoes major changes throughout the play `Othello'. There are many characters that influence Othello and many incidents that occur that causes a noticeable change ... Read more

Othello, Examining the Theme of Jealousy

628 words, approx. 3 pages

Within almost every piece of literature contains some substantial amount of human conflict. Without human conflict stories can easily lack of a readers interest. One of the most amazing types of hum... Read more

Othello: A Critical Perspective

2,795 words, approx. 10 pages

Dear Board of Directors, I am planning to hold a production for Shakespeare's Othello. The production will be altered due to my critical perspectives influenced by other critical readings (dominant,... Read more

Othello

994 words, approx. 4 pages

"Othello" is a good example of Aristotelian drama. It is simple play and the focus is on a very small cast of characters. It has few distractions from the main plot and concentrates on just a few... Read more

Othello: A Character Study of Cassio

659 words, approx. 3 pages

In Shakespeare's "Othello", Michael Cassio plays Othello's lieutenant. We don't hear too much of Cassio, but he plays a crucial part to this story. His integrity is tested when the evil Iago accuses... Read more

Iago and Ben Jago

1,056 words, approx. 4 pages

Geoffrey Sax's interpretation of William Shakespeare's wicked villain Iago is extraordinary. While reading the play, I envisioned Iago precisely as Christopher Eccleston portrayed him--diabolical and ... Read more

Meaning of Othello : Illusion Vs. Reality

1,379 words, approx. 5 pages

"Othello" is a play which blends illusions with reality. Another way to say appearance vs. reality is a phrase saying "two-faced." In "Othello", it is the character's illusions which prevents th... Read more

17th Century Women Compared to Modern Times Using the Play Othello

951 words, approx. 4 pages

In the early 17th century, women behaved differently than women in today's times. Every person would react differently because of their gender and culture to Desdemona's faithfulness to Othello compa... Read more

Othello: A Character Analysis of Iago

687 words, approx. 3 pages

Iago says at the beginning of Othello ."..I am not what I am." (Ii66). In Act III we see the widening gap between who he really is, and who he pretends to be. The audience, a witness to all that happe... Read more

Jealousy and Tragedy: Othello

345 words, approx. 2 pages

In Othello, the Moor of Venice, written by William Shakespeare, the main character Othello is a nobleman and commander of the Venetian army. A man who has such a significant place in society is seen t... Read more

Shakespeare's Drama

893 words, approx. 3 pages

After the Classical era, that is after the Greek writers Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, it is Shakespeare who is widely known for his plays. There is a blend of the tragic and comic in almost al... Read more

Othello: a Tragic Hero?

632 words, approx. 3 pages

Satire is used in dramatic works in order to exaggerate the characters' features and to make the presentation light-hearted. In contrast, the audience achieves feelings of fear when defeat is found ... Read more

Iago, an Analysis

500 words, approx. 2 pages

Iago was the villain men envied and woman wanted. Some theorist hypothesized that Iago in fact had no interest in the ladies but was more captivated by the men. Iago was likely the most vicious villai... Read more

Jelousy in Othello

594 words, approx. 2 pages

if the ultimate human goal is love, one coul argue that the ultimate human obstacle is jelousy. Whether it breeds into racism, hatred or fear of infidelity, envy is something that people encounter on... Read more

Masks in Othello

1,451 words, approx. 5 pages

Meaning of mask is something that serves to conceal. In this world we, human, have to wear the mask, unless a person is a true hero. I, myself, also wear a mask to conceal my weakness. A true hero ne... Read more

Character Analysis: Othello

769 words, approx. 3 pages

Othello, a Moor, is a general of the Venetian armed forces. He is a noble and grand man, well respected as soldier. In the beginning of the play, he is proud, intelligent, calm, patient, and self-conf... Read more

Othello: the Noble Savage

2,621 words, approx. 9 pages

Othello: The Noble Savage There are many opposing views to the way that Othello is defined within Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Othello. Some suggest that Othello is a savage "Moor," and at no poin... Read more

Human's Actions

676 words, approx. 3 pages

Humans' Actions In Othello by William Shakespeare, the characters' actions produce exceptional calamity and end in the death of a man in high estate. Othello, depicts 3 issues about mankind's ac... Read more

Human's Actions

672 words, approx. 3 pages

In Othello by William Shakespeare, the characters' actions produce exceptional calamity and end in the death of a man in high estate. Othello, depicts 3 issues about mankind's actions.They are a h... Read more

The Tumultuous Fathomed

788 words, approx. 3 pages

In a literary work, characters are often defined by their actions and words. Most often, readers are able to discern when a character is in a state of melancholy or a state of utter euphoria by t... Read more

Emilia's Complexity in "Othello"

1,113 words, approx. 4 pages

As a woman, Iago's wife, Emilia, is faced with stereotypes and is labeled as "dumb" and "useless." People generally overlook her character in William Shakespeare's Othello because of this aspect. C... Read more

Cassio as Innocent Bystander in "Othello"

1,653 words, approx. 6 pages

Michael Cassio is an innocent bystander that Iago uses as a puppet in the play Othello. This holds truth when Othello gives him the lieutenant job that Iago thought he deserved. So since Cassio is goo... Read more

Othello: Analysis of Shakespearan Scholars Opinions

2,391 words, approx. 8 pages

Today's Response to Othello (1994)-- "American history is a cornucopia of racial tension," Michael Quieto opens his essay, Othello as Forum for the Condemnation of Racial Prejudice. Mentioning the ... Read more

"Iago and Othello

919 words, approx. 4 pages

"Iago is ruthlessly aware of the power of words while Othello is tragically vulnerable to their power." Iago's scheming nature and his manipulative way with words are evident from Act 1 scene i where... Read more

Othello as a Tragic Hero

856 words, approx. 3 pages

Throughout life the human personality adapts in many ways, based upon a variety of factors that influence its environment. For example, some extremely accepting and inviting young men and women might... Read more

'Motiveless Malignity - Iago in Othello'

1,658 words, approx. 6 pages

`Othello' is a play that revolves around jealousy and trust, and Iago is clearly a character whose role is built around these two elements. Although `evil' characters are certainly not uncommon in Sha... Read more

Iago; The Representation of Villainy in "Othello"

1,114 words, approx. 4 pages

A villain is defined as an evil character in a novel, movie, play, or other story, especially one who is the main enemy of the hero according to Encarta Dictionary. In "Othello," Iago fits this defi... Read more

There Are as Many Readings of Othello as There Are Readers.

2,523 words, approx. 9 pages

There are as many readings of a text as there are readers; Every text has a myriads versions of different critical "readings", such as "Feminist", "Liberal Humanist" or "Deconstructionist" readings de... Read more

Analysis of Act II, Scene III of "Othello"

761 words, approx. 3 pages

In this scene, Iago and Cassio socialise together, while Othello has his wedding night. Iago is at his most cunning and evil, but also shows us how convincing he can be in pretending to be all nice an... Read more

Othello as a Tragic Figure in Shakespeare's Othello

1,362 words, approx. 5 pages

Othello, a Tragic Figure" Throughout life, the personality of humans adapts in many ways, based upon a variety of factors that influence his or her environment. For example, some accepting and in... Read more

The Marriage of Othello and Desdemona in Shakespeare's Othello

2,218 words, approx. 8 pages

The marriage of Othello and Desdemona in Othello In my opinion the marriage of Othello and Desdemona is curious, it is unstable and unsuitable. It is unstable because of the foundations on which the ... Read more

"Othello": A Feminist and Post-Colonial Perspective

2,260 words, approx. 8 pages

In William Shakespeare's Othello, different interpretations give the text different meanings. From a post colonial perspective, the text presents a discourse, describing an attempt of assimilation of ... Read more

The Role of Race in "Othello"

1,322 words, approx. 5 pages

Othello was a "Moor" from northern Africa who, through hard work, bravery and courageous fighting, became the general of the Venetian army. This accomplishment was significant because it wasn't a posi... Read more

Comparing Tim Blake Nelson's Version of Othello to That of Geoffrey Sax

3,128 words, approx. 11 pages

Comparative Film Study Essay Along with Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth, Othello is one of Shakespeare's four greatest tragedies and consequently a pillar of what most critics take to be the pinnacle ... Read more

The Evil in "Othello"

1,248 words, approx. 5 pages

William Shakespeare was born to John Shakespeare and mother Mary Arden some time in late April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. There is no record of his birth, but his baptism was recorded by the church,... Read more

Emilia's Speech in "Othello" and Its Teachings

811 words, approx. 3 pages

Emilia's speech and its teachings. In the play Othello The Moor of Venice, by William Shakespeare, Emilia's speech (4.3.84-103) has been called renaissance plea to women's liberation. This is bec... Read more

"Othello" Appropriation to Film

1,145 words, approx. 4 pages

How has Andrew Davies used the original text in order to create something new" Andrew Davies has appropriated Shakespeare's Othello into late 20th century London. The depiction of the individual char... Read more

The Opening of "Othello"

1,010 words, approx. 4 pages

The opening of `Othello' is written and made to be performed to engage the audience, create a dramatic tension where the first of the plans towards the complication take place and also to prepare the ... Read more

Othello

1,496 words, approx. 5 pages

In William Shakespeare's play Othello, it can be seen that Othello is both a victim of his own weaknesses and insecurities as of Iago's manipulation which both ultimately contribute towards Othello's ... Read more

Perspectives on Othello's Character

934 words, approx. 4 pages

Othello, one of many of the great works of William Shakespeare and a very interesting piece of English literature considering it was written in the sixteenth century, it is the epic tale of a moor who... Read more

The Language of Othello

1,468 words, approx. 5 pages

Othello's language in Act V is inconsistent to what it was in the beginning of the play (Acts I&II) because Othello was a confident & noble man who was passionately in love with his wife Desdemona. Ho... Read more

Analysis of a Passage in "Othello"

676 words, approx. 3 pages

Through a passage in Othello Shakespeare explores anger and its sister's disbelief, and disgust through the use of diction and syntax. Brabantio is startled in the night when he finds out that his ... Read more

Individual Change and Growth in Three Works of Literature

823 words, approx. 3 pages

Change is inevitable, it constantly surrounds us. An individual's context is constantly changing and as a response to this, we change - wether it be our behaviour, beliefs, attitudes or perspectives. ... Read more

The "True Tragedy" of "Othello"

1,424 words, approx. 5 pages

The Tragedy of Othello There are several essential elements that must be presented in a Shakespearean play in order to classify the piece as a true tragedy. Most importantly the trage... Read more

Othello

593 words, approx. 2 pages

An online encyclopedia defines a tragic hero as: "A tragic hero in literature is a protagonist that is otherwise perfect except for a tragic flaw, also known as fatal flaw, that eventually brings him... Read more

"Othello" and Its Connection to Greek Tragedy

855 words, approx. 3 pages

The play Othello is Shakespeare's own version of a classic Greek tragedy. A classical dramatic tragedy derives its essence from the ancient Greek plays that were often popular in Athens. These plays... Read more

Revenge-Seeking Villains in "Othello," "The Merchant of Venice," and "The Crucible"

1,506 words, approx. 6 pages

In the two William Shakespeare plays, "Othello" and "The Merchant of Venice", and also the play by Arthur Miller titled "The Crucible" there are characters that are significantly viewed as villains. ... Read more

Self-Reflexivity in "Othello"

1,051 words, approx. 4 pages

Self-reflexivity, or a `self-reflexive' text can be defined as a structure which `looks back at itself ... and which sometimes breaks the boundaries between itself and the world' . Similarly a piece ... Read more

The Collapse of Othello

696 words, approx. 3 pages

The Moor's propensity of jealousy is credible in his disintegration from the amiable and extremely noble character, to the ferociously stupid and barbaric Othello experienced in the latter of the play... Read more

In What Ways Does Desdemona Exemplify and Challenge the Ideal Embodiment of Women in "Othello"?

698 words, approx. 3 pages

Desdemona is portrayed as two very different women in Othello. Desdemona is only introduced into the scene in Act 1 Scene 3 and so the image of her is made up and defined by the male characters. It is... Read more

The Story of "Othello" Retold in "O"

696 words, approx. 3 pages

A transformed text is an alteration or modification of the context yet the key scenes, issues and plot are retained. The film `O' directed by Tim Blake Nelson is a transformed text from Shakespeare's ... Read more

The Theme of Reputation in "Othello"

546 words, approx. 2 pages

In William Shakespeare's Othello, the idea of keeping a good reputation is blurred. It is because of one main character: Iago. His reputation for being honest and loyal goes hand-in-hand with his abi... Read more

Desdemona in "Othello"

2,187 words, approx. 8 pages

How do you interpret the role and dramatic significance of Desdemona in the tragic unfolding of the play? Is she the victim in a male dominated world or at least partly responsible for what happens to... Read more

Othello

854 words, approx. 3 pages

The tragedy of Othello the moor of Venice by William Shakespeare. Othello is a play about jealousy; Othello is a play about how inter-racial marriage can never survive; Othello is a play about stereot... Read more

Othello's "Otherness" In Play and Movie Versions of "Othello"

511 words, approx. 2 pages

The 2001, Geoffrey Sax's film version of Othello emphasises and explores the theme of post-colonialism in the play. Sax changes the setting of the play to modern day London in order to make the play r... Read more

Othello Chose His Fate

1,161 words, approx. 4 pages

The play "Othello the Moor of Venice," is one of Shakespeare's great tragedies. That being so, for every tragedy, there is the tragic hero- a man that is, at bottom, truly honorable and good, but plag... Read more

Free Book Notes (1)

Othello

8,693 words, approx. 29 pages

Othello Book Notes is a free study guide on Othello by William Shakespeare. Browse the summary below:   Author Biography / Context of the Work   One-Page Plot Summary   Character ... Read more

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