Reputation and Image in William Shakespeare´s Othello

Othello Explication In William Shakespeare’s Othello, unspoken fears of being an outsider and concerns about his public image contribute to the downfall of a tragic hero named Othello. Othello, a general in the Venetian army’s, final monologue reflects the importance of reputation and the conformity needed to fit his surroundings. He is seen as an outsider of the Venetian culture; he is frequently referred to as â€Å"the Moor† and is called an abundance of racial slurs by the Venice born natives. Although Othello never voices his internal struggle to feel accepted by the people around him, his image and physical appearance are some of major issues he faces. Even in the moments before he stabs himself, Othello is more concerned with the†¦show more content†¦In his final monologue, Othello prays to be remembered as is, but when he starts to describe himself, it seems as if it is how he wants to be remembered, not for who he actually was. The tone is ironic when he describes himself as â€Å"one not easily jealous† (5.2.350) because in actuality, his jealousy is what led to the death of his wife. If he was not easily made jealous then Iago’s deceitful lies and actions would have not have affected Othello as much as they did. Othello lies about his personal qualities because he is concerned with how his reputation will be presented after his death. The tone is remorseful when he â€Å"like the base Judean, threw a pearl away/ richer than all his tribe; of ones who subdued eyes† (5.2.352-353). Othello could not see how much Desdemona’s life was worth to him behind the hateful illusion that Iago created and surrounded him with. Othello is ashamed that he committed murder, but he does not fully accept responsibility when he blames his actions on â€Å"being wrought† (5.2.350) by Iago. He tries to downplay his mistakes to try to be remembered as a better man than he turned out to be by the end of the play. Othello’s concerns are not only with his reputation as an upstanding citizen and memorable soldier, but with his need to feel accepted by society. Throughout the play, on more than one account, each character refers to Othello as â€Å"the Moor† or makes aShow MoreRelatedExamination Of William Shakespeare s Othello1822 Words   |  8 PagesDanielle Lemmon Prof. Jacobs World Lit section 205 18 April 2016 Examination of William Shakespeare s Othello In the world we live in, we value family, friendship, and romantic love with that special someone. Trust and good communication plays vital role in maintaining our relationships with the people we care about and vice versa. Even in today s society gender roles play a vital role in our relationships with other people. However, once that trust turns into betrayal, our whole perspectiveRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello - Lack Of Respect And Authority1452 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s, Othello, expresses the lack of respect and authority given to women during Shakespeare’s time. Throughout the piece, women are repeatedly put in positions subordinate to men and are stripped of a voice. Women in this piece are portrayed as â€Å"belongings† to men, and never resist how they are treated. Iago is able to use women in his plan, like pawns in a chess game, to benefit himself. However, it is a woman in the end who puts the pieces together and solves Iago twisted plotRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare1264 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Honest† Iago In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago manipulates other characters in an iniquitous way causing commotion and destruction in all of their lives. He uses malicious tactics to negatively affect faultless characters who have done nothing to intentionally harm him. In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is a character shaped by jealousy and hunger for power. He is ruthless and immoral, and manipulates nearly all the characters in the play in order to get what he wants. ThroughoutRead MoreOthello Notes2305 Words   |  10 PagesOthello Notes: Assessment Objectives: AO1: A consistently fluent, precise writing, using critical terminology to present a coherent and detailed argument in which the question is well understood and answered. AO2: Well developed, analytical and consistently detailed discussion of effects of language, form and structure and ways in which it affects the audience. AO3: Well informed and detailed discussion of different readings of the text by various audiences, as well as different criticalRead MoreLove and Desdemona2800 Words   |  12 Pagesothello was a tradgic play. it shows many different types of feeling inWithout Trust, Love Cannot Prevail Trust can be defined as assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something (Websters 1246). In life many people are faced with the decision on who or who not to trust, especially in the realm of love. Trust is one of the main factors needed to determine a healthy, loving relationship. In William Shakespeares Othello, the main character Othello is unableRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare1353 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Othello† is a tragedy play written by William Shakespeare in 1603. The play explains the story of a solider, Iago, that destroys a powerful general named Othello’s marriage, reputation, and overall life. The actions of the protagonist in the play, Iago, will be analyzed for their importance and domino effect throughout the play. Iago is a soldier of the army in Venice. He is a flat character in the play that is selfish, but on the exterior appears to value other individual’s concerns more thanRead More Extr eme Jealousy in Shakespeares Othello, the Moor of Venice2357 Words   |  10 PagesExtreme Jealousy in Othello, the Moor of Venice      Ã‚   Aristotles Poetics laid out the definition of tragedy: unlike comedy, the purpose of tragedy is not merely to instruct and delight an audience. Rather, its aim is to allow a cathartic release as a result of the heightened emotional state caused by the events of the tragedy. This idea assumes that the average person can experience these intense emotions vicariously. In Psyche and Symbol in Shakespeare , Alex Aronson contends that the charactersRead MoreImagery in Othello1781 Words   |  8 PagesThe function of imagery in the mid-sixteenth century play Othello by William Shakespeare is to aid characterisation and define meaning in the play. The antagonist Iago is defined through many different images, Some being the use of poison and soporifics, sleeping agents, to show his true evil and sadistic nature. Othellos character is also shaped by much imagery such as the animalistic, black and white, and horse images which indicates his lustful, sexual nature. Characterisation of women is heavilyRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare1480 Words   |  6 Pagesfor an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.† This quote that was said by a very wise man appeared to be very relatable and significant to the play Othello. Othello is a tragedy play written by William Shakespeare in 1603. The play explains the story of a solider, Iago, that destroys a powerful general named Othello’s marriage, reputation, and overall life. Iago is the antagonist of the play and a soldier of the army in Venice. He is a flat character in the play that is selfish, but on theRead MoreAnalysis Of Othello s Othello By William Shakespeare Essay2117 Words   |  9 Pages Racist Ideology As Seen In Othello As a writer, William Shakespeare possessed an uncanny ability to address topics that were, for the most part, unnoticed in society. Every one of his characters feels realistic because they are so complex and based on psychological motivations. When Shakespeare’s Othello was first written, there was undoubtedly a complicated relationship between white English citizens and so called â€Å"foreigners†. However, society’s inability to understand or accept different cultures