English Essay- “Othello” by William Shakespeare- How do we judge Othello in
the first three acts, especially in Act 3 scene 3?
Othello is the archetypal tragic hero from Shakespearean tragedy, which
typically follows the descent of a protagonist from a position of esteem and
nobility to one of disgrace, leading to their eventual death. Othello follows this
pattern, and the audience’s perception of him shifts from positive to negative
as he falls from grace. It may be interpreted that Othello’s hamartia is his pride
and dedication to his honour. It is this flaw which causes him to give way to his
increasingly violent tendencies, ultimately losing the respect of the audience.
Even if the audience remains somewhat sympathetic towards Othello, they
are nonetheless invited to judge and condemn him. Therefore, Shakespeare
successfully lectures the audience about the dangers of pride through
Othello’s moral decline.
Othello’s decline is emphasised by his relative position in Act One,
when the audience perceives him as noble. Faced with Brabantio’s scorn,
Othello asserts “My parts, my title, and my perfect soul / Shall manifest me
rightly”. The use of the triplet accentuates Othello’s respectability, leading the
audience to admire him. This is accentuated by the religious imagery
surrounding his “perfect soul”, which invokes the image of St Peter’s gates by
suggesting that Othello is so admirable as to be beyond the realm of divine
judgement. Moreover, Othello speaks in blank verse for the majority of the first
three acts. This mirrors the elaborate language of the social elite and
connotes a quiet sophistication which gains the audience’s respect. This
positive image starkly contrasts Iago’s description of Othello, the first
indication of the protagonist that we have in the play. To Brabantio, Iago says
that “an old black ram / Is tupping your white ewe”. The juxtaposition between
the black ram (symbolising Othello) and the white ewe (symbolising
Desdemona) portrays Othello as a lewd predator. This is supported by the
animalistic language, which dehumanises Othello. This is also seen in how
, Othello remains nameless throughout the conversation. This dehumanisation
introduces a racial element to the negative portrayal of Othello. However, the
audience is surprised to meet a more dignified Othello. The contrast between
Othello in reality and the way in which he is described by Iago causes the
audience to pity Othello and judge him more favorably by comparison.
As the play progresses throughout Act Two, Othello retains his virtue.
However, there is heavy foreshadowing in reference to Othello’s eventual fall,
causing the audience to become wary of his character. For example, Othello
frequently refers to Iago as “honest”, despite the fact that the audience is
aware of his duplicitous manipulation. This dramatic irony implies that Othello
is a fool, and foreshadows the role of his naivete in his decline of character.
This may cause the audience to judge Othello sympathetically. Alternatively,
some may regard Othello’s foolishness with disdain. Regardless, dramatic
tension accumulates as the audience infers Othello’s capacity for violence. For
example, Othello says “My blood begins my safer guides to rule”. Here, blood
is a metaphor for Othello’s primitive passions. In personifying these instincts,
Shakespeare implies that Othello is at the mercy of his violent impulses,
foreshadowing his moral collapse at the end of the play as a result of his
compulsion to defend his honour at all costs. The audience starts to doubt
their interpretation of the calm and rational Othello first introduced in Act One.
Moreover, Act Two concludes with Othello saying “‘tis the soldiers’ life / To
have their balmy slumbers waked with strife.” The rhyming couplet conveys an
air of foreboding to the audience. Therefore, whilst the audience does not yet
condemn Othello, it is implied that this attitude will change in the following
acts. Othello exits after delivering this line, punctuating the couplet with a
pause that increases tension.
It is in Act Three that the audience’s opinion of Othello starts to change
in earnest, becoming more negative as the extent of Othello’s violent impulses
are revealed. Iago warns Othello of the “green-eyed monster” of jealousy, and
the first three acts, especially in Act 3 scene 3?
Othello is the archetypal tragic hero from Shakespearean tragedy, which
typically follows the descent of a protagonist from a position of esteem and
nobility to one of disgrace, leading to their eventual death. Othello follows this
pattern, and the audience’s perception of him shifts from positive to negative
as he falls from grace. It may be interpreted that Othello’s hamartia is his pride
and dedication to his honour. It is this flaw which causes him to give way to his
increasingly violent tendencies, ultimately losing the respect of the audience.
Even if the audience remains somewhat sympathetic towards Othello, they
are nonetheless invited to judge and condemn him. Therefore, Shakespeare
successfully lectures the audience about the dangers of pride through
Othello’s moral decline.
Othello’s decline is emphasised by his relative position in Act One,
when the audience perceives him as noble. Faced with Brabantio’s scorn,
Othello asserts “My parts, my title, and my perfect soul / Shall manifest me
rightly”. The use of the triplet accentuates Othello’s respectability, leading the
audience to admire him. This is accentuated by the religious imagery
surrounding his “perfect soul”, which invokes the image of St Peter’s gates by
suggesting that Othello is so admirable as to be beyond the realm of divine
judgement. Moreover, Othello speaks in blank verse for the majority of the first
three acts. This mirrors the elaborate language of the social elite and
connotes a quiet sophistication which gains the audience’s respect. This
positive image starkly contrasts Iago’s description of Othello, the first
indication of the protagonist that we have in the play. To Brabantio, Iago says
that “an old black ram / Is tupping your white ewe”. The juxtaposition between
the black ram (symbolising Othello) and the white ewe (symbolising
Desdemona) portrays Othello as a lewd predator. This is supported by the
animalistic language, which dehumanises Othello. This is also seen in how
, Othello remains nameless throughout the conversation. This dehumanisation
introduces a racial element to the negative portrayal of Othello. However, the
audience is surprised to meet a more dignified Othello. The contrast between
Othello in reality and the way in which he is described by Iago causes the
audience to pity Othello and judge him more favorably by comparison.
As the play progresses throughout Act Two, Othello retains his virtue.
However, there is heavy foreshadowing in reference to Othello’s eventual fall,
causing the audience to become wary of his character. For example, Othello
frequently refers to Iago as “honest”, despite the fact that the audience is
aware of his duplicitous manipulation. This dramatic irony implies that Othello
is a fool, and foreshadows the role of his naivete in his decline of character.
This may cause the audience to judge Othello sympathetically. Alternatively,
some may regard Othello’s foolishness with disdain. Regardless, dramatic
tension accumulates as the audience infers Othello’s capacity for violence. For
example, Othello says “My blood begins my safer guides to rule”. Here, blood
is a metaphor for Othello’s primitive passions. In personifying these instincts,
Shakespeare implies that Othello is at the mercy of his violent impulses,
foreshadowing his moral collapse at the end of the play as a result of his
compulsion to defend his honour at all costs. The audience starts to doubt
their interpretation of the calm and rational Othello first introduced in Act One.
Moreover, Act Two concludes with Othello saying “‘tis the soldiers’ life / To
have their balmy slumbers waked with strife.” The rhyming couplet conveys an
air of foreboding to the audience. Therefore, whilst the audience does not yet
condemn Othello, it is implied that this attitude will change in the following
acts. Othello exits after delivering this line, punctuating the couplet with a
pause that increases tension.
It is in Act Three that the audience’s opinion of Othello starts to change
in earnest, becoming more negative as the extent of Othello’s violent impulses
are revealed. Iago warns Othello of the “green-eyed monster” of jealousy, and
