¶ … Othello's final speech in Act five of the play, paying close attention to poetic elements as well as imagery within the passage.
The analysis should be clearly focused and based on evidence found within the text. The essay should reflect a clear understanding of the play based on in-depth reading of the play for broader issues and intent by the author.
Othello's final speech redeems him even after he murders his wife and is duped by Iago. His eloquence and his ability to use words to his advantage make him a persuasive character in this tragic play.
To understand the final speech by Othello within the content of the play, first one needs to understand Shakespeare's writing style within this play and his development of his character, Othello. The play, Othello is considered a tragedy play. In particular, this type of play usually uses prose that can measure a collapse of some kind, such as when a character is quite eloquent and controlled and is then reduced to dialogue that is not much more then disordered prose. Such is the case with Othello, even before his final speech.
Othello is considered by some to be a poem and like most poems, it achieves its impact largely through imagery -- language that appeals to the senses. The richness and quantity of Shakespeare's imagery make it impossible to translate the language of his day into modern English. Let's examine consider the way Shakespeare uses the imagery to define character in Othello. The use of imagery in this case is what makes each character's voice so recognizable, and rarely did Shakespeare use it more brilliantly when he did in creating Othello. One can hear the rich texture of Othello's voice and that adds to the mystic of his eloquence. Shakespeare knew how to imbue tonal effects into his character's words even on the written page by the effective use of prose and poetry in speech.
Through the use...
Shakespeare Othello (1) My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty: To you I am bound for life and education; My life and education both do learn me How to respect you; you are the lord of duty; I am hitherto your daughter: but here's my husband, And so much duty as my mother show'd To you, preferring you before her father, So much I challenge that I may profess Due to the Moor my lord. (Othello, Act 1, Scene
There is a continuing debate within scholarly circle about the "motiveless malignity" of Iago. (Kolin 214) In other words, a close reading of the play raises the question as to whether evil is spurred by ulterior motives and feelings such as jealously or whether evil is a purely senseless act that is its own motive. The poet Coleridge was of the view that Iago represents senseless evil in human nature
She states, "I nothing but to please his fantasy," and she does not speculate that her "wayward husband" might have any malicious intent with one of Desdemonda's most precious items. Emila's unfailing trust in her husband is frustrating in light of Iago's deceit, and makes her seem even more remarkable of a character. Even when Desdemonda asks "Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia?" Emilia does not mention how
Her forgery was never discovered, and the social order remained intact. So one can see that the expression of female power leads to the inevitable victimization of that proto-feminist, while a yielding and obedient female is shown as havign the resources to overcome anything that stands in her way. This is nothing short of a celebration for the traditional place of women as obedient to their fathers. Likewise, the violent
Simultaneously, he forces a man long upheld as honest in the highest Venetian circles into scheming and manipulations; these are roles which Iago takes on too readily, suggesting a certain familiarity, but it must be preserved that no earlier instance is ever presented to suggest that the notables of Venice were in any way wrong to uphold Iago as honest and true. In fact, those same notables are those
Moreover, when Desdemona's handkerchief goes missing, and Othello approaches her about it, clearly thinking that she has given it to Cassio, Desdemona does not suspect that Emilia has taken the handkerchief from her. Unfortunately for Desdemona, her trusting nature ends up being her fatal flaw. Othello becomes increasingly cruel to Desdemona throughout the course of the play. Although the audience is not aware of their entire romantic history, it appears
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