Post by Admin on Aug 30, 2009 8:00:30 GMT
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Othello Speech
For BunBun. Note: because my msn is not working I am using the forum to transmit text files xD
"To what extent has your personal response to ‘Othello’ has been shaped by the enduring power of Shakespeare’s characterisation of Othello OR Iago."
Shakespeare’s characterisation of Iago in the play Othello truly enhances the overall effectiveness of the play. It is Iago’s character and personality that makes this play very interesting. Using Iago, Shakespeare is able to give his audience the ability to foreshadow what will happen next. Iago is perhaps even more of a main character than Othello as he is the character that truly shapes the play.
The character of Iago is shown to be a heinous villain who enjoys manipulating others and the feel of power. “I know my price, I am worth no worse a place”. Iago is also a very interesting as he constantly, to the audience, gives different ‘justifications’ to the audience about why he wants to ruin Othello and Desdemona’s relationship, such as “He’s done my office” and “Now I do love her too”. However, these ‘justifications’ given by Iago obviously do not justify for the fact that his actions led to the deaths of so many people, and it is debated amongst people what really motivated him to do such actions. I believe that there was not really a specific motive and it was really just his own evil and malice that makes him do so. Things that may have partly contributed to his hatred of Othello are his jealousy for power, “That never set a squadron in the field”, his sexual obsession for his ‘love’ of Desdemona, shown through the quotes, “she is sport for Jove” and “I’ll warrant her full of game”. Shakespeare, able to implement this vile character is his play makes it far more dramatic than it would if it were using a normal villain. Iago, though evil is also very clever as he is able to put his plan into action, and even able to gain the trust of everyone. Iago is a character that certainly spices up this play.
Through various techniques, Shakespeare is able to show the various aspects of Iago’s characterisation, such as dialogues and metaphors, “old black ram”, “the green-eyed monster which doth mock/The meat it feeds on”. Iago‘s use of metaphors is an excellent method to depict his duplicity, appearing as the good, honest friend on the outside, whilst being completely evil and hating on the inside. A metaphor is a technique of saying one thing is another; this is very much like the character of Iago as he too appears to be two things. Iago also uses the exclamation “by Janus”, which is ironic as Janus is the Roman two-faced god, which is much like Iago being two faced, showing his duplicity. This duplicity increases the effectiveness of showing the play’s tragedy as the result is completely unexpected by the other characters.
Another technique used by Shakespeare to portray Iago’s character is the prose of his speech. “He’ll watch the horologe a double set,/If drink rock not his cradle”. Prose, in Elizabethan context, is often used by lower class people and Shakespeare gave Iago his prose of speech so to make him act as a humble servant. However, Iago also speaks in rhyme and verse, “And what’s he then that says I play the villain,/When this advice is free I give, and honest,” showing that he, able to manipulate his way of speaking is an excellent speaker and able to use the power of his words to persuade others. He tends to use prose when speaking to Othello, acting as an inferior, whilst using verse when speaking to Roderigo, where he is the superior. This changing of prose to verse also shows that he is two faced, as his honest face speaks in prose, and his evil self speaks in verse. Iago’s use of prose and verse gives the text an entertaining way to read, and to analyse the way Iago speaks and how it changes when he is speaking to different people.
Dramatic irony is used by Shakespeare to create the sly character of Iago as he is referred to by other characters as “honest Iago”, an oxymoron as he is clearly the most dishonest character. Also everyone seems to turn to him for support, such as supporting Othello when he is frustrated and helping Cassio get his rank back. This dramatic irony helps achieve the character of Iago as it truly highlights his deceitful nature, able to trick everyone into believing he is honest and friendly. This dramatic irony creates a sense of an “oh no” effect for the audience as the audience knows Iago’s plan and can see it working just as Iago wants it to. The dramatic irony, though may not be humorous, is a unique way to view the text as the text can be viewed from the audience’s perspective or can be imagined from the character’s perspectives, where they have no idea that this is all a plan.
Shakespeare is also able to make exceptional use of Iago’s malicious character using soliloquies and asides. Using the soliloquies Shakespeare truly shows Iago’s nature as he is alone and can speak to himself. It is also very interesting that Shakespeare is able to show the audience’s thoughts using Iago’s soliloquies and asides, while the other characters in the play have no idea of what is really happening. In soliloquies, Iago is free, and does not have to restrain his true nature. He is able to say his thoughts aloud to the audience. “I’ll set her on./Myself the while to draw the Moor apart”. Iago is interesting as he is incredibly sly and deceitful and able to make others trust him so much that they even confide their secrets in him, even Othello says “I am bound to thee for ever” showing his trust in Iago. These soliloquies also provide additional information and insight as Iago tells the audience about his plan, and reveals Iago’s true hideous views.
Another interesting aspect of Iago’s character Shakespeare has used is that he frequently relates himself to the devil and hell. “When devils do the blackest sins put on, they do suggest it first with heavenly shows, as I do now”, saying this Iago admits that he is truly evil and compares himself with the devil, pretending to be most honest when he is about to lie. These references to religion Shakespeare uses mirrors the context of the play, as during the Elizabethan times religion was very important and where the people would still burn witches or people possessed by the devil. Most villains in many other texts would press themselves with the belief that they were doing the right thing, and truly justify their cause; Iago however does not and allow this feeling of evil to run through him, as he says “Divinity of hell!” Shakespeare is able to use religion to symbolise Iago as the ultimate evil, even comparing him to the devil. This comparison highlights the depth of his malicious nature and makes the audience sympathetic to Othello, to be manipulated by ‘the Devil’.
Through all these techniques Shakespeare has used, he is able to make Iago a very interesting character, and doing this has shaped my personal response to the play Othello. The characterisation used by Shakespeare most Iago especially is amazing, as he has created a most evil character, whose enjoyment comes from manipulating others. I see Othello as an excellent piece of work as Shakespeare pieces all these individual characters together and is able to fit this vile Iago into the play. Iago is used by Shakespeare excellently, perfectly fitting his malice, poisoning the other character’s thoughts, into this unfortunate tragedy. Though no one can sympathise for Iago, I am sure many people commend his efforts and his amazing deceitfulness that helps make this play entertaining.
by Freepoints (Steal and Die)
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Othello Speech
For BunBun. Note: because my msn is not working I am using the forum to transmit text files xD
"To what extent has your personal response to ‘Othello’ has been shaped by the enduring power of Shakespeare’s characterisation of Othello OR Iago."
Shakespeare’s characterisation of Iago in the play Othello truly enhances the overall effectiveness of the play. It is Iago’s character and personality that makes this play very interesting. Using Iago, Shakespeare is able to give his audience the ability to foreshadow what will happen next. Iago is perhaps even more of a main character than Othello as he is the character that truly shapes the play.
The character of Iago is shown to be a heinous villain who enjoys manipulating others and the feel of power. “I know my price, I am worth no worse a place”. Iago is also a very interesting as he constantly, to the audience, gives different ‘justifications’ to the audience about why he wants to ruin Othello and Desdemona’s relationship, such as “He’s done my office” and “Now I do love her too”. However, these ‘justifications’ given by Iago obviously do not justify for the fact that his actions led to the deaths of so many people, and it is debated amongst people what really motivated him to do such actions. I believe that there was not really a specific motive and it was really just his own evil and malice that makes him do so. Things that may have partly contributed to his hatred of Othello are his jealousy for power, “That never set a squadron in the field”, his sexual obsession for his ‘love’ of Desdemona, shown through the quotes, “she is sport for Jove” and “I’ll warrant her full of game”. Shakespeare, able to implement this vile character is his play makes it far more dramatic than it would if it were using a normal villain. Iago, though evil is also very clever as he is able to put his plan into action, and even able to gain the trust of everyone. Iago is a character that certainly spices up this play.
Through various techniques, Shakespeare is able to show the various aspects of Iago’s characterisation, such as dialogues and metaphors, “old black ram”, “the green-eyed monster which doth mock/The meat it feeds on”. Iago‘s use of metaphors is an excellent method to depict his duplicity, appearing as the good, honest friend on the outside, whilst being completely evil and hating on the inside. A metaphor is a technique of saying one thing is another; this is very much like the character of Iago as he too appears to be two things. Iago also uses the exclamation “by Janus”, which is ironic as Janus is the Roman two-faced god, which is much like Iago being two faced, showing his duplicity. This duplicity increases the effectiveness of showing the play’s tragedy as the result is completely unexpected by the other characters.
Another technique used by Shakespeare to portray Iago’s character is the prose of his speech. “He’ll watch the horologe a double set,/If drink rock not his cradle”. Prose, in Elizabethan context, is often used by lower class people and Shakespeare gave Iago his prose of speech so to make him act as a humble servant. However, Iago also speaks in rhyme and verse, “And what’s he then that says I play the villain,/When this advice is free I give, and honest,” showing that he, able to manipulate his way of speaking is an excellent speaker and able to use the power of his words to persuade others. He tends to use prose when speaking to Othello, acting as an inferior, whilst using verse when speaking to Roderigo, where he is the superior. This changing of prose to verse also shows that he is two faced, as his honest face speaks in prose, and his evil self speaks in verse. Iago’s use of prose and verse gives the text an entertaining way to read, and to analyse the way Iago speaks and how it changes when he is speaking to different people.
Dramatic irony is used by Shakespeare to create the sly character of Iago as he is referred to by other characters as “honest Iago”, an oxymoron as he is clearly the most dishonest character. Also everyone seems to turn to him for support, such as supporting Othello when he is frustrated and helping Cassio get his rank back. This dramatic irony helps achieve the character of Iago as it truly highlights his deceitful nature, able to trick everyone into believing he is honest and friendly. This dramatic irony creates a sense of an “oh no” effect for the audience as the audience knows Iago’s plan and can see it working just as Iago wants it to. The dramatic irony, though may not be humorous, is a unique way to view the text as the text can be viewed from the audience’s perspective or can be imagined from the character’s perspectives, where they have no idea that this is all a plan.
Shakespeare is also able to make exceptional use of Iago’s malicious character using soliloquies and asides. Using the soliloquies Shakespeare truly shows Iago’s nature as he is alone and can speak to himself. It is also very interesting that Shakespeare is able to show the audience’s thoughts using Iago’s soliloquies and asides, while the other characters in the play have no idea of what is really happening. In soliloquies, Iago is free, and does not have to restrain his true nature. He is able to say his thoughts aloud to the audience. “I’ll set her on./Myself the while to draw the Moor apart”. Iago is interesting as he is incredibly sly and deceitful and able to make others trust him so much that they even confide their secrets in him, even Othello says “I am bound to thee for ever” showing his trust in Iago. These soliloquies also provide additional information and insight as Iago tells the audience about his plan, and reveals Iago’s true hideous views.
Another interesting aspect of Iago’s character Shakespeare has used is that he frequently relates himself to the devil and hell. “When devils do the blackest sins put on, they do suggest it first with heavenly shows, as I do now”, saying this Iago admits that he is truly evil and compares himself with the devil, pretending to be most honest when he is about to lie. These references to religion Shakespeare uses mirrors the context of the play, as during the Elizabethan times religion was very important and where the people would still burn witches or people possessed by the devil. Most villains in many other texts would press themselves with the belief that they were doing the right thing, and truly justify their cause; Iago however does not and allow this feeling of evil to run through him, as he says “Divinity of hell!” Shakespeare is able to use religion to symbolise Iago as the ultimate evil, even comparing him to the devil. This comparison highlights the depth of his malicious nature and makes the audience sympathetic to Othello, to be manipulated by ‘the Devil’.
Through all these techniques Shakespeare has used, he is able to make Iago a very interesting character, and doing this has shaped my personal response to the play Othello. The characterisation used by Shakespeare most Iago especially is amazing, as he has created a most evil character, whose enjoyment comes from manipulating others. I see Othello as an excellent piece of work as Shakespeare pieces all these individual characters together and is able to fit this vile Iago into the play. Iago is used by Shakespeare excellently, perfectly fitting his malice, poisoning the other character’s thoughts, into this unfortunate tragedy. Though no one can sympathise for Iago, I am sure many people commend his efforts and his amazing deceitfulness that helps make this play entertaining.
by Freepoints (Steal and Die)
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