Iago goads othello by arguing that it is no crime for a woman to be naked with a man. Othello hands some letters for delivery to iago and decides to check the fortifications. Othello is one of the greatest of shakespeares plays. One of the symbols we see in the play is that of a handkerchief.
Iago feeds the fire of othellos rage by asking if he saw how cassio laughed and if he saw the handkerchief. Othello activity book woodland hills school district. The handkerchief of love and deception in othello 123 help me. Mentioned over 30 times within the text, the item is both distinct in design white, and dotted with images of strawberries and imbued with a deep history.
The handkerchief that othello gives desdemona is, similarly, a lovetoken and therefore a symbol of their love. This helps to establish his noble attitude, which is also upheld by his own words and actions. Many elements of interpretation stem from the critical and. Othello is essentially an noble character, flawed by insecurity and a nature that is naive and unsophisticated.
A literary analysis chapter addresses such topics as the nature of tragedy, the source of the play, and the richness of othellos language, imagery, and thematic patterns. Find out more about how iago manipulates everyone around him and the rise of othellos jealousy. For example, in films, the script is often cut to simplify the. This story has a lot of characters, such as othello, desdemona, iago, cassio. Othello has long been recognised as one of the most powerful of shakespeares tragedies. The legendary pelican shakespeare series features authoritative and meticulously researched texts paired with scholarship by renowned shakespeareans. Othello and iago, with a cyprus gentleman walk at a nearby citadel, discussing matters of state. He tells desdemona that it was woven by a 200 yearold sibyl, or female prophet, using silk from sacred worms and dye extracted from the hearts of mummified virgins.
Desdemonas handkerchief in othello essay 891 words bartleby. These relationships are driven by different motivations and give each individual something unique. The penguin edition has detailed notes and outstanding critical and performance analysis. The language of the playwrights maturity is magnificent. Othello, furious and jealous, strangled desdemona whose father had also died. After othello gave the handkerchief to desdemona it became symbolic to her. William shakespeares play othello was written more than 400 years ago, but its themes of jealousy, love and betrayal still ring true today. Othello claims that his mother used it to keep his father faithful to her, so, to him, the handkerchief represents marital fidelity. Othello, the moorish general, made cassio lieutenant. Othello tells desdemona that it was woven by a 200 year old female prophet or sibyl using silk from sacred worms and extracted dyes from the hearts of mummified virgins.
Othello by william shakespeare read free book online. An illuminating introduction to othello by awardwinning scholar jonathan bate the play with clear and authoritative explanatory notes on each page a helpful scenebyscene analysis and key facts about the play an. Othello the moor of venice william shakespeare with related readings the emc masterpiece series access editions emcparadigm publishing st. The handkerchiefs role in othello anonymous college shakespeare weaves an intricate web ensnaring the characters in the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice. Books like othello by william shakespeare suggested reading william shakespeare this study guide consists of approximately 158 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of othello. I like that not thou art a villain, thou art a senator i follow him and serve to turn upon him an old black ram is tupping your white ewe making the best with two backs mere prattle without practice i must show out a flag and a sign of love rise to play. Introduction this is a study guide for the book othello written by william shakespeare. In shakespeares othello, many characters refer to the titular role as a noble person. From the royal shakespeare company a fresh new edition of shakespeares magnificent tragedy of love, jealousy and explosive racial politics this edition includes. Act the major scenes, spreading the roles around the group of students. This is a quick book summary of othello by william shakespeare. He falls in love with, and marries, the delicate desdemona, though he is middleaged, and she is still young. The symbol of animals in othello from litcharts the. Othello, the moor of venice, is a tragedy by william shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603.
Weve got a handy list of the features and conventions that are so common in this genre, so lets take a look, shall we. If in iago shakespeare created the most compelling villain in western literature, in othello and desdemona he gave us our most tragic and unforgettable lovers. Othello elopes with desdemona but iago starts to plot against them. Othello by william shakespeare book summary minute book. Bradley, and more recently harold bloom, have been major advocates of this interpretation.
At the end of the fifth act othello and desdemona are on the bed dead. Looking at william shakespeares othello the moor of venice, the central character, othello is revered as the tragic hero. Gallands 2012 novel reads like an autobiography of. To othello, the handkerchief symbolizes fidelity and his giving it to desdemona represents a promise that he will be true to her, and a request that she stay true to him. The talent of iago in othello william shakespeares othello is a tragic drama that shows the overwhelming power of deception and the damage it can lead to. Shakespeares play othello, simply because it is a play, falls into the genre of drama. Othello is a tragedy by william shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603.
Othello and iago relationship analysis 1063 words 5 pages. More specifically, it belongs in the subgenre of tragedy. Sep 22, 2014 its not often we get to hear the villains side of the story, particularly one as intriguing as iago, the conductor of much tragedy in othello. Find books like othello from the worlds largest community of readers. Describing a person or group in animal terms is a way of defining that person or group as being less than human, something that. A literary analysis chapter addresses such topics as the nature of tragedy, the source of the play, and the richness of othello s language, imagery, and thematic patterns.
The handkerchief in othello as a symbol essay example. But the handkerchief, which originally belonged to an egyptian sorcerer, also comes to symbolize the illusions that iago is casting through his plotting and subterfuge. Cassio and desdemona discuss the previous nights transgressions and desdemona agrees to speak on his behalf because of the friendship between them. He is a character of high stature that is destroyed by his surroundings, his own actions, and his fate. Iagos answer suggests that the precious, magical handkerchief, othellos lovegift to desdemona, is worthless. The 19thcentury english critic william hazlitt, who continued the development of character analysis begun by johnson, considered each shakespearean character to be unique, but found a unity through analogy and gradation of characterization.
Othello esprios classics by william shakespeare, paperback. This sparknote literature guide includes an introduction to the context of the work, a plot overview, character list, analysis of major characters, an analysis of its themes, motifs, and symbols, and a summary and analysis that takes the reader through the book. Othello the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice is a tragedy by william shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603. Othello by william shakespeare free at loyal books. Othello is essentially an noble character, flawed by. William shakespeare 15641616 in seventeenth century venice, a wealthy and debauched man discovers that the woman he is infatuated with is secretly married to a moorish general in the venetian army. In othello, what quotes shows that othello is a noble person. A handkerchief, a small and seemingly insignificant square of fabric, exerts magical powers over the characters as it transfers from person to person in the play. Desdemona sends for cassio to tell him that she has spoken with othello. Read othello a feminist shakespeare and a drama about a handkerchief a feminist shakespeare and a drama about a handkerchief by silvia alpers available from rakuten kobo. List of books and articles about othello online research. Othello the tragedy of othello, william shakespeare othello the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice is a tragedy by william shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603.
One of the major components in othello, that shakespeare incorporated throughout the play, is relationships. Othello by william shakespeare penguin books australia. It was a gift from her husband so it symbolizes her husbands love for her. Selected fulltext books and articles the works of william shakespeare gathered into one volume by william shakespeare oxford university press, 1938 librarians tip. The symbol of the handkerchief in othello from litcharts.
In particular, this language is used to describe othello, the barbary horse, or the beautiful creature desdemona. Iago complains to roderigo that he was not named lieutenant by othello, but rather ensign. The handkerchief is probably the most important symbol in the play. Othello essay the handkerchiefs role in othello gradesaver. Appears in 595 books from 17672008 page 7 i am one, sir, that comes to tell you, your daughter and the moor are now making the beast with two backs. Bradley marks the culmination of romantic 19thcentury character study, he also suggested. Get at the heart of shakespeares othello with sparknotes. Iago is enraged at his misfortunate and declares his hatred for the moor.
And by check, we mean that, yes, othello is a play. Three chapters on historical context consider attitudes toward race, love and marriage, and the role of the military in shakespeares,time, revealing some of the social and. Reading is no substitute for a live performance, but it certainly permits close study of the text. Othello is bold, a good warrior, and a decent person overall. This sparknote literature guide includes an introduction to the context of the work, a plot overview, character list, analysis of major characters, an analysis of its themes, motifs, and symbols, and a summary and. View a film or theater production of othello and note and then discuss any differences. Booksonshakespeareandteachingshakespeare asimov,isaac. This is an intense drama of love, deception, jealousy and destruction. Roderigo, a venetian gentleman is in love with desdemona, the daughter of senator. They provide insight into the author and context of the writing, analysis of critical themes, plots and characters and plenty of exercises for exam preparation. Each book includes an essay on the theatrical world of shakespeares time, an introduction to the individual play, and a detailed note on the text used.
In the end iagos letter for roderigo are found and the truth comes out. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of othello. The handkerchief, a gift to desdemona from othello, symbolizes so much more than a mere token of affection. In sixteenth century literature shakespeares especially, any time a man has a headache or theres some kind of reference to a man having horns growing out of his head, we. The significance of the handkerchief in othello by. The tragedy of othello, the moor of venice is a tragedy all right, and not just because the word tragedy appears in the plays title. After iago plants the seeds of jealousy in othellos mind, othello complains of having a headache, which is a big, big clue that othello thinks desdemonas been unfaithful. She even stated in act iii, scene iv, lines 2223 that shed rather loose her purse full of crusadoes, knowing that her husband would be very upset and even become suspicious iii, iv, 2526. The play is full of symbols and mysteries for audience members to parse out. The moor of venice the bobbsmerrill shakespeare series by shakespeare, william and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Desdemonas love for othello, the moor, transcends racial prejudice. While supplying the source of the plot, the book offered nothing of the sense of place of venice or cyprus.
Literature study guides make nationally prescribed novels and dramas accessible to learners to help them prepare for exams. Emilia told othello about iagos fraud but he refuses to believe her and stabs her with a sword. Books like othello by william shakespeare suggested reading. Its not often we get to hear the villains side of the story, particularly one as intriguing as iago, the conductor of much tragedy in othello. William shakespeare 15641616 in seventeenth century venice, a wealthy and debauched man discovers that the woman he is infatuated with is secretly married to a. A complete summary of william shakespeares play, othello. The play is full of symbols and mysteries for audience. In each case, the animal language is connected to prejudice. Annotated version of othello with indepth literary analysis ebook. When othello enters, he claims a headache and asks her for a handkerchief to bind his head, but he will have only the embroidered strawberry handkerchief. One of the most powerful dramas ever written for the stage, othello is a story of revenge, illusion, passion, mistrust, jealousy and murder.