Othello

Introduction

There is an expansive body of literature that is present with regard to the play of Othello and its characters. While some researchers have chosen to analyze Othello, others have chosen to reflect on the relevance of different characters in the play. Others have chosen to highlight the presence of different themes in the play with regard to the manner in which modern day literature seeks inspiration from Othello.

Othello, the central character of the play, is a Moor, which means a black man. He wins the heart of Desdemona with his tremendous tales of adventure and battle. This angers her father and the Venetian court of which they are a part (Virgin, 105-111).

Discussion

Othello is a soldier, awkward with public display and situations. The story moves when Iago, an ensign of Othello, undertakes retribution after he has been neglected for promotion. Throughout the play, Iago conspires Othello that Desdemona is betraying Othello with Cassio, the person who got the postion that Iago was hoping for. Othello could not realize the truth and acted like ant passionate cuckolded husband would do. In the end, although Othello realizes his errors, but he never understands the gravity of the crimes he had done. The final verdict upon Othello's character, despite what he claims in his final speech, is that he loved neither “wisely” nor “too well” (Thomas, 9-15).

Othello by William Shakespeare is praised by critics for being a cohesive tragic play, but there are many who perceive the central character 'Othello' as un-heroic. In many reviews, authors criticize Othello of being extremely stupid; many consider him as an obsessive man besieged by emotions. Other critics recognize him as self-pitying as well as thoughtless about the terrible nature of his actions. Still all such disparagements fade in front of the anticipation and compassion built by the nobility of this soldier portrayed throughout Othello.

Othello by William Shakespeare is praised by critics for being a cohesive tragic play, but there are many who perceive the central character 'Othello' as un-heroic. In many reviews, authors criticize Othello of being extremely stupid; many consider him as an obsessive man besieged by emotions. Other critics recognize him as self-pitying as well as thoughtless about the terrible nature of his actions. Still all such disparagements fade in front of the anticipation and compassion built by the nobility of this soldier portrayed throughout Othello (James, 62-65).

Critics like T. S. Eliot have contended that Othello never realizes the grave nature of the crime he has carried out— that he admits his error but soothes himself in his last speech with heartening consoling about the virtue of his act. Although, this consoling does not go with the honesty and nobility borne in the military role portrayed throughout the play.Othello faced hideous betrayal, and he also did not hold on to the fact of his love for Desdemona which was mutual. However, in the last speech, he admits his error passionately, in a similar way that he reacted to his previous misapprehension. Similar to his ...