ipl-logo

Essay On The Power Of Words In Othello

868 Words4 Pages

The Power of Words is important in the play Othello. Words are used to show power in Othello, words are also used to show what the personality of the characters are and that is used to show the reader what the characters are like and lastly, words are used to have a conversation with the audience. Through the words in the play the audience can understand the play and also the audience knows most of the time what is going to happen before the characters know what is happening. Language that is spoken can be seen as power. The words in the play, Othello, are very powerful; the words in the play are used to express the lies and the truths in the play. At the start of the play, Othello, uses his word to win Desdemona over by the stories that he is telling her father. Othello and Desdemona also define their love …show more content…

When we look at the name of the play, Othello (The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice), we can make the assumption that Othello is an outsider in the book. Before we start to read the play we already know that Othello will be an outsider and when we read the play we can understand why. We also fin in the play, Othello, which Iago refers to Cassio as an “honest fool”, but in that phrase honest have a different meaning. Honest in the play is used so many times that is ironic. Iago is seen as honest and we know that Iago is everything but honest. More than half of the time that honest is used in the play, Othello; it is used as “honest Iago”. This is ironic because honest is seen in the play as loyal, trustworthy, a man of his word, etc and Iago is anything but all of those characteristics. There is not character in the play that does not think that Iago is an honest man. When you look at the name of the play, Othello, you can see that the name implies that Othello is an outsider in the

Show More
Related

  • Similarities Between Othello And Much Ado About Nothing

    907 Words  | 4 Pages

    Another piece of evidence from Othello states,” You are happy now, but I'll ruin your happiness, no matter how honest you may think I am” (II.i.220). This evidence is relevant considering that this hints at what Iago is capable of doing. For example, when he says” no matter how honest you may think I am”. This leads readers to the plot when Othello does believe Iago is honest because of what he told him about Desdemona. Furthermore, this portrays Iago’s character trait as; since he is doing all this because Cassio got lieutenant while he did not; this would lead him to inflict harm upon Othello.

    Read More

  • Essay On The Power Of Lies In Othello

    111 Words  | 1 Pages

    The power of lies in the play “Othello” are very strong since each lie would follow to another lie and making people fight. Every lie had its cause and its effect and even though no one really had evidence they would still believe in Iago. Lies cause many rumors and cause people’s death and very unfortunate things. Lying in the in the play of Othello was the whole point about the book it was all just manipulation and prejudice. The play resulted in many arguments between the characters.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Trust In Othello

    1452 Words  | 6 Pages

    Desdemona is a white, Venetian debutante that chooses to marry a black man, a Moor, over the wishes of her father. At the beginning of the play, merely six hours after being married, Desdemona’s father attempts to stop her from accompanying Othello on military duty. He relents when Desdemona pledges her allegiance to Othello by telling her father, “But here’s my husband, And so much duty as my mother showed to you, preferring you before her father, so much I challenge that I may profess due to the Moor my Lord”

    Read More

  • Friendship In Othello

    1474 Words  | 6 Pages

    Even after all the change they had gone throuhg, when he is about to kill her, the audience sees hints of what they used to have because it is the first time they are talking with the connection that they had. It is in this short episode before her death where it is shown that Desdemona truly knew who Othello was and that Othello just wants the best for Desdemona. “Some bloody passion shakes your very frame,” (V,ii. 53), Desdemona says this to Othello, which shows that she knew that there was something wrong with him and that it was his passion that ate him up. We see that he loves her and wants the best for her because he insists that she pray before he kills her because “[Othello] would not kill thy unprepared spirit,” (V,ii. 36). Othello is a different man and can no longer give her the love that she deserved.

    Read More

  • Thesis Statement For Othello

    494 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thesis Statement: Othello’s generosity and integrity, let the false accusations that Iago told him get to him because he was too focused on one part of the story that was being told. Forecast: As Othello kept listening to Iago 's lies he became very heated and ended up killing

    Read More

  • How Othello's Character Changes

    844 Words  | 4 Pages

    I will a round unvarnish 'd tale deliver Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms, What conjuration and what mighty magic, For such proceeding I am charged withal, I won his daughter. (1.3.79-99) Othello’s actions in this scene show is undeniable love for his wife, he knows that he could be killed or fired for expressing his feelings for Desdemona. Othello also trusts his second in command, Cassio, very much. He admires him very much and thinks of him as a brother. Othello has a close relationship with Iago, as well.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Deadly Language In Othello

    580 Words  | 3 Pages

    Deadly Language Words strong enough to kill. In act V, scene ii of “Othello” by Shakespeare, we come across a passage spoken by Othello. He is an African and a general of the army. He has recently married his wife Desdemona, whom he has killed because his friend Iago has tricked him to believe she was cheating on him with his former friend Cassio. Shakespeare uses this passage to reveal to us how Othello truly deals with problems and how he thinks.

    Read More

  • Poisonous Ideas In Othello By William Shakespeare

    1012 Words  | 5 Pages

    Poisonous Ideas Often people underestimate the power of words. People use words every day commonly throwing them around without intentions. However, when attempting to change someone 's opinion or insult them, words convey meaning. Words can not physically hurt anyone, but they ingrain themselves in thoughts and emotions. In Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago uses his words to exploit vulnerabilities and manipulate people.

    Read More

  • Iago's Use Of Honesty In Othello

    1221 Words  | 5 Pages

    The idea of honesty plays a prominent role in other Shakespeare works, with the word honest appearing multiple times in many of them. However, the word honesty plays the largest role in Othello. The use of the word honest to describe both Iago and Desdemona allows Shakespeare to heighten the dramatic irony in Othello. The use of the word honesty enhances the contradiction between people’s opinions of Iago, and his true nature, therefore; it magnifies the dramatic irony.

    Read More

  • Comparing Othello And In The Time Of The Butterflies By Julia Alvarez

    846 Words  | 4 Pages

    Othello’s confidence for a loyal man to maintain honesty and morals are contradicted through Iago’s actions: “in a man that’s just / They are close dilations, working from the heart, / That passion cannot rule” (3.3.123). Iago, due to the understatement to his name, is not perceivable as hateful. Othello’s willingness to sense Iago’s distress, and to believe his accusations, is because of the lack of awareness Othello has for his vengeance. Iago is of such little power and relevance within societal ranking that if he were to have intentions to sabotage anyone, which he does, are not considered, thus making him easily trustworthy to those of greater dominance. Society’s view of an individual determines how others consider and surmise their persona, though these conclusions may be false.

    Read More

  • New Historicism In Othello

    1636 Words  | 7 Pages

    In Othello, Othello and Desdemona are both characters that are struggling with their identities. In the beginning of the play we find Othello as a respectful man that is successful, but then we get Iago that manipulates him to make him seem as the bad guy. We also find Desdemona that turns against her father and the Elizabethan society to marry Othello, but we also find that she is respectful and obedient to Othello.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Dishonesty In Othello

    750 Words  | 3 Pages

    Iago embodies dishonesty using lies and deceit to entangle everyone in his trap. In Act 1, Roderigo questions Iago’s faithfulness to Othello. Iago answers by saying, “Whip me such honest knaves,” meaning he only pretends to be faithful and loyal to Othello, fooling him into trusting Iago (1.1.49). As the play progresses, people describe Iago as honest; however, Iago decieves everyone into believing his word. Othello frequently describes Iago as “A man he is of honesty and trust” (1.3.284) as well as “most honest” (2.3.6).

    Read More

  • Theme Of Weakness In Othello

    457 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Shakespeare 's play, Othello, the main character, Othello, displays actions that are classified as weak or strong emotionally. Throughout the play, Othello shows more weakness than strength when he turns over to jealousy, hits Desdemona, and calls her names shortly before wrongfully killing her. Othello’s first action of weakness shows when he turns jealous. Iago, his ensign, convinces him that his wife, Desdemona, has been having an affair with his lieutenant, Cassio. This is Othello’s response to Iago’s mortifying news, “She’s gone, I am abused, and my relief / Must be to loathe her.

    Read More

  • Manipulation In Othello Essay

    431 Words  | 2 Pages

    The play of Othello is a tragedy that exposes the characters in several ways, causing conflict and envy, eventually leading to a tragic end. To achieve this tragic end, Iago uses manipulation in order to change the views of, and bring out multiple personalities in the characters. One's perception of a situation is directly proportional to the demeanor of a person. When a person changes the way that they look at a situation, the entire way that they present themself; their attitude, behavior, and traits that they exude, change.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Destructive Revenge In Shakespeare's Othello

    1007 Words  | 5 Pages

    Iago is by far the sneakiest character in Othello. By using an (act innocent and blind) approach to seek revenge on his commanding officer and colleague who took his place. Iago’s deception can be spotted as early as act two. “I do love Cassio well and would do much to cure him from this evil” (Shakespeare 2.3.150-151). This is where Iago tells Montano how much he loves Cassio and wants to help him, but as the reader you know that he hates Othello and Cassio bit tricks Montano and others to get his revenge.

    Read More

More about Essay On The Power Of Words In Othello

Open Document