Similarly in The Duchess of Malfi, when the Duchess’ attempt to deceive her brothers and conceal her marriage leads to her death. However self-deception is also a recurrent theme in both of the plays, in Othello, it can be argued that Othello’s self- deception proves just as destructive as Iago’s, as by deceiving himself of his true nature and labelling himself as “one not easily jealous,” he continually supresses his feelings of inner turmoil until he breaks under the influence of Iago. F R Leavis agreed with this stating, “The mind that undoes [Othello] is not Iago’s but his own.” The role of deception would be nowhere near as essential to the play without the influence of Iago; described by AC Bradley as the “artist of evil” his ruthless manipulation of the other characters in the play ensures not only the destruction of Othello, but his own. Self- deception plays a crucial role within Othello and The Duchess of Malfi; it allows the audience to see further into the characters personality and gain a deeper understanding of them as a character. Othello himself is the most palpable example of self- deception within the plays as from when the audience is first introduced to him in Act One Scene Two, he believes
Priestley had witnessed the horrific events of both wars and realized the people in upper classes were still snobby and pessimistic when it came to changing their views in the class system. In creating Sheila's character, Priestley was hoping the audience would take on board his powerful message. Priestley uses a range of interesting techniques in order to present Sheila's change, the most obvious methods he uses is language techniques to convey certain messages. At the beginning of the play, Sheila is presented as a stereotypical middle class young woman - immature and spoilt. Priestley brings this out through Sheila's character through her childish language such as "I'm sorry Daddy and "go on Mummy".
The Villain A villain is someone capable of a crime or wickedness. Curley's wife demonstrates that she is a villain by causing emotional harm to others. She talks to other guys and start disputes between the workers and Curley on various occasions. She also does not hold back when it comes to insulting people she does not hold back and always makes sure that everyone is beneath her. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Curley's wife demonstrates multiple time that she is a villain and in many ways is the cause of her own death.
The Friar tries to dissuade Giovanni from commencing the relationship despite there being little effect from his words. Annabella is harshly reprimanded by the Friar, so much so that she sees sense to confess to her sins. Despite her confession however, she is still punished grotesquely towards the end of the play. Giovanni does not confess; instead he sees his actions as necessary to deal with the problem that he is the main cause of. The final line “Who could not say, ‘Tis pity she’s a whore?” can be seen as directed towards her and so she is blamed for everything that has occurred.
Iago manipulates all the crucial components of his plot with ease, while Claudius on the other hand is discontent and unhappy with the events taking place. Both characters cause much mental disorder within their protagonist, all very unhealthy changes. Another common aspect of Iago's and Claudius's treacherous character is their use of women to further their
She calls the women “foul contending rebel[s]” and “graceless traitors” to their husbands. The fact that Katherine insulted the wives is another way she shows her dominance among the women and the unkind, look downed upon, nature that is put upon the wives. Ironically, Katherine also states that a women who do not obey her husbands are “muddy,” “ill-seeming,” and “bereft of beauty” implying that these wives are these characteristics because of their disobedience to their husbands. Using these words, Katherine patronizes and reprimands these wives publicly almost as if she was teaching them a lesson on how to be true wives. The condescending tone that Kate uses on these wives is a basically a scolding for their disobedience and also a lesson on why wives should submit to their husbands so humbly.
Showing that she would be even more of a man if she were him, thus forcing him to slowly leave his conscience aside and do what his wife has told him. She also presents herself as a cruel and evil character when she says, “That which hath made them drunk hath made be bold” shows that she is guiltless and not worried about the consequences of her actions. And Despite all that her husband is saying in this scene about this guild Lady Macbeth somehow remains adequately hardened to the deed that she has done and even goes on in this scene to make several horrific and ironic comments, which is believably since it is coming from her cunning mind. But I would say that just by looking at this scene I can tell that lady Macbeth is a cold and Two-faced woman who will go through life-threatening things to achieve what she
Desdemona’s innocent, loyal, and honorable traits contribute to the theme that things are not always as they seem due to Othello’s failure to recognize them in his moments of jealous accusation. Desdemona’s most obvious trait is that of innocence. It is shown clearly throughout the whole play through her religious faith, dedication to Othello and her disbelief in any act of betrayal. In the beginning of the play, Othello too is dedicated and in love with Desdemona. Although, by Act IV of the play Othello is convinced, by Iago, that Desdemona is a “whore” and dishonorable to their marriage.
He treats her with little regard and believes that she is a “breeder of maggot” This is also evident when Hamlet says to her, “ I say we will have no more marriages. Those that are married already, all but one, shall live; the rest shall keep as they are. To a nunnery go” (3.1.150) Here Hamlet almost commands Ophelia to go to a nunnery, suggesting that she, as a sexually corrupt female, needs improvement. Therefore, Shakespeare’s use of language, illustrated by words adopted by male characters, not only identitifies how women are marginalised, but their ill-sentiments towards
Shakespeares portrayal of female characters in the play Hamlet mirrors the way in which women were perceived in his day. The actions of the characters Ophelia and Queen Gertrude are often heavily swayed by the words of the male characters. In the play, the male characters think of the women as archetypes, who do not make choices for themselves, and thus the female characters behave as though they are helplessly caught up in the plot and unable to change their situation’s. Hamlets lover, Ophelia, is by far the most piteous character in the play. Although it was Hamlet who wooed her, and with whom she was intimate it is Hamlet himself who later chastises her for her impious actions.