Outline the Nature of the Tragic Hero in Act One of Othello In the play 'Othello', the writer – William Shakespeare – uses many techniques in order to outline the nature of the tragic hero to the audience. As a result of the hero's absence in the first scene, the initial presentation of the tragic hero is one based around the villain's bitter discontent and disdain. Othello's negative portrayal to the audience leads them to believe that he is an evil, cunning, immoral thief. Shakespeare achieves this effect through Iago's use of racist, dehumanising language: “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe”. Throughout the first scene, Iago and Roderigo also never refer to Othello by name, however, the audience quickly learn that both characters hate 'the moor', as this – amongst other derogatory terms, including 'thick-lips' – is the only title given to him.
Revenge is often seen as a person’s way to “get even” after he or she has suffered, in attempt to harm the wrongdoer in retaliation. The only purpose of revenge is to gain satisfaction in seeing the wrongdoer suffer. Through ethical, religious and legal perspectives, revenge is not ever justified. The act upon taking revenge is unethical. For instance in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the feud between the Montagues and Capulets caused pain and suffering towards the innocent characters such as Romeo, Juliet, Mercutio and Tybalt.
How do Composers use archetype to achieve their purpose? Through the psychological formation of universal themes, archetypes are utilized by Composers to personify a purpose in an understandable way. This is evident in the Shakespeare’s play Othello and George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm. Both composers have employed the foundations of an archetypical villain through various language techniques. This lets the audience gain an understanding of the motifs such as evil intentions, thoughts and counterparts in the human nature behind both corresponding literature.
Loneliness puts The Monster in a mentally unstable position. He believes that he is a monster for the reason being he was created by one. In comparison, Othello’s betrayal is demonstrated throughout the play, but especially through Iago when he confesses to the audience his plan to manipulate and destroy Othello’s love life with Desdemona. Although Othello trusts Iago with anything, Iago hates the “Moor” and is willing to do anything to destroy him. Iago feels that the best way to do so is by manipulating Othello telling him that his wife is cheating on him with Cassio, who Iago coincidently hates as well.
Examine Shakespeare’s presentation of the themes of corruption and disorder in Hamlet. Show how far your appreciation and understanding of this aspect of Hamlet have been informed by your study of The Revenger’s Tragedy. Corruption is a key theme throughout Hamlet and is portrayed in many scenes through different aspects of the play. Greed and the thirst for power become the invitation for this corruption. Corruption in Hamlet is represented as a chain of events starting with greed; spreading by manipulation through unquestioning loyalty thus corruption manifests itself as tragic revenge.
Measure for Measure is classified as a problem play as it includes a combination of tragedy and comedy features. A tragedy play is defined as a play dealing with tragic events and with an unhappy ending especially concerning the downfall of the protagonist. A comedy is defined as a play of an amusing or satirical character usually with a happy ending. Measure for Measure fits both of these descriptions and is therefore difficult to classify as either a tragedy or a comedy. A problem play also poses several questions on the audience.
The revelation is in itself a dramatic effect as the audience becomes more intrigued and excited on how Hamlet has managed to get them killed. The language used by Hamlet when explaining how he had managed to get them killed depict his anger towards treachery ‘Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes/between the pass and fell incensed points/of mighty opposites’ (5.2.61-63). This could also depict the notion of Hamlet’s attitude towards the lower rank; it is most likely that Hamlet and Claudius that belong to the upper rank regard Guildenstern and Rosencrantz as inferior breeding. On the other hand ‘mighty opposites’ could also suggest Hamlet referring to the two forces of evil and good. Moreover the dramatic effect that Shakespeare outlines when Hamlet narrates to Horatio his plan to save himself that he has realised that ‘There's a divinity that shapes our ends, /Rough-hew them how we
There is a duality to the character of Hamlet, as his madness changes from a performance to true insanity throughout the play. Initially, in Act 1 Scene 5, Hamlet is coerced by the ghost and decides that he will “put an antic disposition on”. This is the main use of dramatic irony in the play, as the audience knows Hamlet’s madness is performed. However as the play develops and changes, so too does Hamlet’s madness. Act 3 Scene 4 is the main turning point for Hamlet’s madness.
Jealousy is an emotion and it basically refers to the negative thoughts of fear over a loss of something that the person values such as relationship or love. Jealousy can break your friendships and marriages due to several problems and it can cause a lot of pain. In Jealousy you get out of control and do whatever your mind says to do even it’s right or not. It can last as long as you want to be. Jealousy in Othello results in the tragic ending like in the beginning of the play, Iago was jealoused of Cassio because he wanted to get Cassio’s position as a lieutenant, Rogerigo was jealoused of Othello because Desdemona loves Othello and not him and Othello was jealoused of Cassio because he thought that Cassio loves Desdemona more than him.
A tragedy is a story of a person’s demise brought on them by the specific flaws in their character. The “Tragedy of Othello” by William Shakespeare tells a story of deceit and revenge. Othello, the central figure of the play, is a man noble to his country and people. He is an amazing character, a tragic hero, who has befallen to undeserved misfortune and folly. While it may seem, that the tragedy of Othello was caused by the evil villain Iago, I believe that he was not the only one to blame.