William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” explores true love in amongst feuding families whilst exploiting the notion that deception leads to catastrophic misfortune. The young poetically portrayed Romeo’s inability to control unchecked emotions, directs him to being disloyal amongst family and his “star crossed [lover]” Juliet. Furthermore, Juliet’s love for “(her) Romeo” causes her to turn a blind eye to his disloyalty and hastily act on his “banished”, through these actions she uses trickery to deceive her family and because of her love affected decisions. Friar Lawrence along with the nurse, cause confusion for the hasty lovers which renders to heightening the family’s feud. Shakespeare presents the concept that deceptive decisions lead to tragic events.
Othello says to her “It gives me wonder great as my content to see you here before me. O my soul’s joy!” (2.1.199-200). These beautiful and loving words are soon changed to hostility and rage with the thought of Desdemona’s betrayal. Both Desdemona and Hero are accused of being unfaithful through presented “ocular proof”, they are both disgraced by the leading male role, and they are young and inexperienced in the ways of love and both women are extremely forgiving after they have been mistreated by their suitors. Much Ado about Nothing was written by William Shakespeare as a comedy, but it could have very well been turned into a tragedy comparable to Othello.
In Act 3 Scene 2, Don John enters Leonato’s house and says to Claudio “I came hither to tell you, and circumstances shortened the lady is disloyal.” Don John is presented as a ‘deceiver’ in this scene by his actions, creating uproar between the couple. The ways in which Shakespeare presents men’s attitudes to women are not used for comical purposes in this scene. This scene presents women to be promiscuous and untrustworthy characters. Also, the fact that Claudio believes Don John and assumes that the woman committing adultery is Hero portrays
Shakespeare uses the dramatic device of the Machiavel to portray Iago who manipulates Othello in order to prompt jealousy within him. Iago reveals his plot to make the Moor jealous by marring Desdemona’s virtue in the eyes of Othello. As Iago’s plot unveils, Othello begins to descend into a kind of madness and seems to be in two states of mind about Desdemona’s fidelity and is tormented by the information Iago has manipulated. Othello highlights his change in attitudes towards Desdemona explaining that “Her name that was as fresh as Dian’s visage is now begrimed and black as mine own face.” This darkness/light imagery highlights how Othello feel separated to Desdemona by his ‘black’ face. This rapid change in language, portraying Desdemona as his ‘sweet’ Desdemona at the start of the play then later going on to call her an ‘excellent wretch’.
Iago’s murder of Emilia could also come from the general hatred of women that he displays. Emilia can be seen as a cover up to Iago’s true sexuality. When Iago tells Othello, “I am yours favour” it sets up the idea of Iago having homosexual feelings for Othello, these words sounding like a wedding vow. He certainly seems to take great pleasure in preventing Othello from enjoying marital happiness with Desdemona by framing her to be seen as unfaithful to Othello also he expresses his love for Othello frequently and effusively, for example; "…I lay with Cassio lately…. In sleep I heard him say, "Sweet Desdemona, Let us be wary, let us hide our loves!"
Desdemona is Othello’s wife who he is madly in love with and Iago preys upon Othello’s jealous personality and trusting nature to convince Othello of his wife’s infidelity resulting in the ultimate downfall of Othello – death. Othello’s downfall is caused by his own weakness due to his trusting nature and willingness to believe anything he is told. Early in the play, it becomes evident that Othello is blind to Iago’s evil when Iago says “I am not what I am” (I.i,65). This statement foreshadows Othello’s downfall as it is his trust in Iago, which causes it. Othello believes Iago’s lies and always listens to his advice throughout the play.
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. Roderigo was jealoused of Othello because Desdemona loves Othello and not him. He was willing to do anything to win her love. It is the jealousy which moves him to do many evil things in the play. He gave a large amount of money to Iago to get Desdemona but he failed.
More than these, I think Lear is motivated by his idea that he is a good man. One thing that supports is when Kent says “I’ll tell thee thou dost evil,” (Act I, Scene I, Line 175) and Shakespeare writes the king as reacting in a frenzy, going so far as to say “This moment is thy death,” (Act I, Scene I, Line 190). By portraying the king in this way, Shakespeare causes us to judge him as unstable and mental. While his actions thus far have been rash, him reacting in this way, and him banishing his daughter saying, “Here I disclaim all my paternal care, Propinquity and property of blood,” (Act I, Scene I, Lines 117-118). From these thing, it is made clear that Lear is not only rash and insecure but also thoughtless and stupid.
Othello and Desdemona In the play, The Tragedy of Othello, Shakespeare really tests our conception as to what love is, and where it can or can't exist. Judging from the relationship between Desdemona and Othello, the play seems to say that marriage based on an innocent romantic love or profane love is bound to fail. Shakespeare is pessimistic about the existence and survival of a true type of love. There is a common thread of betrayal and deceit among his female characters, especially. Othello and Desdemona, as portrayed in the play, are the two greatest innocents there ever were.
Shakespeare's Presentation of Othello as Responsible for his Own Downfall Shakespeare’s Othello consists of the themes betrayal, love and dishonesty. At the centre of this play is the tragic downfall of Othello at the hands of his so called friend Iago. In this essay I will be discussing the reasons for and against Othello being responsible for his downfall through looking at critical interpretations of his character and actions. In some ways you could say that Othello was highly responsible for his own downfall as he was easily manipulated by Iago showing him to be gullible and naïve. Iago manipulates Othello by making him suspicious through inference, “Ha I like not that”.