Othello Analysis

Rationale

1. How does the composer represent the ‘other’ in text?

The seeds of hatred and threat to someone’s power can influence one’s actions and thoughts significantly, which can ultimately lead to social and self othering. Shakespeare has explored this notion in “Othello” by the manipulation of Othello’s opinions which serve as a crucial part in Iago’s characterisation. Iago manipulates the characters, especially Othello, by revealing and exploiting their fatal flaws to bring about their downfall.  Iago is an antagonist blinded by envy and anger, who wants to destroy everyone who has ever cause him harm in anyway, which is an aim he completes through his betrayal and manipulation of characters.  Shakespeare uses a number of literary and dramatic techniques to explore these notions.  

Hatred and the threat to Iago’s power leads him to manipulate Othello’s thoughts to take revenge from him and in this process, he others himself. After being on a reputable position in the venetian society, Iago develops an egoistic attitude which leads to negative thoughts and ultimately him influencing Othello so significantly that he ends up killing his own wife. From the beginning of the play, Iago considers Othello as a threat to his reputation and position. “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock. The meat it feeds on”. The metaphor ‘green – eyed monster’ symbolises the jealousy that Iago wants to develop in Othello’s mind against Cassio. He does this because he considers them a threat to his social status and power. Iago refers to Othello as 'it' or 'him' never speaking his name, this makes Iago sound more devious and gives the reader a deeper insight to his character as an individual.  “Be not acknown on ’t, I have use for it. Go, leave me.” Iago uses an angry tone to convey his message. This is where Iago starts othering himself from his personal self. He just wants to use his wife for the sake of destroying Othello and forgetting his personal relations to Emilia as his wife. “God buy you, take mine office. O wretched fool. “That lov’st to make thine honesty a vice! O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world, To be direct and honest is not safe. I thank you for this profit, and from hence I’ll love no friend, sith love breeds such offence.” This demonstrates Iago’s master plan and how he is uses emotions to convince Othello to think that he is on his side. This quote uses emotive language to trigger the readers emotion. This quote also foreshadows the fact that in the coming time, Iago is going to backstab Othello. Throughout the play, Iago demonstrates his wonderful manipulative skills but he doesn’t realise that he is othering himself and forgetting who he really his. At the end Iago says, “Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I never will speak word.”. The specific diction of ‘demand me nothing’ depicts his social othering. This is a really crucial part as this is where Iago decides to leave Othello hanging about his real motives. He conceals his motives and his true identity to the very last. This is a great example for showing his self and social othering from the venetian society.

1. Evaluate your visual representation.

Hatred and peril to power can lead to self othering and can result in unforceful depraved actions. This is portrayed by the composer through the use of visual and dramatic techniques. It starts off with Iago (persona) yelling “I hate the moor”. This is a crucial part that depicts Iago’s hatred towards Othello. The black and white colour of the visual rep symbolises the different races in the Venetian society. The dressing up of Iago in black depicts his knave nature and also his othering from the white venetian society. Iago being the salience image of the movie, makes the reader focus on Iago. Him being alone on the screen represents his alienation and othering from the venetian society. The use of close up shot on Iago’s face (while he is smiling) and the dart board emphasizes on his perilous nature. The smile showcases that he is aware of his masterplan being a success. The idea of Othello being in the middle surrounded by the other characters showcases Iago’s mentality of manipulating Othello to target everyone else. Through these thoughts he others himself from everyone else around him, even people who are very close to him. The dart symbolises Iago’s manipulation. Extreme close up shot of Othello’s head with a dart represents Iago using his brain to manipulate him. The dart through Desdemona’s heart depicts Iago’s manipulation of Othello, her husband whom she dearly loves, to indirectly target her. The two darts on Othello symbolise his confusion about whether to believe in Desdemona or not. This directly relates back to end of the movie where Iago hits Othello with the dart again. That scene depicts Iago being aware of everything and also his success in hurting Othello. “The moor changes with my poison”, which is directly quoted by Iago, is written on the board to give it a dramatic effect. It also makes Iago aware of him winning the big game that he played to develop jealousy in Othello’s mind against Cassio.  

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