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Themes of Rivalry in Othello

 

            In the play, Othello, by William Shakespeare, the memorable ideas have been presented through dramatic techniques by the characterization of Iago and Othello. As stated in Kelley Griffith's, Writing Essays about Literature, characterization develops the traits of the characters just like Iago and Othello. These rivals make plots of their own that eventually merge together to form the theme of the play (Griffith 93). These two characters are the cause and effect of the play and through them, the destruction of human nature, the question of the effect that love can have on our ability to reason and the deceptive nature of man are explored. Love links the ideas of jealousy and deception, as Iago manipulates this strong emotion to his advantage. Also, Shakespeare's dramatic technique of presenting this story as a play is what is able to reveal all the ideas and themes to the extent that the full emotion and feelings are able to be felt by the audience, just the way he wants them to. .
             In Othello, the once most noble and respected bring upon their own destruction, due to their human nature to fall. The play reveals to the audience, that due to the nature of humanity, everyone has the capacity to do evil. Shakespeare displays this through the 'noble' Othello's downfall, where even the most honorable and good people are capable to do evil depending on how they are manipulated, in this instance through his complete trust towards 'honest' Iago. This is shown through the deterioration of Othello's language from confident and dignified, "Most potent, grave and reverend signors/My very noble and approved good masters," presenting him as one that is in control of himself and his surroundings, able to create an atmosphere through his noble articulation (1.3.78-79). To a crude disordered delivery, "Confess!-Handkerchief!-Oh, devil!" the short words along with the exclamation marks shows the disjointed and unbalanced speech, reflecting his degradation through the manipulation by Iago (4.


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