Othello

• “Othello” is a dramatic tragedy centred around Venetian and patriarchal society norms, culminating from societal expectations of the Elizabethan audience. The play, having been written and presented in the seventeenth century, is a domestic tragedy
• This passage is full of both dramatic and tragic ironies regarding the play.
• We see Desdemona to be a poignant figure intricately woven into the fabric of tragedy through her portrayal as a marginalised and tragic heroine.
•  It could be argued that we see Desdemona to be submissive and innocent like a “white ewe” as she is confined by patriarchal Venetian society that dictates her obedience to male authority figures, being her father and Othello.
• Emilia is seen to be a passive (accepting of others actions and obedient) character who allows her husband, Iago to control her, influencing her actions to retrieve Desdemona’s handkerchief which fuels Othello’s hamartia of jealousy. She, much like Desdemona, is submissive to her husband’s orders
• In this passage, Venetian and Elizabethan worlds collide.
•  The conversational form of this stanza heightens the sense of tragedy and creates a sense of intimacy and privacy, allowing the audience to gain a sense of moral relativism (to Desdemona and Emilia before their inevitable death)
• Shakespeare uses the dialogue between Desdemona and Emilia in Act 5 to create a tragic and dramatic setting as the audience has the opportunity to bond more so, and possibly agree, with the characters, which hence creates this greater tension as the tragedy is soon to come
•  As the heroine, Desdemona is a foil of Othello. Whereas the tragic hero fails to see their weakness due to their myoptic vision, Desdemona is aware of her tragic fate.
• Desdemona’s acceptance of her death (Act 5) makes it all the more tragic and shadows Othello as a tragic hero, making the audience fear him as he has betrayed his vows to Desdemona as a wife and allowed Iago’s deception to manipulate him to murder Desdemona, all of which are themes central to the tragedy at hand, of Desdemona’s death and Othello’s inevitable end as well.
• his Act, serving as the fourth act, is known as the falling action as per Aristotle’s concept of tragedy. This once more creates this greater sense of finality, both in Desdemona’s life and Emilia’s which heightens the dramatic tragedy within the story and emphasises the near end.
• Desdemona's marginalization within the patriarchal Venetian society is evident from the outset. As a woman, she is confined by societal norms that dictate her obedience to male authority figures, whether it be her father or husband.
• The handkerchief serves as a potent symbol of Othello and Desdemona's relationship, as well as the destructive power of jealousy. Given to Desdemona as a token of Othello's love, the handkerchief becomes the focal point of Othello's jealousy when he discovers it is missing.
• One of the most striking aspects of this scene is the juxtaposition between Othello's public display of love for Desdemona and Iago's private scheming. As Othello and Desdemona exchange affectionate words, unaware of the turmoil brewing beneath the surface, Iago seethes with envy and resentment.
• Iago's duplicitous remarks about Desdemona
• The dramatic setting of Cyprus serves as a metaphor for the characters' inner turmoil and the unraveling of societal norms. In this foreign land, far removed from the constraints of Venetian society, the characters are free to indulge their passions and desires, leading to their downfall.
• At the heart of the tragedy is Iago, the cunning and manipulative antagonist who orchestrates much of the chaos. Through his soliloquy, Iago reveals his true nature as a master of deception and jealousy.
• Roderigo, though a minor character, plays a crucial role in Iago's plans. He represents the foolishness and gullibility that Iago preys upon, using Roderigo's infatuation with Desdemona to further his own agenda. Roderigo's willingness to follow Iago blindly underscores the theme of deception and betrayal, as he becomes complicit in Iago's schemes despite his own misgivings.
•  Iago's soliloquy provides insight into his twisted psyche, while his manipulation of Roderigo demonstrates his skill at exploiting others' weaknesses.
• The dramatic setting of Venice further enhances the sense of tragedy, as it is a society rife with corruption and moral decay. The contrast between the city's opulence and the characters' inner turmoil reflects the underlying tensions that drive the narrative towards its inevitable conclusion.
• Venice serves as a microcosm of the human condition, where virtue is often overshadowed by ambition and envy.