Analysis Act 1 Othello

Name Adeisha Pierre Class U63 Subject Literature OTHELLO deed 1 Lighting is important as it extends Shakespeares thematic concerns with the igniter and shadower of vitrine and skin. Play begins in badness. Entirety of Act integrity is in darkness. Critic Nor human being Sanders The darkness helps to reveal Iagos character because it is set in the night and it highlights the dark and devilish nature of his character. The darkness feeds Iagos malicious nature. Textual evidence Iago Hell and night/ mustiness bring this monstrous birth to the worlds light. We see Iagos obsession with evil. The darkness that Act one is enshrined in gives Iago the billet he needs to plot against and deceive each character he communicates with. For represent he appears to be loyal to Othello whilst simultaneously uttering, I hate the Moor. Iago is ovalbumin and is therefore referred to as having face cloth skin. This purity and light that the colour white is associated with however, does not e xtend to his character as Iago is too consumed by dark thoughts.Contrastingly, Othello who is an Afri plenty Moor and therefore dark in complexion does not let his outward appearance interfere with his inner greatness. This is evident when the Duke says to Brabianto in Scene 3 Your son-in-law is far more fair than black. Shakespeare is extending the idea that man should not be judged by his race or outward appearance exclusively rather by his merit. Language Imagery used to disclose Iagos mysterious character. (The image of Janus, Roman God with two faces. Iago swears by this God which is appropriate as Janus two faced-nesses or doub direct character facilitates Iagos duplicative nature. Iagos words turn into action. He acts one management with Othello and another way behind Othellos back. This is why even though he is deceitful and malicious the characters on stage refer to him as honest Iago. His two faced-nesses therefore give him the power he needs to plot and manipulate. Textual reference Othello says, Honest Iago, / My Desdemona must I supply to thee / I prithee, let thy wife attend on her / And bring them afterwards in the best advantage. At the end of the scene, when Iago is hatching his plan against Othello, he comments that The Moor is of a free and open nature, / That thinks men honest that but seem to be so, / And will as tenderly be led by the nose / As asses are Iago chicanes that Othello considers him honest, and he is planning on using that in his dishonest plans. Iagos ability to wheel power spirals a series of events which is detrimental to most Characters. Shakespeare is letting the audience know to be careful of who they trust. Shakespeare challenges the racial stereotype and the norms of the Elizabethan era when he makes Othello the governor of Cyprus.Significant as it show the audience that despite societies norms people can still excel. Reinforces the idea of judging a man based on merit rather than race. War as a symbol of Othe llos struggle to find a balance between his Islamic/African background and his new status in Venice The tension between Venice and Turkish fleet is a representation of Othellos internal encounter. Turks are Muslim and so is Othello. He is therefore fighting a war against himself. It represents the conflict between valiant, fair Othello and the barbarity which takes place within him.