The play’s protagonist and hero.
A Christian Moor and general of the armies of Venice
, Othello is an eloquent and physically powerful figure, respected by all those around him. In spite of his elevated status, he is nevertheless easy prey to insecurities because of his age, his life as a soldier, and his race.
How does Othello represent himself?
Othello is a
trusting, honest person
who expects that his own good character, if embodied clearly and earnestly, will save him from others’ prejudice. He demonstrates this belief in the first act; presenting himself so nakedly in the name of justice and common sense will be his great misstep.
What does Othello represent?
He makes this
symbol of love and trust
into one of unfaithfulness and betrayal. And so Othello is completely undone by the loss of the handkerchief, because it represents the loss of Desdemona; he crumbles into incoherent shouts of “the handkerchief!” as he is overwhelmed by Iago’s lies.
What is the main message of Othello?
Lesson Summary
Shakespeare’s classic play Othello is about a man who falsely accuses his wife of cheating on him, and believes this lie so strongly that he eventually takes her life. Some of the major themes in this play include
racial prejudice, manipulation, and jealousy
.
How is Othello presented by characters?
Othello is an outsider who is intelligent and confident in military matters but socially insecure. He leads an intense life, swinging between triumph and dread. He is different from those around him, due to his origins and his life history, but he shares their religion, values, and patriotism to Venice.
Is Othello a good man?
Othello is essentially a good man
. From early in the play we learn that he is a trusted soldier and a loving husband who remains calm under pressure and is held in high regard in Venice.
What kind of person is Othello?
As a
skilled soldier and general
, Othello is brave, confident, smart and physically strong. Unfortunately, he is also a racial outsider, insecure about his Moorish background, emotionally out of control and naïve. Othello’s insecurity is his fatal flaw, a weakness in his personality.
What is Desdemona personality?
133–134 ). The play, then, depicts Desdemona contradictorily as a self-effacing, faithful wife and as
a bold, independent personality
.
What does thick lips mean in Othello?
Thick-lips. “Thick-lips” is
a racial slur toward the Moor, Othello
. Thick-lips sure is lucky if he can pull this off! IAGO. Call up her father.
Does Othello feel like an outsider?
Othello sometimes makes
a point of presenting himself as an outsider
, whether because he recognizes his exotic appeal or because he is self-conscious of and defensive about his difference from other Venetians.
What can we learn from Othello?
What moral lessons can we learn from the play Othello? Its lessons seem to be summed up in the few and simple words: “
Thou shall not lie”
: “To thine own self be true.” Every character in the play who suffers in that final scene of agony is but paying the penalty due to injured moral laws.
What did Othello teach us?
“Othello” is a cautionary tale. It prompts us to check our reflexive feelings and to be fairer and more generous toward those whom we might dismiss or pigeonhole. It also encourages us
to be more forgiving of others’ trespasses
.
Why is jealousy a theme in Othello?
In essence, jealousy is a paramount theme that runs throughout Othello. It is propagated by Iago who goes to all lengths to make everybody envious and angry.
He literarily destroys Othello by making him jealous of his wife
. As it has come out from the study, almost all characters are affected by this theme.
Why does Roderigo hate Othello?
Roderigo hates Othello
because in his eyes, Othello stole his bride
.
Why does Othello say Rude am I in my speech?
Though Othello says
that he is not accomplished as a public speaker
(‘Rude am I in my speech’), the speech strikes one as that of a person who does have oratorical skills and who knows how to be persuasive with words. It is chiefly sentence structure and rhythms which create this impression.
What is Lodovico’s role in Othello?
Lodovico is
a kinsman of Brabantio’s
. He leads the Venetian party that comes to Cyprus after Othello’s victory to proclaim Cassio the new governor. He is shocked to find Othello publicly shaming his wife and worries about the general’s sanity.
