Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Book Reports The Tradgedy of Othello The Tradgedy of Othello William Shakespeare’s, The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, from the sixteenth century is an excellent example of Renaissance humanism. “A poet of unparalleled genius, Shakespeare emerged during the golden age of England under the rule of Elizabeth I.”(Fiero 3:98) He produced comedies, tragedies, romances and histories. According to Webster’s pocket dictionary, a tragedy is defined as a form of drama in which the protagonist comes to a disaster, as through a flaw in character, and in which the ending is usually marked by pity or sorrow. I would like to concentrate on the character Iago and the theme of deceit. We see humanism in all of Shakespeare’s characters. He does not judge or label them but rather gave them each strengths, weaknesses, and flaws. “Shakespeare transforms these figures into complex personalities, allowing them full freedom to falter and fail through their own actions.”(3:100) The play consisted of human interaction especially in the case of the character Iago, who is the personification of evil. Shakespeare also introduced the hero, Othello, as a black man, which is not stereotypical for that time. Each character makes their own decisions and has their own flaws, which is very humanistic. Shakespeare’s use of tragedy shows, “…in a universe in which order and disorder coexist, human choices play a vital and potentially destructive part.”(3:100) Shakespeare develops the character Iago into an instigator and evil man. Iago attempts and succeeds to convince Othello that his wife has had an affair with his friend Cassio. We see Iago beginning his plans at the very start of the play. “But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at, I am not what I am.”(Oth 1:1:64-65) He immediately tries to start trouble with Brabantio and Othello over the marriage to Desdemona. Iago want to get in Othello’s way because he was passed over for general and Cassio was chosen instead. We see from the start how he plots against Othello and he involves several characters in his plans. “And what’s he then that says I play the villain? When this advice is free. I give and honest, probal to thinking, and indeed the course to win the Moor again? For tis easy Th’ inclining Desdemona to subdue in any honest suit; she’s framed as fruitful…”(2:3:295-300). Throughout the entire play, Shakespeare develops the character Iago as evil and willing to do anything to get revenge on Othello. Another example is in a conversation when Iago advises Cassio and says: “I protest, in the sincerity of love and honest kindness.”(2:3:288-289). That was not the case because Iago was neither sincere nor honest. Shakespeare develops the theme deceit in The Tragedy of Othello, especially in his character Iago. In the play, Iago deceives several characters including: Othello, Cassio, Roderigo, Desdemona and Emilia. The following is a conversation between Iago and Roderigo, “Two things are to be done. My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress; I’ll set her on; myself to the while draw to the Moor apart, and bring him jump when he may Cassio find soliciting his wife…”(Oth.2:3:340-346). While Iago plans and plot against Othello, he makes him believe that he wants to help, “My Lord, you know I love you.’(3:3:116). Iago even involves his wife Emilia in his plans against Othello after she gets Desdemona’s handkerchief, “ I will in Cassio’s lodging lose this napkins, and let him find it. Trifles light in air are to the jealous confirmations strong as proofs of holy writs…”(3:3:322-325). We see several examples of Renaissance humanism in William Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Othello. He does this through his characters and themes throughout the play. Bibliography: Works Cited Fiero, Gloria K. The European Renaissance, the Reformation, and Global Encounter Vol. 3 The Humanistic Tradition, 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998 Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice from Fiero, Gloria K. The European Renaissance, the Reformation and Global Encounter. Vol. 3 The Humanistic Tradition, 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998 Shakespeare, William, The Tragedy of Othello, 1995. Laurence Fishburne Word Count: 611
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