Hamlet
Othello
Exam Techniques
Using Othello as a Comparative Text: Literary Genre Key Aspects of Literary Genre in Othello
Structure The genre of tragedy is rooted in ancient Greek drama. Shakespeare’s famous tragedies have a five-act structure, each act corresponding to a section of the story. Analysing the plot structure can help us to understand the play’s action as purposeful and unified. We can see how the main plot and secondary storylines work together to develop the key themes of the play. In Othello, the tragic central relationship (between Othello and Desdemona) together with the minor stories concerning Roderigo and Cassio all focus the audience’s attention throughout the drama.
The first act is used for exposition and introduces the main characters, setting and possible signs of conflict ahead. Othello, Act 1 establishes the noble character of the Moor. It also signals Iago’s motivation for vengeance – his jealousy at being overlooked for promotion and his suspicion that his wife has had a relationship with Othello. Desdemona and Othello’s hasty elopement takes place just before he is sent to Cyprus as governor. Iago encourages Roderigo’s obsession with Desdemona to get revenge on Othello.
Act 2 is the complication (or ‘rising action’) when characters act in response to the opening conflict and key relationships are developed. This complicates the play’s action, involving the audience. Iago encourages Cassio’s weakness for drink and gets him demoted. The ensign also encourages him to use Desdemona’s influence with Othello in the hope that he will be reinstated as lieutenant. This will later fuel Othello’s jealousy. Iago continues to use Roderigo to destroy Cassio’s reputation.
Act 3 marks the play’s climax. The action reaches a turning point and the main crisis occurs. There is no going back for the protagonist (central character). Characters or circumstances change (for the worse and/or the better). In this act, Desdemona pleads Cassio’s case for reinstatement despite her husband’s obvious displeasure. Iago convinces Othello that his wife is being unfaithful. He uses the flimsy ‘evidence’ of a dropped handkerchief and a tale about a dream Cassio had. Othello and Iago enter into a pact to kill the alleged ‘lovers’, Cassio and Desdemona.
Act 4 is the falling action and features the unravelling of complications and the resolution of
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conflict. Iago continues to ‘poison’ Othello’s mind about his wife. He has placed him to ‘overhear’ Cassio speaking. But the subject of the conversation is really Bianca (Cassio’s mistress) and not Desdemona. However, Othello is duped into believing that Cassio is ridiculing his wife. He falls into an epileptic fit and, later he strikes Desdemona in public. Roderigo and Emilia are becoming suspicious. In one poignant scene, Desdemona is depressed and submissive, despite Emilia’s best efforts to teach her about the world’s cruel ways. As tragedy envelops the central characters, the suspense grows and we await the final outcome.
Act 5 concludes the tragedy and is sometimes called the catastrophe or final resolution. This brings the conflict to its conclusion, and death to the play’s tragic hero. As the drama draws to a close, Roderigo is fatally wounded and Desdemona is suffocated by Othello. But Iago’s evil plans are undone by Emilia’s revelations. Cassio clears his name. Roderigo’s letters provide more evidence against Iago, who is arrested and imprisoned. Othello finally realises the truth too late and asks the ensign why he ‘ensnared’ him. Iago refuses to explain his actions and is threatened with torture. In an attempt to regain some honour, Othello commits suicide. Emilia and Desdemona also die. The restoration of moral and social stability comes at great cost. Public order is restored with Cassio’s appointment as the new governor of Cyprus. Tragedy evokes pity and fear in the audience, leading finally to catharsis (the release of these passions).
Revenge drama
Othello is often categorised as a classic revenge play. The story is dominated by Iago, who is a villain and malcontent. He can be seen as an evil and sadistic Machiavellian figure, someone who deceives and exploits others to achieve his aims. The term comes from the medieval Italian writer Niccolò Machiavelli, who gained a reputation for promoting the philosophy that ‘The end justifies the means’.
Iago has grudges against authority and women. Passed over for promotion by Othello, losing out to Cassio who has less experience, Iago has to make do with the lower rank of ensign (flag- bearer). This motivates him to exact revenge. He is amoral and inventive, using every situation and
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