Othello Themes Essay, Research Paper

The play Othello was written be William Shakespeare in the latter years of

Shakespeare?s career. Shakespeare composed, revised, and acted in many

theatrical performances throughout his life, he also owned the Globe theater

where many of his works were performed. The work Othello was based on a story by

Giraldi Cinthios, Tale of a Moor, which was a mellow drama about a moor and his

doubts about his wife?s fidelity. In Shakespeare?s play the moor (Othello)

is convinced by his jealous aid (Iago) that his wife (Desdemona) is not being

faithful. Iago?s jealousy is motivated by his anger as a result of not being

appointed Othello?s Lieutenant, when he learns that Cassio a Florentine has be

promoted instead he vows to seek revenge against Othello. Throughout

Shakespeare?s Othello various forms iof irony are used. In the first acts of

the play verbal irony is most prominent. Verbal irony is when a character says

something but actually means the opposite. Iago does this several times, most

likely because of the demeanor of his character. In the first act Iago tells

Roderigo that ?He is for him?(Act 1. Scene 2, Ln 75). This statement is

verbal irony because Iago is not actually ?for? Roderigo he is only using

him as part of his scheme. Verbal irony is also present in the second act where

Iago tells Othello that he is a faithful servant? (Act 2, Scene , Ln ). The

ironic aspect of this statement is that Iago is definitely not a faithful

servant to Othello, he is trying to destroy his life. Dramatic irony also plays

a major role in the play Othello. Dramatic irony is when a character states

something which is actually the opposite of what is true; however, the character

does not know that. In the first act Othello addresses Iago as ?honest Iago?

(Act 1, Scene 3, Ln. 336). This is dramatic irony because Iago is in no way

honest, he has been and will continue to lie to Othello throughout the play;

however, Othello has not yet figured that out. Dramatic irony is also seen when

Othello calls Desdemona a ?whore? (Act 4, Scene 2, Ln. 83). Desdemona is not

really a whore but Othello has been lead astray by lies from Iago and is

oblivious to the truth. Situational Irony is arguably the most complicated and

well hidden aspect of irony in the play. Situational irony is when something

spontaneous or unexpected happens in the story. In the first act Iago insults

Brabantio by making the comparison between a villain and a senator. (Act 1,

Scene 1, Ln. 132-133). One would not expect Iago to insult Brabantio because

Brabantio plays a key part in Iago?s plan to destroy Othello. Another

situation that is quite ironic is when Desdemona goes and kneels before Iago and

asks for his help (Act , Scene ,Ln. ). This is unexpected because there are so

many other character who Desdemona could and should have trusted more than Iago,

such as her husband Othello. This situation could also be interpreted as

dramatic irony because Iago was trusted by Othello and Desdemona and neither of

them had any idea of his devious plans. Shakespeare?s Othello is arguably the

best performed play he ever wrote. This is most likely a direct result of the

irony in this play. The ironies of the play make it seem more realistic because

life itself has many ironies. The ironies in Shakespeare?s Othello definitely

make it one of the greatest tragedies ever written.