The endurance
of a text can be evaluated through timeless universal human values
it examines. William Shakespeares Othello centralises on a
transformation of a man from innocent and honourable to someone who
is blinded by rage. This is done through the utilisation of
literary techniques that ultimately emphasise universal human
characteristics such as
jealousyand
deception, both of which are still present in the 21st century.
Shakespeare has juxtaposed the different interpretations to each of
these ideas of jealousy and deception through the use of numerous
techniques.
In his play,
Othello,
Shakespeare explores a common human motif jealousy in different
ways. Jealousy is the driving force behind the play, represented by
the many characters
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Shakespeare
also conveys the enduring idea of jealousy through the main
protagonist Othello. This is done through the metaphor of the
green-eyed monster when Iago says "O, beware, my lord, of
jealousy;/It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock/The meat it
feeds on". When Iago says this, his implementation of reverse
psychology becomes apparent. In this, he warns Othello of the evil
idea of jealousy where in reality Iago wants Othello to be
jealous. Shakespeare has used Iago to exemplify a key aspect of
jealousy, where he uses the metaphor of the green-eyed monster to
illustrate his point. The colour green, in general, is symbolic of
envyand jealousy.
By referring to the green-eyed monster eating you, Shakespeare
emphasises that the victim of jealousy will be fully consumed by it
and will live the rest of his life restricted to that jealousy.
Shakespeare has exemplified a different type of jealousy through
Othello; one filled with rage that shapes our perceptions. Through
these techniques, Shakespeare has also engaged both Elizabethan and
21st-century audiences in the same
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In
Shakespeares play Othello, the whole tragedy revolves around a
sense of appearance versus reality through the deceptive nature of
Iago. This is represented by the dramatic irony in "so please your
grace, my ancient: A man he is of honesty and trust ". In this,
Othello displays dramatic irony by saying that Iago is honest and
trustworthy when the audience knows that he isnt. In this,
Shakespeare ultimately highlights the deceptive nature of humanity.
Shakespeare also uses dialogue to convey deception. This is evident
in " I hate the moor. My cause is hearted; thine hath no less
reason. Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him". In this,
Iago expresses his inner emotions, as in front of Othello he acts
loyal and trustworthy, while he backbites about him to others.
Deception is further examined through foreshadowing in I am not
what I am". In this scene, Iago foreshadows his true nature and
implies that he is not what he appears to be. In the scene, Iago is
perceived to be helping Othello, but his end goals are to harm him.
Shakespeare further uses foreshadowing to convey this idea, but
from a different perspective, in Perdition catch my soul / But I
do love thee! And when I love thee not, / Chaos is come again. The
phrase Chaos is come again foreshadows that Othellos universe
will come to an end when he stops loving
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