Othello Shakespeare

If we let jealousy and pride override reason we lose our humanity.

 Throughout Othello, Shakespeare explores the idea that if we let jealousy and pride override reason we lose our humanity. In the extract, the narrator suggests that that Othello is ultimately an exploration of power its impact on society, its influence over language, and the consequences of succumbing to power.  In analysing Othello through the lens of the narrator, the inextricable connection between power and humanity becomes evident.

Shakespeare builds humanity during the play to later emphasise how much we lose if we let pride and jealousy override reason.

In Othello Shakespeare builds this humanity up by making Othello a noble man who is very well spoken, A.C. Bradley said that “No doubt that Othello is the greatest Poet of them all”, this is Shakespeare way of building up humanity in Othello.

Initially, Othello is in possession of power and status, allowing him to participate in society beyond his role as a ‘moor’. A.C. Bradley wrote that there is, ‘no doubt that Othello is the greatest Poet of them all,’; it is this poetic nature that demonstrates Othello’s character and intellect and enables Shakespeare to challenge his position as an ‘other,’ and instead focus on his humanity. From the outset, Othello is portrayed as an outsider, a, ‘moor,’ who is inherently (insert quote from brabantio). In establishing this prejudice, Shakespeare is able to contradict the notion that Othello’s skin colour deems him any less than human. Explore what the duke says + lead onto the fact that Othello is poetic. In establishing Othello’s humanity while he is in a position of power, Shakespeare lays the foundations for an exploration of what factors influence an individual’s humanity, if not our physicality. In doing so, he creates the ideal setting to demonstrate the impact a perceived shift in an individual’s status can have on their humanity.

Moors were seen as others in the time of Shakespeare as shown in the play but by Shakespeare making Othello poetic he builds Othello’s humanity and nobility. During the play where the duke says “Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.” Shakespeare shows us how the role of race has on power during the time of the play, it shows that Othello has worked hard to be thought of as a venetian and not a moor. The humanity and the power that Shakespeare builds during the opening act will later exemplify how far one can fall due to pride and jealousy.

 While it shows moors were capable, of receiving the same treatments as the venetians, they had to work harder for it than others. Othello’s rank and the fact that Othello is higher up than Iago  makes Iago jealous of his power.  

Shakespeare shows how racial prejudice of the time to build Othello’s humanity as Othello is a high class man who has the respect of the people around him and when the duke says this it shows the audience that Othello is more of a nobleman than he is an outsider, Othello holding power and his pride even though he is an other builds Iagos jealousy and as the narrator stated Othello holding this power builds Iagos hatred of him and is the basis of the plot.

Shakespeare builds of the basis

this shows the significance of language of in Othello and the power it holds as the narrator said

, he then engages the audience to see the downfall of this humanity he set up and then Shakespeare shows the consequences of succumbing to our fatal flaws.

Shakespeare establishes humanity during the play during the opening act by building Othello up and making him a seem noble and fair even though Othello is black shakespeare plays on stereotypes of the time to make the audience think Othello would be bestial but this is contradicted by what the duke says ‘Your son-in-law is more fair than black’ to brabantio this contradicts the audiences first opinion about Othello and leaves them with a feeling that Othello is fair and kind hearted person.