Essay about Language and Literary Techniques in Othello

Language and Literary Techniques in Othello The language and literary techniques used in William Shakespeares Othello enrich the settings, plot, characters, and themes. Othello is a complex tragedy about good versus evil, loyalty, love, sexual jealousy, appearance versus reality, and intrigue, told in a first person point of view. The play takes place during the Renaissance in Venice, Italy and in Cyprus over three days. It is written in blank verse, usually unrhymed iambic pentameter. The protagonist, Othello, is a Moor well respected by senators for his valiant service in war and married to Desdemona, a Venetian woman. The play is entitled Othello and the plot and action encompass him, thus supporting his position of†¦show more content†¦Othello has now come to completely trust the deceitful Iago and distrust his honest wife. Iago persuades Roderigo to kill Cassio while Othello smothers Desdemona. Emilia then reveals to Othello Iagos manipulation. As Emilia continues to divulge Iagos actions he kills her and flees. When Iago is returned to Othello, Othello wounds him and upon realizing the tragic actions he has brought about, kills himself. The settings establish the mood and tone of the act. The plays opening setting of Venice symbolizes the sophisticated, wealthy, and civilized world. This is later juxtaposed by Cyprus, an isolated military outpost composed of uncivilized, uncultured people. In Venice, Othellos diction is calm, intellectual, and respectful as displayed when he addresses the Senate in Act I, scene 2: Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, / My very noble, and approved good masters. He displays his faith in Desdemona: If you do find me foul in her report, / The trust, the office, I do hold of you / Not only take away, but let your sentence / Even fall upon my life. However, once in Cyprus he becomes angered and short tempered and strikes Desdemona. Lodovico, a relative of Brabantio, then remarks My lord, this would not be believed in Venice, signifying the contrast between Othello of Cyprus and Othello of Venice. Othello is a tragic figure because his downfall is a direct result of his flaws: naivetà ©/Show MoreRelatedIago : The Rhetorician Conspirator1680 Words   |  7 PagesDavin Truong Professor Bains English Writing 301 11/13/14 Iago: The Rhetorician Conspirator In William Shakespeare’s Othello, the antagonist Iago is arguably the most heinous villain in all of literature. His ability to shape shift in and out of character is what makes him unique. His tactics are similar to that of a cold blooded chameleon. 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