Essay Database

Othello: Othello is a general in the army of Venice. He is a Moor, a dark-skinned man born in Africa, and has risen through the ranks of the Venetian army through hard work and success in battle. He is a respected general, but less respected as a person, because of his dark skin and foreign roots. He is an honest man, and believes that people are honest. This makes him naive in many ways. Othello …

…Othello needs to be very much more subtle. Here too, though, his tool is imagery. The proof that he presents is imaginary. Othello’s passion is aroused by the images that Iago’s words conjure up – of Cassio and Desdemona lying together. The handkerchief becomes a symbol for this imaginary infidelity. Othello sees Desdemona, white-skinned and beautiful, the very image of purity and is torn apart by the images that have poisoned his mind. Bibliography ??????