What do critics have to say about Othello?
Bradley finds Othello “the most painfully exciting and the most terrible” of the tragedies, arguing that “the reader’s heart and mind are held in a vice, experiencing the extremes of pity and fear, sympathy and repulsion, sickening hope and dreadful expectation” (131).
What do critics say about Iago?
While Coleridge viewed Iago as a motiveless, malignant, devil-like creature, 20th century critic Fred West argues that Iago has all of the psychological traits of a psychopath. West wrote “It is not sufficient to simply drape Iago in allegorical trappings and proclaim him Mister Evil or a Machiavel or a Vice.
How did AC Bradley evaluate Shakespeare tragedy?
A. C. Bradley saw Shakespearean tragedy characterized by the “tragic flaw,” the internal imperfection in the hero that brings him down. His downfall becomes his own doing, and he is no longer, as in classical tragedy, the helpless victim of fate.
Who is the true villain of Othello?
Iago is the antagonist of the play; in fact, his character is often cited as one of the clearest examples of an antagonist in all of literature. Iago actively works to thwart Othello by convincing Othello that Desdemona is being unfaithful to him, knowing that this belief will torment Othello.
What critical lens is Othello?
William Shakespeare’s Othello can be scrutinized through the feminist critical lens. A deep analysis focused on feminism of the play Othello paves way for the judgement of different societal status of women in the period when the play took place, the Elizabethan society.
What are the main themes in Othello?
Some of the major themes in this play include racial prejudice, manipulation, and jealousy. Specifically, Othello is regarded as a beast by other characters because he is black.
How is Iago presented in Othello?
Iago portrays Desdemona as lustful, desperate to trade Othello for a more refined Cassio. Iago refers to Othello not by his name but as ‘the Moor’, calling him ‘the devil’ (2.1. 216) and ‘defective’ (2.1. 220), a racist portrayal which makes Desdemona’s unfaithfulness more believable to Roderigo.
Is Iago justified?
Iago is not looking for justification that causes him to act the way he does. There is much more though to Iago. He is not a man of only excuses, he has goals with his motives, which causes him to act the way he does. 4399) Iago’s motive here is to break the bond between Othello and Desdemona.
What qualities does AC Bradley suggest the Shakespearean hero must have?
Hero. Firstly, Bradley’s tragic hero must be of “high degree,” that is, a king, prince, commander, or the like, so that the welfare of others, perhaps a whole nation, is affected by his actions and certainly by his downfall.
What is a tragic flaw Shakespeare?
A ‘tragic flaw’ is a literary term that refers to a personality trait of the protagonist that leads to his or her downfall due to the personal defect of character.
Was Othello a monster?
To Iago, Othello was always dangerous and considered a monster. Iago’s lying and meddling, while unwarranted, turned Othello into the beast that everyone secretly thought he was.
Is Othello misguided or cruel?
Othello is the actual villain. Even though he initially lacks any malicious thoughts and ideas, he eventually gets to become a murderer due to emotionally untrustworthy and jealousy.