Jocelyn Floryance
Ms. Nesbitt
10th Grade World Lit & Comp - 3B
22 March 2017
The Similarity of Good and Evil
An “honorable murderer”; that is what Othello's main protagonist, Othello, titles himself in the final scene of the gruesome tragedy. Through the intense play, Shakespeare develops a storyline of passionate romance, violence, and betrayal that end up revealing the character's true nature. Othello, a respected official in the state of Venice, starts out as a diplomatic man in a vehement relationship with the young Desdemona, eager to serve his nation and his wife. Iago is the play’s main antagonist, whose actions are villainous from the very beginning, when Othello does not give him the promotion he sought to get. In most classic literature …show more content…
After being tormented by Iago’s whispers of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness, Othello, upon his suggestion, suffocates Desdemona without a trace of empathy. Even when confronted by the noblemen of Cyprus, Othello does not show true remorse for his actions, justifying them as if he killed her to save his honor. “Why, anything./ An honourable murderer, if you will,/ for naught I did in hate, but all in honor” (5.2.345-347). Similarly, Iago follows an identical path in protecting his reputation, although it does not last long. The heinous villain kills Roderigo so he will not be able to tell Iago’s plan to the officers, and does the same to his wife Emilia after she discovers his evil endeavors (5.1 / 5.2). Both men use murder as a way to escape a tarnished reputation, something they see as …show more content…
Honorable men, such as Othello, are just as gullible to the temptation of sin as the next man, and no title of nobility can prevent that. In a majority of writing, a character is never completely wholesome, just as a character is never fully villainous. Through Othello and Iago, Shakespeare proves that the division between good and evil characters is not as large as one may think.
Works Cited
Iliff, Eric. "Othello as an Enigma to Himself: a Jungian Approach to Character Analysis." Thesis. Eastern Washington University, 2013. EWU Masters Thesis Collection. Web. 20 Mar. 2017.
Shakespeare, William. Othello. Folger's ed. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993. Print.
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Othello Quotes." Shmoop. Shmoop University, 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 20 Mar.
Ms. Nesbitt
10th Grade World Lit & Comp - 3B
22 March 2017
The Similarity of Good and Evil
An “honorable murderer”; that is what Othello's main protagonist, Othello, titles himself in the final scene of the gruesome tragedy. Through the intense play, Shakespeare develops a storyline of passionate romance, violence, and betrayal that end up revealing the character's true nature. Othello, a respected official in the state of Venice, starts out as a diplomatic man in a vehement relationship with the young Desdemona, eager to serve his nation and his wife. Iago is the play’s main antagonist, whose actions are villainous from the very beginning, when Othello does not give him the promotion he sought to get. In most classic literature …show more content…
After being tormented by Iago’s whispers of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness, Othello, upon his suggestion, suffocates Desdemona without a trace of empathy. Even when confronted by the noblemen of Cyprus, Othello does not show true remorse for his actions, justifying them as if he killed her to save his honor. “Why, anything./ An honourable murderer, if you will,/ for naught I did in hate, but all in honor” (5.2.345-347). Similarly, Iago follows an identical path in protecting his reputation, although it does not last long. The heinous villain kills Roderigo so he will not be able to tell Iago’s plan to the officers, and does the same to his wife Emilia after she discovers his evil endeavors (5.1 / 5.2). Both men use murder as a way to escape a tarnished reputation, something they see as …show more content…
Honorable men, such as Othello, are just as gullible to the temptation of sin as the next man, and no title of nobility can prevent that. In a majority of writing, a character is never completely wholesome, just as a character is never fully villainous. Through Othello and Iago, Shakespeare proves that the division between good and evil characters is not as large as one may think.
Works Cited
Iliff, Eric. "Othello as an Enigma to Himself: a Jungian Approach to Character Analysis." Thesis. Eastern Washington University, 2013. EWU Masters Thesis Collection. Web. 20 Mar. 2017.
Shakespeare, William. Othello. Folger's ed. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993. Print.
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Othello Quotes." Shmoop. Shmoop University, 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 20 Mar.