Roderigo has paid Iago a lot of money to help him win the hand of Desdemona. An important example of the role of chance in the play involves the unpredictable destruction of the Turkish fleet in the storm. He has courage, intelligence, the skill of command, and the respect of his troops. Removing #book# He is a general in the Venetian defense forces, and, although a foreigner from Africa, he has won this post by excellence in the field of war. Othello's identity is shown strongly through his race. Fate is cruel to Othello, like the cruel fate of ancient Greek tragedies. After many years on campaign, Othello has come to live in Venice, among the sophisticated people of the city. Ironically, Desdemona’s fate is sealed because of her willingness to submit to her husband’s authority according to that culture. Othello falls into a trance of rage, and Iago decides to hammer home his false ideas about his wife. It is possible to see Roderigo as another outsider in Othello; Iago keeps him on the fringes of the action in Venice and Cyprus, ensuring that he remains powerless. What reason does Iago give for his hatred of Othello? Romeo and Juliet come from feuding families, but they defy the feud and fall in love. He reflects the archetypal villain and has the biggest share of the dialogue. If the tragic hero does not die, the play is not a tragedy: his death is undeniable, but brings to the audience a sense of catharsis, culminating the tragic elements of the play. Choosing Fate Over Destiny Inside the story of Othello and the Epic of Gilgamesh, the leading characters fought with concept of handling fate and destiny. Othello is the clear “looser”, he killed his wife, lost his reputation and in the end took his own life, whereas Cassio gains othellos position as governor in Cyprus and earns his reputation back. He appoints a student of military knowledge, Cassio, to be his lieutenant. Shakespeare presents this fact in the dialogue and also in the staging of the play: Othello's is a black face among a sea of white faces, and he is constantly referred to as "The Moor," a representative African, while others go by their personal names and are seen as independent individuals. Sign up now, Latest answer posted May 24, 2012 at 5:42:21 AM, Latest answer posted February 14, 2012 at 7:05:51 AM, Latest answer posted March 19, 2012 at 1:36:59 PM, Latest answer posted March 17, 2012 at 9:33:09 AM, Latest answer posted May 30, 2018 at 2:51:50 PM. This eventually leads to jealousy and a questioning of his wife, Desdemona. 451 - 460 of 500 . If the Turkish fleet had not been destroyed by unforeseeably ferocious weather, Othello might have had to spend much of his time either battling the Turkish fleet at sea or hurriedly organizing and leading the defenses of Cyprus on land. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. Othello is about as near as Shakespeare gets to classical tragedy. Fate or Free Will in Othello by William Shakespeare 1031 Words5 Pages Are the characters governed by fate or free will? His fate is left in Cassio’s hands. Perhaps the most obvious example of the importance of fate in the play concerns Othello’s race. The eponymous character, Othello, is a Moor. On the field of battle Othello is skilled and triumphant; in the drawing room he is reluctant until Desdemona takes the lead and encourages him to tell his life story. "Othello" is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian). Othello is aware of the precarious nature of success and happiness. We know that she has been fully faithful, but Othello now only sees her as a “lewd minx”, a worthless temptress who ought to be damned. Senator Brabantio has invited him to his home, and this is a revelation to the soldier. Shakespeare presents identity through this, and through how others influence his perception of himself. Fate as the arbiter of human destiny has long been a theme in world literature, including historical and religious works. Othello, alone, now voices worry that perhaps it's unrealistic for him to expect Desdemona to love him when he is black, not well mannered, and considerably older than she is. It includes violence, partial nudity and sexual situations. Destiny is a predestined sequence of events believed to be a tempting authority. Othello feels that his marriage is at the pinnacle of his life: "If it were now to die, / @'Twere now to be most happy, for I fear / My soul hath her content so absolute, / That not another comfort, like to this / Succeeds in unknown fate" (II.1, 190-194). "But I do love thee, and when I love thee not, / Chaos is come again" (III.3, 91-93). Sonya Yoncheva as Desdemona. "Othello Fate Vs Free Will" Essays and Research Papers . Fate, Hubris, and Truth: The Downfall of Oedipus and Othello By Corey Olszewski The tragedy of Oedipus and Othello’s fates lies in their search for truth and their personal excesses of pride. Yet he has just learned that Desdemona has eloped with Othello, the Moorish (North African) general under whom Iago serves. This is the point of peripeteia – Othello is no longer in control of his fate, and death is the only solution not just morally, but thematically. She is a graceful beauty and loyal to her love. However, once he makes a decision, he is again the military man, decisive in action. More importantly, he is visibly different due to the color of his skin, so he lives constantly among, but separated from, other people. Roderigo's primary reason for hating Othello is not racial prejudice, but rather jealousy that Othello has won Desdemona. The fate of Othello … Queen Elizabeth herself translated his hugely popular discourse on fate's role in the Universe, The Consolation of Philosophy.Although the idea of the wheel of fortune existed before Boethius, his work was the source on the subject for Chaucer, Dante, … Venice was at war with the Ottoman empire between 1570 and 1573, so the play’s reference to the threat of an attack on Cyprus could reflect a setting sometime during this period. But the guilt for her death lies squarely with Othello, who preferred to listen to his subordinate’s lies rather than the voice of his life partner. What are some examples of misunderstandings in William Shakespeare's Othello? What are some quotations dealing with hatred in William Shakespeare's play Othello? Under pressure, he makes an inspiring speech. All rights reserved. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# No man has full control over his life, but a man can judge himself and perform the execution and die with his love.