Shakespeares Play, Othello, is More than a Tragedy

The audience can perceive Shakespeares play â€Å"Othello† as just a tragic play of a jealous man in the early 1600s thinking that his wife is cheating on him with another man. It could be just that, however it could be something much deeper. Many argue that the main character Othello may have had a Oedipal Complex. This is a psychoanalytical theory introduced by Sigmund Freud in 1899. It is the idea that one has a desire for sexual involvement with the parent of the opposite sex and a sense of rivalry with the parent of the same-sex. The term is derived from a hero of a Greek legend named Oedipus who unknowingly killed his father and married his mother. Connections can be made to this complex through the relationship between Othello and his wife Desdemona. Throughout Shakespeares play â€Å"Othello†, the audience can take notice of the Oedipal complex in Othello by the handkerchief being a reflection of his feeling for his mother. The handkerchief patterned with strawberries given to Desdemona as a token of love explains Othello’s attachment to his mother. He tells Desdemona that it was given to him by his mother and it would ensure the spouse’s love when kept, but if lost, one would lose the love too. In the play, it seems as though Othello becomes seriously obsessed with the item. The key here, however, is in the fact that the handkerchief originally belonged to Othellos mother. He wants to keep the image of his mother alive, and he does this by giving the handkerchief toShow MoreRelatedShakespeare s Othello As A Tragic Hero1517 Words   |  7 Pageswho is Aristotle and why does he label Shakespeare’s play, Othello, as a tragedy? Aristotle is a famous Greek philosopher who defines Shakespeare’s character, Othello, as a tragic hero. Many parts in Othello tell the readers that the play is a tragedy, such as jealousy, arguing, and death, which makes the play famous and delightful to read. Aristotle has identified many common traits or characteristics that a tragic hero requires. In Shakespeare s play, Aristotle defines many features that causeRead MoreOthello is Not a Tragic Hero Essay1481 Words   |  6 PagesOthello has been described as one of William Shakespeare’s most popular plays because the play focuses on its themes of good and evil, military, politics, love and marriage, religion, racial prejudice, gender conflict, and sexuality; but the controversy and debate surrounding Othello is â€Å"Why is Othello a qualification for a tragedy?† Most readers are aware of the many famous deaths or acts of death within the Shakespearean plays. And when the main characters die in Shakespeare’s plays, indeedRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s All The World s A Stage 1540 Words   |  7 Pagesbe applied to his literature within his tragedies (William Shakespeare 1). The generation of people today have a much different definition of tragedies than people did during the Shakespearean times. Shakespeare’s tragedies involve a protagonist whose character is developed so that it is clear that he is a heroic figure in the setting of the play, but he has a flaw which leads to his downfall and accompanying tragic consequences. When we hear the word tragedy today, we immediately think of a largeRead MoreExamples Of Othello As A Revenge Tragedy1022 Words   |  5 Pages The development of revenge tragedy has brought the harsh truths of humanity to light and caused the literary world to be more accustom to grotesque natures revolving around vindictive motives. Lucius Seneca wrote a variety of closet dramas which were the models for the revival of tragedy in the Renaissance period. In the book Poetics the Greek philosopher Aristotle formulated his own theory of tragedy based on his observations of other successful tragedies of the time, possibly drawing from SenecaRead MoreLanguage and Syntax in Coriolanus791 Words   |  3 PagesTake-Home Essay – Language and Syntax in Coriolanus As William Shakespeare continued to write and create plays, he became more experiential with his language and rhetoric within them. Coriolanus, one of Shakespeare’s final tragedies, exhibits a distinct syntax when compared with Titus Andronicus and Othello. Titus Andronicus was one of the first of Shakespeare’s plays and his first tragedy. The play is characterized by classic verses, mainly in the iambic pentameter form. Shakespeare did not have theRead MoreOthello Character Analysis1678 Words   |  7 Pagesdrama. Shakespeare’s masterpieces and tragedies such as Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, King Lear and Romeo and Juliet caused a remarkable turning point in English literature as whole, and English drama in particular.His play Othellois one of his unforgettable tragedies. The play of Othello is the finest example of Shakespeare’s poetic and narrative style. Thus, Shakespeare is known as the most influential dramatist whose tragedies found the way to interact with the audience.Shakespeare’s Othello is aboutRead MoreEssay about Othello - The Greatest Tragedy1090 Words   |  5 Pages A Shakespearean tragedy is one that encompasses many different elements. Shakespeare presents all of these elements spectacularly in Othello. For a tragedy to occur there are five conditions. The protagonist, Othello in this case, must experience a death or a total loss of ranking in society. The audience must also be captured by the actors and feel some sort of connection to them. This is known as catharsis. In Shakespearean tragedies the protagonist always has a character defect or a tragic flawRead MoreOthello - the Greatest Tragedy1109 Words   |  5 PagesA Shakespearean tragedy is one that encompasses many different elements. Shakespeare presents all of these elements spectacularly in Othello. For a tragedy to occur there are five conditions. The protagonist, Othello in this case, must experience a death or a total loss of ranking in society. The audience must also be captured by the actors and feel some sort of connection to them. This is known as catharsis. In Shakespearean tragedies the protagonist always has a character defect or a tragic flawRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Othello By William Shakespeare757 Words   |  4 Pages The Tragedy of Othello by William Shakespeare William Shakespeare uses many literary devices to enhance and provide greater complexity in his works. More specifically, the theme, symbolism, and dramatic irony are used to enrich Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello. The plot is definitely engaging but the theme allows for an universal human correspondence, furthering the depth of the author’s message. The element of symbolism contributes to the theme of Shakespeare’s tragedy. Symbolism expressesRead MoreWhy Is Othello A Tragic Hero1465 Words   |  6 Pages There is no denying that Shakespeare is a definitive playwright. He has presented us with classic works that have set the precedent for drama and the theatre. Among Shakespeare’s more notable plays are his tragedies. In the tragedy his protagonists are often given flaws in their character and hence, are suitably named tragic heroes. The downfall of these protagonists is often a result of their own character flaws and unfortunately, they suffer a doomed and unhappy ending. While the tragic