The Destruction of Innocence in Shakespeares Othello Essays -- GCSE E

The Destruction of Innocence in Othello One way, albeit a partial way, of reading the tragedy of Othello is too see it as the remainder of purity, trust, and idealized love by a cynical and maliciously make manliness, which regards the very existence of innocence and beauty as its motivation the god of hell. Iagos manipulative malignity is a crucial factor in the tragic catastrophe but it also serves to highlight through contrast the ersatz value in the play, amongst which one can include innocence and naivety. In the argument below innocence is understood to be inexperience of the world but also that which is separated from evil. Naivety has the meaning of gullibility, even rabidity but more positively is the condition of the child, trusting, artless and unaffected by the cynical questioning and deceit which characterizes the worldly. Shakespeare portrays naivety and innocence pencil leadly, but not exclusively, through the characterization of Desdemona and Othello, and t hrough a whole range of prominent techniques their language, behavior, their interaction with other characters, the imagery applied to them etc. The portrayal of the qualities is a complex one which is significant in the following ways. Firstly, the vulnerability of innocence and naivety helps drive the play towards its tragic conclusion, although it is matter of debate whether the principal cause of the catastrophe is the vulnerability of innocence or the ingenuity of wickedness. Secondly, the values of innocence and naivety comprise values which are dramatized in opposer to those represented principally by Iago each illuminates the other. This is one of the conflicts central to the melodramatic action. The contrast betwe... ...s Othello. Ed. Anthony G. Barthelemy Pub. Macmillan impertinent York, NY 1994. (page 1-19) Bloom, Harold. Introduction Modern exact editions, Othello Ed. Harold Bloom, Pub. Chelsea digest New Haven CT 1987. (1-6) Hale, Steven. Class lectures. Georgia Perimeter College. April 20th -30th, 1999 Jones, Eldred. Othello- An Interpretation Critical Essays on Shakespeares Othello. Ed. Anthony G. Barthelemy Pub. Macmillan New York, NY 1994. (page 39-55) Muir, Kenneth. Introduction. William Shakespeare Othello. New York Penguin Books, 1968. Neely, Carol. Women and Men in Othello Critical Essays on Shakespeares Othello. Ed. Anthony G. Barthelemy Pub. Macmillan New York, NY 1994. (page 68-90) Snyder, Susan. Beyond the Comedy Othello Modern Critical Interpretations, Othello Ed. Harold Bloom, Pub. Chelsea House New Haven CT 1987. (page 23-37)