Analysis of selected passages from Othello by William Shakespeare Essay Example for Free

Analysis of selected passages from Othello by William Shakespe ar EssayWhen William Shakespeare made exercise of the stylist devices he thereof tried to paint a multi-dimensional image of his perceptions that he extended in his characters till the limits of reality and belief. And to design variety in this frame of multi-dimensionality Shakespeare not scarce expressed through the words in the lines which the characters uttered rather the formation of the words and the lines also revealed certain patterns that could be decoded to detect even more baneful reasons and justification behind those expressions. Such flow and expertise of expressing the conceptions cannot be taught easily through the science of writing rather it required the unschooled instinctive aptitude like Shakespeares to trick with the words with a unique skill of potency that can metamorphosed the words to survive as the animated version of Shakespeares intellect and vision even later on being uttered by th e characters in the play.In the following excerpts from the play Othello, there is a variety of Shakespeares usage of stylistic devices to arrange words in order to express the difference of thoughts, moods, intensions and beliefs of the protagonist (Othello) and also how the use of such words in a specific style cater in constructing the plot and developing the characters.Theres magic in the web of it. A sybil that had numbered in the worldThe sun to course cardinal ampere- sulfur compasses,In her prophetic fury sewed the workthe worms were hallowed that did break the silk,And it was dyed in mummy which the skillfulConserved the maidens hearts.These lines are from the IV scene of the Third Act of the play, and they are uttered on the grounds of misunderstanding that is set by Iago in the judgment of Othello. If we observe closely these lines feign up the truth that Othello is ignorant about and the words reveal the irony that Othello has become a victim of. The use of the word s like magic and web are justifiable elements of the speech of a contaminated brain and the word magic can be the symbol of Iagos spell of poisoning Othellos mind with suspicion and web can be the symbol for the perplexed state of Othellos mind, which confused the ability to believe and curse his own reasons. And the two hundred years old sibyl can be a metaphor for the evil master minded Iago, whose prophetic fury fabricated the whole chaos to take his revenge.The silk can be speculated as a metaphor for the love of Desdemona that came out of her hallowed trust and faith. And the word dyed can be taken as a pun (when analyzing these lines from symbolic references), as the faithful and sacred love of Desdemona dyed or died within her maiden heart. The deserving and value designedly exaggerated by Othello is a fine example of hyperbolic fantasies that Shakespeare is capable of designing. And thus the handkerchief becomes the symbol of the thin threaded relationship of Othello a nd Desdemona that was based on superficial beliefs and until now sought the possibility of sustenance of their love.It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,Let me no name it to you, you chaste starsIt is the cause, Yet Ill not shed her blood,Nor scar that whiter scratch up of hers than snow,And smooth as monumental alabaster,The above mentioned lines are from the Act V Scene II and anaphoric beginning of this passage is Othellos expression for his deluxe emotional dichotomy of disbelief and love for Desdemona. The repetition of the phrase it is the cause are the words that come out of Othellos weeping brain that has been so badly eclipsed by the poisoning suspicion injected by Iago that it had totally become impotent of thinking on its own. As these lines are uttered during the climax of the play thus it is quite typical of Shakespeare that he lends his protagonist with an ample energy to utter dramatic and highly emotional phrases which let them have catharsis. The desperate comment of my soul by Othello shows that perhaps the only salvage left for his consolation is to confide in to his soul.Or my soul can also be taken as Othellos address to Desdemona as it can be observed that Othello still loves her in these lines. And from the ironic aspect the first line also conveys the nub that it is the soul of Othello that can be taken as the cause of the whole tragedy, because if Othello had really loved Desdemona from his soul he would have had a complete trust in her love and honesty but since he believed more what he listened to and less what was known to him thus he became the victim of suspicion that proved black-market for him and his love. In the proceeding line the address to the stars is made by Othello to mock at Desdemonas infidelity.Stars have been used as a metaphor for their celestial status for chastity. It can also be a reference to the Greek tradition of naming the stars by the names of their gods and goddesses. Thus as Othello has complet ely lost his trust in his wife thus he consider her reference to be an insult for the stars. These lines depict the imbalance of Othellos power to reason and think and express in coherence with his flow of emotions. In the later lines he reveals his intension to kill Desdemona, but unlike his valiance as a general, he prefers to strangle her because her physical beauty still absorbs his feelings in love and compassion for her.And being a black man himself he admired her fair bark and he refers to her with two different categories of symbols. The use of snow as a simile conveys the softness and coldness of her fair physique which Othello never wanted to bend by killing with a weapon and the metaphor of monumental alabaster can be referred to the stiff and life-timeless beauty of Desdemona that laid with no worth for Othello anymore.I have seen the dayThat with this little arm and this good swordI have made my way through more impedimentsThan twenty measure your stop. But O vain b oastWho can control his fate? Tis not so now.Be not afraid, though you do see me weaponed. here(predicate) is my journeys end, here is my butt,And very seamark of my utmost sail.These lines are uttered in the Act V Scene II which is almost the resolution of the play and it is one of Shakespeares special characteristics that his tragic heroes lose the intensity and the energy of their rhetoric in the last scenes of the play. It is because of the reason that Shakespeare develops his tragic heroes to attain the status of being larger than life and thus speech loses its value when the characters become paranormal. In the above lines the most important aspect that one can notice is the tone of submission and adjourn which is conveyed by the choice and arrangement of words like little arm But O vain Boast and Who can control this fate? by Othello who was a valiant and unbeatable general but in these lines appears to be the defeated and subjugated one in the hands of fate.These lines thou gh do not consist of any special rhyme scheme that would help in bringing an effective poetic impact whilst delivering these lines on the stage but the second line does show some signs of alliteration as the words made my way through more impediments as well as in the triad line where the words twenty times are stressed and can be delivered with some high pitched voice by the character. But after these lines the tone changes as the desperation and despondency appear in the words. The last three lines are symbolically referred by Othello to his death. And despite he is weaponed yet he is incapable to fight as he desires death due to his lamenting guilt and in vain repentance. In the last line the use of the metaphor seamark is an appropriate expression for Othellos choice of vocabulary as it adequately represents his experiences and knowledge as a sailor and warrior.