length: 972 words 2.8 double spaced pages rating: red free othello: the destruction of honor in the tragedy of othello, william shakespeare tells the tale of the noble moor whose honor and innocence bring about his downfall. Shakespeare writes of the power of jealousy, and the art of masterful deception and trickery. The story primarily takes place in cyprus, during a war between the people of venice and the invading turks. In this play shakespeare shows the feelings of othello ’s embittered right hand man of, iago, who feels he is passed over for a promotion and swears his revenge. He proceeds to manipulate his friends, enemies, and family into doing his bidding without any of them ever realizing his ultimate goal. He makes othello believe that his new wife, the innocent desdemona, is committing adultery with his newly promoted officer michael cassio.

After this seed of jealousy has been planted, othello’s mind takes its course in determining the true outcome, with a little more nudging from iago. The course of action he proceeds to follow is one that not only ends his own life, but also the life of his wife and others. In shakespeare’s tragedy of othello, othello is a man who is still truly honorable, despite the course of action he takes to resolve his perceived problem. Throughout the novel, up until his insanity, othello is described as a temperate man whose honor does not allow him to believe assumptions unless he has been shown proof. Firstly, when the men of brabantio, desdemona’s father, confront othello’s men, othello calmly says, keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.

Othello is confronted on the matter of his elopement with desdemona with force and with words. Not only is he very cool about his dealings with violence, but also when he is asked to tell the story of how he had desdemona fall in love with him he states the truth, and he doesn’t leave out any details of how he accomplished it. He openly admits that had any other man told his story, that man also would have won her heart. Only a truly honorable man can admit that it was a story, and not his personality that truly won the woman’s heart.

When iago tells othello that he believes cassio and desdemona are having an affair, othello does not believe iago initially. He tells iago that he will not believe him unless evidence is found and shown to him. Although it is false, he has no way of knowing the evidence had been manipulated into bolstering his jealous thoughts. Although othello’s path to insanity leads him to perform dishonorable deeds, he is still honored and respected by others, who come to understand the reason for his deeds. In the beginning of the play the duke of venice seeks direct conversation with othello about the invading turks. Senators, such as desdemona’s father, have not yet been contacted about the threat.

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The duke respects othello’s honor and capability and does not feel it necessary to confer with other senators in the area. After othello has killed desdemona and himself, cassio says, this did i fear, but thought he had no weapon / for he was great of heart. Although othello has killed his innocent wife, trusted a guilty iago, and even ordered cassio’s own death, he is still respected, and honored for his heart and his mind during othello’s insanity, he still tries to justify his misdeeds honorably, seeing them as the only way to mend the situation. Iago’s artful manipulation of othello’s mind is done in such a way that othello no longer realizes what he is doing.

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Angered by the proof iago gives him, othello does what he believes was honorable in his situation. When he wishes to kill his wife, it is not because he wants it to end that way, but rather because he feels it is the only way to clear the sins the she has committed. Before he kills her othello says, justice to break her sword! one more, one more!/ be thus when thou art dead, and i will kill thee,/ and love thee after.

Here he is saying that he kills her out of an act for justice, despite the fact that he still loves her, because it is the honorable thing to do. When othello learns the truth behind iago’s treachery, he is not able to kill him because already he has seen the consequences of killing a person he loves. He then proceeds to right the wrongs he has committed in the most honorable manner he can think of, and he kills himself. In the tragedy of othello, shakespeare shows that it is not the action othello takes that makes him honorable, but his inner nature that plays the most important role of his honor. Shakespeare proves honor is the basis of othello’s character and it can be seen throughout the entire play. He his respected by the people he knows, and never wavers when he feels a cause is just.

The only reason shakespeare begins to show otherwise is, because the audience knows the truth behind iago’s manipulations. If the audience was never shown that iago was the one who put forth the plan of othello’s destruction. From the scene in which othello enters the play, to his final words, othello only does what he believes is honorable in every situation. 23 feb 2016 as far as last words of tragic heroes go, shakespeare’s othello’s are distinctly honorable. He says to lodovico, nobleman who is returning to venice: when you shall these unlucky deeds relate, speak of me as i am. Then must you speak… of one not easily jealous, but, being wrought, perplexed in the extreme… v, ii: 342 346 othello pleads lodovico to relate the unlucky deeds truthfully, without mitigating or exaggerating his crimes.

This truthful narration will presumably assure othello’s honor in the future, for it will capture him as he is: a victim of guile who was perplexed in the extreme, and therefore an honorable murderer, if you will v, ii: 295.

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gradesaver provides access to 674 study guide pdfs and quizzes, 3586 literature essays, 1190 sample college application essays, 118 lesson plans, and ad free surfing in this premium content, ldquo members only rdquo section of the site! membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders. Already a member? log in othello is tragedy written by william shakespeare, that demonstrates the power and strength of reputation. The play describes how othello and desdemona attempt to build a life together, disregarding their difference in age and race. reputation is an idea that has many definitions, but it is mainly viewed as what you are known for or what people think of you. reputation and honor trying to prove to roderigo that he really does hate othello, iago says that there are men who serve their masters only to get what they can, and when they have lin'd their coats / do themselves homage 1.1.53 54. In other words, they do themselves honor by being dishonorable to those that they serve.

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We would call such persons embezzlers or worse, but iago sees them in another light: these fellows have some soul / and such a one do i profess myself 1.1.54 55. Scene summary trying to provoke othello's anger against brabantio, iago tells him that brabantio prated, / and spoke. Then he warns othello that brabantio will try to annul his marriage to desdemona. Othello replies, let him do his spite: my services which i have done the signiory shall out tongue his complaints. 'tis yet to know, which, when i know that boasting is an honour, i shall promulgate i fetch my life and being from men of royal siege, and my demerits deserts, merits may speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune as this that i have reach'd.

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1.2.17 24 his services to venice have earned him a good reputation, and he seems sure that his reputation will protect him from brabantio. Also, though he knows that it is not honorable to boast of it, he is sure that he has natural honor as a descendant of kings and as a good man. Later in the scene, when brabantio and his posse catch up with othello, brabantio accuses othello of using magic and drugs on desdemona. He finds it incredible, he says to othello, that desdemona would ever have, to incur a general mock, / run from her guardage to the sooty bosom / of such a thing as thou 1.2.69 71. Scene summary pleading with the duke to be allowed to accompany othello to cyprus, desdemona says, i saw othello's visage in his mind, / and to his honour and his valiant parts / did i my soul and fortunes consecrate 1.3.252 254. By saying i saw othello's visage in his mind, desdemona shows that she understands and rejects the bigotry that is directed at him.

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A person's visage is his face, and she understands that most europeans consider black to be ugly, but she saw past his face to his honor and courage, which she adores. Supporting desdemona's request that she be allowed to accompany him to cyprus, othello assures the duke that love would never interfere with his business. If it did, he's willing to let housewives use his helmet for a frying pan, and all indign and base adversities / make head against my estimation! 1.3.273 274. In other words, if his relations with his wife took anything away from the performance of his duties, any of many small problems base adversities would be enough to ruin his reputation estimation . At the end of the same scene, as iago is hatching his plan against othello, he reflects that he holds me well / the better shall my purpose work on him 1.3.390 391. Scene summary in cyprus, observing the perfect harmony between the othello and desdemona, iago comments in an aside, o, you are well tuned now! / but i'll set down the pegs that make this music, / as honest as i am.