Shakespeare William Shakespeare Is One Term Paper

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(Shakespeare 1994)

The play stands out from many aspects. However, there are some elements which make it one of the most important of Shakespeare's works and one of the most acclaimed. The tragedy comes from the eventual incompatibility between true love and the code of honor. Convinced by Iago's evil plan that his wife was unfaithful, Othello the Moor of Venice becomes blind to any explication and swears revenge. In the end, every one of the characters finally pays for his deed, although Desdemona appears to be the one pure presence of the play that is sacrificed in the midst of revenge. The story of the Othello is relevant because it showed a deep psychological and analytical approach on the character, a characteristic which is present in the drama of Hamlet. Moreover, Shakespeare builds his characters as mere peons in Iago's hands who, through thorough manipulation managed to influence them all. However, there is a heated debate on whether Shakespeare, when elaborating his character despised of his characteristics. One can agree though that "though for complexity Iago cannot approach Hamlet, he is almost as interesting" (Shakespeare: Life and Plays 57). He is exquisite in manipulating all the characters: "Roderigo is another instrument and a useful pigeon" (57) and Desdemona is the perfect tool against Othello, because she is the center of his universe, through her purity and love for him. This feminine character is of particular importance for the theater world, as it was the first character ever to be played by a woman back in 1660. Up until then all roles were played by males.

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(Mabillard)

The complexity of the characters makes the play to be a difficult task for any major actor. Moreover, the scenery demands a very good directing team and proper costumes and sets, which most often constitute an impediment for performing the play. In the early beginnings of the theatrical performance, the Elizabethan stage had no scenery and the plays were acted by daylight, therefore the actor could not rely on effects produced on the modern stage by lighting, scenery or sound effects. In their place he gained effects by the direct appeal to the emotion and imagination of the spectators. That is why the text, the words of the play were very important.

The critics have been most favorable and noticed especially the essential portrayal of the animals as forces in action. According to C. Spurgeon, "the main image in Othello is that of beasts in action, throwing themselves at each other, mean, cruel in their suffering." (Spurgeon 43)The text is generous in providing evidence in this respect "Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys, / as salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross" (Shakespeare 405-405). He goes on to add that "the sea, the imagery and the marine language play an important role throughout...the play has an intimate musicality and an unique solidity and precision of expression of picturesque images" (Spurgeon 344)

All in all, William Shakespeare is indeed one of the most important figures of the classical literature and a true symbol of his culture and his time......

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