Othello: form

Othello: Form

Tragedy

• Othello is a classical tragedy, adhering to the Aristotelian principles of tragedy such as the tragic hero, the hero’s downfall, the catastrophic ending, and the presence of a tragic flaw.
• The eponymous character, Othello, fulfills the role of the tragic hero. He holds a high status as a general, and his appalling demise is the result of his internal weaknesses, chiefly his jealousy and insecurity.
• The cathartic element of tragedy is also evident. The audience experiences a purgation of emotions, particularly fear and pity, through witnessing the horrific fate of the characters they have empathised with.

Blank Verse and Prose

• Shakespeare uses a combination of blank verse and prose in Othello. His choice of language style is significant, often reflecting a character’s status, mental state, or the thematic implications of a scene.
• Othello’s speeches, initially grand and virtuous in blank verse, break down into erratic prose as he succumbs to Iago’s manipulation, illustrating his deteriorating mental state.
• Iago, while cunning, predominantly speaks in direct and less elevated verse, highlighting his lower status and his deceitful nature.

Soliloquy

• The soliloquy is a dramatic device used frequently in Othello, granting the audience access to a character’s private thoughts and intentions. This intensifies the dramatic irony, as we are privy to truth while the characters are deceived.
• Iago’s soliloquies, for instance, detail his villainous plans, helping to build the audience’s anticipation and establish Iago as a malevolent and manipulative force.

Stage Directions

• Being a play, Othello relies heavily on stage directions for delivering physical and emotional context. Though Shakespeare gives minimal explicit stage directions, implicit directions are found within character dialogue.
• Stage directions lend themselves to numerous interpretations, as they define character movements, expressions, and the tone of voice which greatly influence the audience’s perception of the drama.

Symbolism

• Shakespeare uses symbolism to deepen the play’s thematic richness and character insights. The most famous symbol is Desdemona’s handkerchief, representing love, fidelity, and Desdemona’s fate.
• The use of animalistic and black/white imagery serves to further the motifs of jealousy, racism, and deception.

Dramatic Structure

• Othello follows a sophisticated dramatic structure, including exposition (Act 1), rising action (Act 2 and 3), climax (Act 3, Scene 3), falling action (Act 4), and catastrophe (Act 5).
• This structure is often discussed in relation to Freitag’s Pyramid, a five-part structure (Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Denouement), underlining the ascend and decline of Othello’s fortune.

Remember: Understanding the form of Othello is crucial for grasping the play’s complex message and the genius of Shakespeare’s storytelling. It sheds light on character development, plot advancements, and deep-rooted themes, providing a comprehensive understanding of the drama.