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Assignment

Subject - Literature

Level - Final Level

Name of the Lecturer - Miss. Shanali Ranaweera

Student ID - 20151606

Class - Final A

Date of Submission - 03/10/2023

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Table of contents

1. Introduction

1.1. Othello

1.1.1. Character Analysis

1.1.1.1. Othello

1.1.1.2. Desdemona

1.1.1.3. Iago

1.1.1.4. Cassio

1.1.1.5. Emilia

1.2. Literary Devices

1.2.1. Simile

1.2.2. Metaphor

1.2.3. Hyperbole

1.2.4. Rhetorical Questions

1.2.5. Imagery
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1. Introduction

1.1 Othello

Othello is a masterpiece written by William Shakespeare. It was created around 1603 and Othello
is considered one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies, along with Hamlet, Macbeth, and King
Lear. The story happened in Venice and shows themes of love, jealousy, betrayal, and
manipulation.
The main protagonist in the play is Othello, a respected military general who is also a Moor, and
he has a wife named Desdemona, a young and kind woman from Venice. Othello's race and
outsider status play an important role in the story. The play's antagonist is Iago, Othello's advisor.
Iago is jealous of Othello because he was not promoted and he wants revenge. He manipulates
others to destroy Othello's life and relationship with Desdemona.
The play unrolls as Iago plants doubts in Othello's mind about his wife Desdemona has been
unfaithful with his lieutenant Cassio. Othello becomes consumed by jealousy and anger, leading
to tragic events. Othello explores themes such as jealousy, trust and human relationships. It
reveals the destructive power of uncontrolled emotions and the complexities of how people
behave.
Shakespeare's Othello is a timeless work of literature that examines themes that apply to
everyone and provides deep insights into the human mind. It continues to be studied and
performed for its memorable characters and deep exploration of human emotions.

1.1.1 Character Analysis

1.1.1.1 Othello

The protagonist of William Shakespeare's play is Othello. He is a Moor, so he shows up different

from other people in Venice and has a darker skin tone. Desdemona got married to Othello, a
well respected general in the Venetian army. He had to move from Venice to Cyprus for a battle
against the Turks, and then the trust and love he put in Desdemona were shaken by a jealous man
named Iago. Othello starts to feel jealous because of the lies told to him by Iago that Desdemona
is having a secret affair with his lieutenant Cassio. Othello is a mix of strength and weakness in a
human. He has courage, intelligence, and even the greatest quality a general should have, which
could work under pressure. No matter how strong he is, just a few words glazed in venomous lies
made his weakness show up.

" O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green eyed monster which doth mock The meat it
feeds on "

In Act V, Scene 2, Othello learns the truth about Iago's lies and realises that Desdemona is
innocent. His blinded eyes opened and made him realise what he had caused. Othello saw
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glimpses of his past greatness, his military achievements, the unbreakable loyalty he had to
Venice, and lastly, his deep love for Desdemona, which he killed with his own hands. He felt
guilty and sorrowful. That made him take his own life beside the cold lifeless body of his loyal
wife.

"I kissed you before I killed you. I have no other choice but to kill myself and die with a final
kiss."

Othello is a character who represents both good and bad qualities. Racism towards Othello was
highly evident in the play. Through the difficulties, he gained the respect he deserved for his
bravery and dedication to his duty. Brabantio didn't like Othello because of his appearance. But
certain people, like the Duke of Venice, were impressed and trusted the title of general of the
Venetian army in Othello.

" If virtue no delighted beauty lacks. Your son-in-law is far more fair than black "

Othello's insecurities made him weak and easily manipulated by toxicity. It destroyed his sanity
and blinded him to venomous lies from Iago. He couldn't understand who was right or wrong
after the jealousy and fear of losing took over; he only believed Iago. By doing so, he destroyed
himself and the loyal people who supported him until the end.

1.1.1.2 Desdemona

One of the central characters in William Shakespeare's play is Desdemona. She is a young,
wealthy Venetian woman who develops feelings for Othello, the Moorish general. Desdemona is
shown to be innocent, loyal, and deeply in love with her husband.

She is the most honest and innocent person in the play. To her, Othello is a hero who slays his
sword faster than lightning and is talented head to toe, unlike any other men in Venice. Her love
for Othello is like the first ray of sunshine at dawn, gradually filling her heart with gentle
warmth, hope, and a new beginning like spring. Innocence and purity are discussed through the
cunning and manipulation of the other characters, mainly Iago, throughout the play. Iago
attempted to destroy Desdemona’s reputation, but she never did anything against her husband
and stayed loyal until her last breath.

"I never did offend you in my life; never loved Cassio But with such general warranty of heaven
As I might love."

After her marriage with the love of her life, she came to Cyprus to be in charge of her own
household. When Barbantio was unhappy about her decision, she followed her own heart, even
though she was a woman at the time who should have accepted the traditional norms. She
respected her father and knew her duty to him. But she chose Othello because of the commitment
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she put into her relationship. She is a brave woman with a faithful heart. Her words in the play
reflect her pure love for Othello.

"My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty. To you I am bound for life and education.
My life and education both teach me how to respect you. I am hitherto your daughter: but here's
my husband"

She thought she was going to live her life to the fullest with her husband, full of love, but instead
she got unbearable pain from her misunderstood husband. Marriage brought her sorrow. She
stood up for Othello when everyone disapproved of her greatest decision in life, but he pushed
her from a colourful world to a pit of darkness because of mere lies. She could have found
another lover or a way to satisfy her frustration. Despite finding affection for another, like Iago
thought she would, she defended Othello from the effects of his actions until her death.
At first, she was labelled as a fragile flower made from glass, but when the story folds to the end,
it's clear she is a strong woman with powerful characteristics.

1.1.1.3 Iago

Iago is considered the most evil character in literature. He is the bad guy in the play Othello. He
is very clever and tricks people into doubting themselves. Iago didn't like Othello because he
didn't get the title of lieutenant in the army. He wanted revenge on Othello and his lieutenant,
Cassio. So he pretended to be loyal to Othello but was actually planning bad things. Iago told lies
and controlled people, especially Othello, making him think his wife was not faithful. He used
Othello's trust and insecurities to make him jealous.

"I follow him to serve my turn upon him. We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be
truly followed."

In the play, Iago represents the opposite of God, which is the devil. He lies and breaks promises.
He doesn't care about anyone, not even his wife Emilia. He fooled people and didn't care how
much he hurt them.

Iago's planning skills and intelligence make him sound like a devil in disguise. The way he
makes his first move as a friendly and extremely trustworthy person, then stabs in the back like
he did to Rodrigo without any emotion, is truly impressive, even though he is the villain. Iago
may look easy on the eyes, but his heart is as ugly as a face that not even a mother could love.
Iago is a skilled puppeteer who manipulates and controls the lives of others. He plays with the
strings of insecurities and carefully separates people from their connections, making them
vulnerable and dependent on him.

“I am not what I am”

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Iago's desire for power and control leads to his own destruction. In the end, he is left alone in the
tragedy he created. Shakespeare crafted him as the most villainous yet silver-tongued character
to highlight him as an interesting villain.

1.1.1.4 Cassio

Cassio is a loyal and honest lieutenant in the play “Othello”. Cassio is known for his gentlemanly
qualities and charming look. He is also very friendly and likes to be around people. That was a
reason for Iago, a jealous man, to use Cassio for his evil plans and make him miserable.
.
Cassio’s life went from “top of the world” to “rock bottom" when he lost his position as a
lieutenant because of Iago’s manipulations. This made him regret it and feel guilty, even though
he was tricked. Cassio is easy to manipulate because of his kind nature. Iago didn't like Cassio
because, according to him, he was the perfect candidate to be a lieutenant not Cassio and he
merely has theoretical knowledge and no practical knowledge of war. .

“And what was he? Forsooth, a great arithmetician, More than a spinster; unless the bookish
theoric”

As a soldier who is committed to the Army he is highly disciplined and cares for the reputation
of his title. Because of these good qualities in him ladies like Bianca follow him around and try
to be with him as much as they can. Even the jealous Iago thinks that his wife, Emilia might also
have a secret affair with him because of his lady-killer personality. Even though Desdemona is
young and beautiful he never looks at her with lustful eyes.

“Cassio’s a proper man, He hath a person and a smooth dispose”

Othello indeed did a great job of choosing Cassio as the lieutenant. Not only is he talented, he is
also a good friend to Othello. That's the biggest difference between Cassio and Iago. Cassio
refused to drink because he was a dutiful person who doesn't take a job lightly. But because of
Iago's plan he lost his job in a drunken mistake. One of the characters who stayed at the end of
the play is Cassio, who took the governorship of Cyprus. Throughout the play, Cassio was
generous about how he dealt with others.
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1.1.1.5 Emilia

Emila plays a significant part in the play "Othello". She is the attendant of Desdemona, the lady
of the moor's household. Her character represents honest and direct truths, even if they come
with consequences. She is devoted to her lady and stands by her side through thick and thin.

In the whole play, Shakespeare didn't give much place to the ladies, but Emilia's character has
the fierce personality to stand up for her lady when men try to take advantage of innocent people
like her, especially Emilia's own husband. Iago falsely accused Desdemona, saying that she has a
relationship with Cassio, and Emilia defended her as a powerful female and sacrificed her life to
expose the bitter truth about her lying husband. She uncovered the truth behind the handkerchief,
the manipulating nature of Iago, and how he fooled everyone until the end. She was a loyal
woman to her lady until her death.

"I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest, Lay down my soul at stake.:if you think other, Remove
your thought"

Emilia has a fiery spirit. She always speaks her mind and refuses to accept the idea that women
should be voiceless and obedient. The men in Othello are problematic. Shakespeare tried to show
that when men don't get whatever they want from their women, they treat women unfairly. She
questions the unfair treatment of women and speaks out against this double-standard society. She
is a brave and independent person. She criticises the idea that men can be unfaithful to their
wives, but when women do the same thing, society only blames the women, saying they are
"whores". She didn't want her lady to be falsely accused of being in a relationship with other
men. In the end, only Emilia knew the truth about all the unrighteous things that happened. She
was angry about Desdemona's death and Iago's evilness. She once told Desdemona about what
kind of cunning people men are. She lost her trust and loyalty to Iago and realised his murderous
rage and power hunger towards others.

"They are all but stomachs, and we all but food; To eat us hungerly, and when they are full, They
belch us."

Despite her low class as a lady in waiting and Iago's wife, she is the most powerful and strong
woman, and she is the only one to defend the innocent Desdemona at the end. She is a feminist
who isn't afraid to speak up for the right and the poor treatment of women, which was against the
traditional norms of that time. She dies for providing justice to the mistreated women, revealing
the true nature of men in Othello. She didn't die as a weakling but as the true hidden hero who
died for the justice of women's rights.
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1.2 Literary Devices

Literary devices are tools used to make the work in a simple and creative way to engage readers
and convey the writer's message. They add depth and meaning to literary works, making them
more captivating.

There are many styles of literary devices serving different purposes. Examples of literary devices
are metaphors, a direct comparison between two different things without using "like'' or "as".
Similes are also literary devices that involve combining two different things, like metaphors, but
this uses the words ``like" and "as' ' to highlight the similarities and make a clear picture for the
reader. Hyperbole is something that is not meant to be taken literally. It is something that seems a
lot larger and more important than it actually is. A rhetorical question is one that asks for an
effect or to make a point rather than get an answer. This makes it more engaging for the reader to
have a particular idea to think about. Imagery is using words and descriptions to let the reader
create their own image in their head while reading or listening. Imagery helps the reader imagine
and experience the scene or concept in a more creative way.

Other devices like onomatopoeia, repetition, alliteration, irony, and foreshadowing also help in
many ways to convey complex ideas, emotions, and a better experience while reading. They add
beauty, rhyme, and depth to the written words, making them more engaging. By using these
devices effectively, writers can capture their audience and leave a lasting impression.

1.2.1 Simile

A simile is a literary device that is used to compare two different things using 'like' and 'as'. It is a
figure of speech that helps create a vivid and relatable description by drawing a line between two
unrelated things. Similes allows the writers to create the storyline and poems tastefully and
awaken the imagery in the reader's mind.

In Shakespeare's play "Othello," similes are often used to make comparisons and realistic
images. One example for that shows this line in Act 01, scene 03 clearly.

“The food that to him now is as luscious as locusts, shall be to him shortly as bitter as
coloquintida.”

This passage says that the food that someone loves to have every day will soon become bitter
and unpleasant, just like enjoying locusts and finding a bitter herb called coloquintida. This
highlights that Othello will soon get tired of Desdemona by a simple simile.
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In "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou, she always highlights the last line of every stanza with a
simile.

"You may trod me in the very dirt, But still, like dust, I'll rise."

This compares the speaker's ability to overcome the mistreatment they get to the rising of dust.
She approaches as dust, and no matter how hard she tries to push down, she will continue to rise
with her strength. This simile shows that dust cannot be permanently kept down; it will come out
no matter what.

The Nightingale and the Rose shows a powerful simile for a rose.

"And the marvellous rose became crimson, like the rose of the eastern sky."

By using this simile, the poet shows the vividness and intensity of the red rose. It compares to the
eastern sky, suggesting that the crimson hue of the rose is breathtaking and vibrant, like sunrise.
This simile adds a touch of enchantment to show this as a symbol of love and sacrifice.

1.2.2 Metaphor

Metaphor is a writing technique to compare two different things by saying that one thing is
another. It helps writers create strong images and make deeper meanings in a short way.
Metaphors can make readers feel certain emotions and add more complexity to the story.

"Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is topping your white ewe"

In this part, Othello was compared to an old black ram and Desdemona to a white ewe. This
metaphor says that Othello, who is portrayed as a Moor, is engaging in a sexual relationship with
Desdemona, who is pure and innocent. This metaphor highlights the race and cultural
differences, social injustice, and taboo nature of their relationship.

“but lost in the labyrinth of its complexities,”

This metaphor in "Piano and Drums" refers to the speaker's experience of being overwhelmed
and confused by the complexity of modern life. This compares the speaker's state of mind to
being lost in a maze-like structure where one can easily get lost. It shows that the speaker is
unable to navigate the twisted and confusing aspects of the modern world, emphasising the
challenges and difficulties faced in trying to accept the traditional African cultural values with
the rapidly changing European culture in colonies of Africa.

"And a delicate flush of pink came into the leaves of the rose, like the flush in the face of the
bridegroom when he kisses the lips of the bride"
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The metaphor in the line from Oscar Wilde's "The Nightingale and the Rose" compares the pink
colour appearing in the rose's leaves to the blushing of a bridegroom's face when he kisses his
bride. The metaphor suggests that the rose's change in colour resembles the excitement and
emotion felt by a bridegroom in a tender moment. It adds a romantic and passionate part to the
description of the rose, highlighting the significance of the nightingale's sacrifice.

1.2.3 Hyperbole

Hyperbole is a way of speaking or writing that involves overdramatization to make a point or

create a strong effect. It uses extreme statements that are not meant to be taken literally.
Hyperbole is used to make things more exciting or to point out something important. It is a way
of stretching the truth to make a statement more powerful or memorable.

“I will incontinently drown myself”

This line is spoken by Rodrigo in Shakespeare's play "Othello." It is an example of hyperbole,

which means heightening for attention. He is using strong language to show his extreme sadness
and despair because he lost Desdemona. He is not actually planning to drown himself, but he is
expressing the depth of his emotions and the idea that he feels so overwhelmed that he wants to
escape from his pain.

"If our two loves be one, or, thou and I , Love so alike, that none do slacken, none can die."

The lines from John Donne's poem "The Good-Morrow" contain the best hyperbole that could be
explained. The speaker is expressing a strong and eternal love, suggesting that if their love is
united and if they both love each other in a similar and firm way, then their love will never
weaken or fade away. The hyperbole points out the depth and eternal nature of their love,
highlighting its intensity and stability. It emphasises the idea that their love is so powerful that it
can never be broken or fade.

“She will dance so lightly that her feet will not touch the floor”

The phrase in The Nightingale and the Rose is hyperbole, which means it is a dramatic
statement. It means that the person's dance will be very graceful and elegant. This suggests that
she seems to float or move smoothly as she dances, giving the impression that her feet are not
actually touching the floor. It creates a graphic picture of her lightness and elegance, making her
dancing appear almost magical.
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1.2.4 Rhetorical Questions

A rhetorical question is a type of question that does not require a direct answer. It is used to make
a point or get people to think about something. It's like asking a question, but the purpose is not
to get an answer. This is often used in speeches or writing to make a statement or attract the
audience.

“If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not
die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?"

The lines from a character named Shylock in The Merchant of Venice show the shared humanity
between people and highlight that, despite the differences, all people experience pain, laughter,
and death. He is questioning why he should not seek revenge when he has been wronged. This is
intended to make the audience think about fairness, understanding, and the outcome of the
mistreatment.

"Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like
teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries?"

These lines in "Still I Rise" ask if the reader or listener wants to see the speaker broken, with a
bowed head and lowered eyes. They show the speaker's strength and determination to overcome
challenges. The questions make you think and question why someone would want to hurt her.

"Can I eat love?"

This rhetorical question means that love cannot be obtained or fulfilled through physical eating.
The speaker believes that there are other important things in life that are necessary for fulfilment
and being alive. The question serves to show that love alone is not enough for a meaningful and
satisfying existence.

1.2.5 Imagery

Imagery is when writers use words that create pictures in the reader's mind. It's like painting a
picture with words. It helps readers imagine and experience things through their senses, like what
things look, sound, taste, feel, or smell like. Imagery makes writing more fun to read and helps
readers understand and remember the words better.

"Arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell!, Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne,
To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught"
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In these lines from "Othello," the writer uses words that help us imagine strong feelings and clear
pictures. This says that his love is gone from the throne in his heart. His pain is like a swollen
chest, as if it's been bitten by a venomous snake. The writer's use of imagery helps us understand
how angry and betrayed the speaker feels.

"Wandering in the mystic rhythm of jungle drums and the concerto."

In this line, the writer wants the reader to picture the speaker feeling confused and not having a
clear direction. When they hear the jungle drums, they follow that sound. And when they hear
the piano concerto, they follow that sound as well. The imagery helps us understand the speaker's
struggle and uncertainty about their identity and where they belong.

“As yellow as the hair of the mermaiden who sits upon an amber throne, and yellower than the
daffodil that blooms in the meadow”

In this line, the writer talks about the yellow colour of the rose. They say it is like the hair of a
mermaid and yellower than a daffodil. The imagery helps to think of a bright and lively shade of
yellow, similar to the mermaid's hair and the colour of a blooming daffodil.