Power Of Shakespeare s Othello And The Tempest - 2263 Words

How is power presented in Othello and The Tempest The theme of power is presented in the ‘The Tempest’ and ‘Othello’ by Shakespeare using different power dynamics between the main characters in the plays. ‘Othello’, a play written in the early 17th century, in the Elizabethan era shows power using the main characters and their interactions with each other, and ‘The Tempest’, a play written later in the 17th century, in the Jacobean era, does likewise. If you compare the plays, you have the two malcontent characters, Iago from Othello and Prospero from The Tempest. Both of these characters feel wronged and therefore act in revenge and show their power. Moreover, Shakespeare explores what power’s take precedence other each over, the powerlessness of women using Desdemona from Othello and Miranda from The Tempest. and just the general power dynamics such as manipulation. Power is a key theme in Othello. In both plays power is used to manipulate other characters and control events. Iago uses his power of language to control and bend people’s action while Prospero uses magic to control everyone else on the island. In the contemporary era (when Othello was written) power controlled everything, your status, respect and it made you a leader. Iago believes he deserves the role of the lieutenant however according to the Elizabethan chain of being Iago as an â€Å"ancient† would never be eligible for that position, even with his experience. Act 1 Scene 1, Iago reveals the truth aboutShow MoreRelatedComparing Power in The Tempest and Othello1801 Words   |  8 PagesComparing Power in ‘The Tempest’ and ‘Othello’ Both plays are about the ultimate struggle for power. Power can be shown in many ways such as race, gender, ‘others’, social class, and most importantly through use of language. Power can be shown in both plays through the use of ‘otherness’. This can be associated with power as characters such as Othello or Caliban are ‘others’ because they are from ‘elsewhere’. One such character who could be described as an ‘other’ is Othello. Bill Bryson suggestedRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s A Great Writer2074 Words   |  9 Pages William Shakespeare was a great English writer from several centuries ago and is often seen as one of the most remarkable writers to this day. He not only projects deeper ideas throughout his various types of plays, but he also never ceased to entertain the common man or the families of royalty. â€Å"Shakespeare s words and phrases have become so familiar to us that it is sometimes with a start th at we realize we have been speaking Shakespeare when we utter a clichà © such as ‘one fell swoop’ or ‘notRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello And The English Language1649 Words   |  7 PagesPoet, playwright, actor and dramatist, William Shakespeare is one of the most influential and greatest writers up to this day in poetry and the English language. 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As William Hazlitt observed, quot;The most striking peculiarity of Shakespeares mind was its generic quality, its power of communication with all other minds.quot; It is perhaps this quality that has earned Shakespeare the supreme accolade, that of lending his name to an era. Other than aRead More William Shakespeares Use of Song in the Early Comedies3188 Words   |  13 Pagesasleep (II.ii.7), this lullaby serves to advance the plot: during the song the queen not only retires but achieves such slumber as endures undisturbed by King Oberons ensuing mischief. This function resembles that of Let Me the Canakin Clink in Othello II.iii.71-75), explains Seng: not only to establish an atmosphere . . . but to stretch stage-time and make Cassios rapid drunkenness plausible (186). Further, Seng relates, an Elizabethan audience believed that music had actual therapeutic