Monday 12 March 2012

What genre of tragedy does act II fit into best?

Revenge tragedy fits best into act II because it is the act where Iago puts his plan into action with Roderigo in how to get Cassio sacked and Othello to not trust Desdemona.  It is seen as a revenge tragedy because it involves complex disguises, and usually some morality of revenge. (Iago shown to be loyal and honest to everyone but in his soliloquy’s we see his true side).An eruption of general violence at the end, which (in the Renaissance) is often accomplished by means of a feigned masque or festivity, (Roderigo provoking Cassio and fighting with him).              We also see Iago doesn’t care who he hurts while bringing down Othello and he has no morals and respect for women. We see Iago quickly takes the opportunity to criticize women in general as deceptive and hypocritical, saying they are lazy in all matters except sex: “You rise to play and go to bed to work” (II.i.118). Cassio takes Desdemona away to speak with her privately about Othello’s arrival. Iago notices that Cassio takes Desdemona’s hand as he talks to her, and, in an aside, Iago plots to use Cassio’s hand-holding to frame him so that he loses his newly gained promotion to lieutenant. “With as little a web as this I will ensnare as great a fly as Cassio,” he asserts (II.i.169). This shows that Iago will use any situation to bring Othello down and we see this throughout act II.

1 comment:

  1. Really useful one, compact yet packed with important points.Thank You very much for the effort to make the hard one looks so simple. Further, you can access this site to read Othello’s Tragic Flaw

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