Comparison Between the Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice and Hamlet Essay

In Elizabethan and Jacobean society, people depended on surprises in highly theatrical entertainment. The playho examples hosted popular theatre performances without stage-sets or props. contradictory nowadayss modern theatre, the simple stage allowed for swift, fluid action and a concentration on language. The Jacobean stage would nurture bought the colours of language to life. For example, A vice figure like Iago would use exaggerated members and gestures to stress his steadfast feeling of antagonism towards Othello. Likewise, a sad settlement would experiment with words in an overstated manner (to show his conflicted state of mind).The Tragedy of Othello, the wharf of Venice (Act I, Scene I) and small town (Act III, Scene IIII) directs the plays to there ruinous endings. However, the language portrays the relationship between characters in different ways. In Othello, Iago exploits the power of language to manipulate his family and friends and make them puppets for his r etaliate plan. In Hamlet, the relationship is also iodine without trust, but it is presented in a quietly deceitful way. The protagonist feels his reclusive life being usurped by spies Claudio and Polonius.Act I, Scene I of Othello is striking for todays audience, and the contemporary audience of the time, since it is abounded in coarse animalistic imagery. Iago uses crude language as a persuasive approach. He understands that Brabanzio embodies a Eurocentric view, so he speaks in offensive terms in order to tempt Brabanzio to believe his words. Derogatory references such as old relentless ram, coursers for cousins and jennets lecture a strong sense of hate and prejudice. Metaphorical expressions like coursers and jennets completely dehumanize Othello.They be also a reminder of the social context, since Othello would turn over been compete by a white actor in the Jacobean period. Iagos language is concentrated on the colour of Othellos skin he describes him as a black ram tha t go away breed a generation of horses because of his black skin colour and African heritage. The Jacobean audience would have silent how Iagos poisonous slanders are targeted towards the Moor, (because of racial leavings). Therefore the audience may have shared a similar view on black Africans in Jacobean society. Iago expresses the stark contrasts between the colours black and white.In Shakespeares day, blackness was primarily associated with witchcraft and voodoo while a white ewe would be representative of goodness and purity. Rather ironically Iago embodies these racial stereotypes he does not refer to Othello by his name but as the Moor. This suggests how Iago exploits Brabanzios fatherly hump and vulnerability. He is aware that Brabanzio finds it abominable that his daughter can be snatched away in the hands of the Moor. Consequently, he abuses the use of animal imagery and the conventional colours (black and white) to produce a desirable response.Like Queen Gertrude who passionately cries thou hast cleft my join in twain Brabanzio is also moved by Iagos lethal words. Powerful images such as tupping your white ewe are highly sexual they and so have the capacity to cause an explosive reaction. Brabanzio panics frantically, This incident is not unlike my dream belief of it oppresses me already. The other characters reactions are indicative of the inevitable ending that follows as a result of Hamlet and Iagos ability to influence their rivals with speech. Hamlets potent words are like daggers, then they are likely to initiate a reaction.However, he uses a persuasive approach that is different to Iagos. In comparison to Iagos spontaneous dialogue, Hamlets language is more(prenominal) meaningful because it carries the weight of truth. He does not talk figuratively, but uses simple and indisputable facts A murderer and a villain That from a shelf the precious diadem stole and put it in his pocket. This approach is more likely to disturb the audienc e because it is full of Hamlets fanatical truth. The antagonist of the play (Claudius) is described as A murderer and a villain who usurped the Kings position and put it in his pocket.Unlike Iagos vulgar language (that is only useful in influencing Roderigo) Hamlets use of imagery is effective in persuading the audience, himself, and Queen Gertrude that his rage and revenge is genuinely permissible. This is because Hamlets revenge is bound with the facts of reality and not with treacherous lies. However, Iagos language is also effective in showing how his drive for revenge lacks true motive. Hamlet is an ambitious character, yet he feels his fathers cruel murder morally validates him to gain revenge.Iago on the other hand, seizes the opportunity to tell his story of wherefore he hates the Moor, but the audience find that there is no legitimate reason for him to plot against Othello. He bitterly argues that he deserves the position as lieutenant I am worth no worse a place. Iago al so wishes to settle scores with Othello wife for wife, because he imagines Othello to have had a sexual relationship with Emilia. This makes it obvious to the audience how Iagos extreme jealousy and bitterness compels him to poison the ears of everyone with lies.However, In Hamlet the audience feel the strong sense of betrayal and deceit, thus they sympathise with Hamlets plight because he (unlike Iago) is a genuine victim. Every time Hamlet answers his mother he clearly manifests the reasons for his hatred Here is your husband blasting his wholesome brother. His words are like a passionate outcry, they desperately try to persuade his true intentions. On a Jacobean stage Hamlet maybe erratically gesturing Here is your husband to show a sense of connectedness to his fathers stopping point and his revenge.Hamlet is perceived as being mad, yet his words embody more philosophical meaning, truth and depth then Iagos. The image he creates through his language indicates that his intenti ons are purposeful. For example, unlike Iagos futile animalistic language, Hamlets words tell a story you have my father lots offended. The personal pronoun my emphasises how he is trying to justify his anger and suggest that his acts and thoughts are occurring in response to the offence Gertrude and Claudius have caused. Similar to Iagos rambunctious language, Hamlets words are also charged with violent energy.He vehemently questions his mother Have you eyes? have you eyes? The bounce of the words Have you eyes emphasizes a sense of deep contemplation and suggests how Hamlet is making a moral statement. Iago and Hamlet express their drive for revenge in passionate terms. Hamlet compels his mother to see how her marriage with Claudius is immoral, where is thy blush? This instigates the question of how a madmans words can be deeply introspective. Hamlet is presented as an enigmatic chameleon because of the complex ambiguities in his language.However, this contrasts to how defiant he sounds when he fearlessly answers his mother in this scene Gertrude asks what have I done and Hamlet bluntly replies Such an act that calls virtue hypocrite II. 39-41. This evokes his sense of bitter resentment for being betrayed by his family. Similarly, Iago appears to be sharply responsive. The difference lies where Hamlet communicates the truth directly to his enemies, while Iago shrewdly conceals his true self. Iago shoots insults at Othello (such as Barbary horse) so that he is reduced to the savageness of an animal.A sixteenth century audience would have been animated and much more receptive towards such insults consequently they were more likely to have responded to Iagos crude puns. For example, the word Barbary is associated with barbarism and the ferocious speed of a North African horse. (This can have sexual implications, indicating that the white ewe and the old black ram have eloped together, where they are said to be making the beast with two backs. Language also plays a vital p art in demonstrating the relationship between characters in Othello and Hamlet.Unlike Hamlet who is acting alone, Iagos manipulative nature makes everyone partake in his scheme for revenge. His poisonous slanders seep in to the minds of his puppets, so that they feel bound to swan on his fabricated stories and the visual evidence that he presents. Iago understands that Roderigo depends on his support to win over Desdemona, he is also conscious of how Othellos marriage with Desdemona will ignite Roderigos desire for revenge. He elaborately tells his tale of why he hates the Moor in order to strategically plant even more hatred in Roderigos mind.Iago acts sympathetic towards his plight Why, theres no ameliorate. Tis the curse of service. Like Hamlets sharp swooning tongue, Iagos words are a destructive force responsible for his own downfall. Language such as Why, theres no remedy gives the illusion that his thoughts are pre-mediated in order to create a desired effe ct. He wishes to manipulate Roderigo by stringing him along with his shrewd words. Consequently, the audience see that Roderigo is advantageously moved I rather would have been his hangman. His tone of voice foreshadows the turmoil that will unfold in the play because he is poisoned by Iagos words.Furthermore, Iago exploits the art of language to manipulate people and intrude upon their lives. He convinces Brabanzio that his daughter has in fact eloped with his worse fear, a black African. Iagos astute nature convey that he is aware of how to plot against Othello. Roderigo and Iago racially abuse him, calling him thick lips. However, Iagos intrusive behaviour towards Othello contrasts with the spying and surveillance scene in Hamlet. This is because Iago playfully experiments with words in order to cause hostility.Whereas in Hamlet, the lack of trust means that the antagonists infringe upon Hamlets life in a secretive manner. This scene is a vivid example of how the characters are constantly observing each other, like a predator watching its prey. When Hamlet wanders in to his mothers private chamber, the first thing he would expect is to be alone with her. However, the stage direction reveals how POLONIUS hides behind the arras. Like Iagos destructive invasiveness, this act of attack instantly provokes fear. This is because the audience would be well aware of Hamlets inconsistent thoughts and erratic behaviour.Hamlets relationship between characters can also be seen to tally the nature of Iago. This is because Hamlet becomes a product of his own corrupt society when he acts out of impulse his revenge loses all of its meaning. Hamlet is no monthlong a betrayed and lonely man (who the audience sympathised with) but a vice figure and a destructive force comparable to Iago. The stage directions suggest that when Hamlet thrusts his sword through the arras and kills Polonius he truly displays elements of insanity. He acts instantaneously, discarding the need t o first check who is behind the arras.Thus, after killing Polonius Hamlet displays no crisscross of emotion or disbelief. Hamlets act mimics the selfish nature of Iago (as he has no emotional attachment with other characters). In Hamlet and Othello, there is a major theme of deceit and betrayal that invades the plays scenes. Hamlet and Iagos language reveals a lot about the social context and the motive driving their passion for revenge. By the end of the scene Hamlet is left completely isolated from his society, he does not feel inclined to show any sign of formal love for his family.His lack of trust impels him to act erratically by blindly killing Polonius. In a similar way, Act I, Scene I of Othello begins with Roderigo questioning Iago whether he truly hates the Moor I take it much unkindly Iago who hast had my purse As if the strings were thine, shouldst know this. This invokes the general theme of deceit in the scene, and establishes how Iago is double-tongued like Hamlet. The same way Hamlet conceals his sanity from the world, Iago exploits the power of language to disguise himself in order to continue controlling his victims.