Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Creating Character in Othello
Write an analytical paragraph in which you explore how Shakespeare uses figurative language to establish the character of one of two minor characters: Brabantio or the Duke. Practice organizing your paragraph around the five features of analytical paragraphs that we discussed in class: a topic sentence, quote contextualization, direct quotation, ideas/claims, and an explanation that links the ideas to the specific details of the text.
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Shakespeare uses figurative language to characterize Brabantio as gullible and foolish. This is shown by his complete acceptance of Iago's racist characterization of Othello. In the text Brabantio starts out not believing Iago's words when he says to Iago "Thou art a villain" (1.1.132). After Iago has presented a card house of arguments that rest on the fact that Desdemona is not in the house, Brabantio is willing to believe a man he had respected was an animalistic monster. This is demonstrated when Brabantio tells the Duke and senators "She is abused, stolen from me, and corrupted By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks; For nature so preposterously to err Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense Sans witchcraft could not" (1.3.72-77). This quote shows how easily his opinion of Othello has changed from calling someone who speaks against Othello a villain to calling Othello a practicer of black magic. This shows how gullible shakespeare has made Brabantio's character turning on someone he respected and accusing him of corrupting his daughter based on very little evidence.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare applies figurative language to represent Barbantio as an easily persuaded character for the sake of his daughter's protection. We first see signs of this when Iago influences Barbantio that Othello is a villain. "Sir, you are one of those that will not serve God if the devil bid you" (1.1.122-123). Iago Implies that Barbantio is such a weak man that he would seek to please the devil rather than god. Barbantio, overly protective of his daughter, see's this as an assault on Desdemona. Rather than waiting for more substantial evidence, Barbantio goes off the fact that Iago says "If she be in her chamber or your house, Let loose on me the justice of the state" (1.1.153-154) Barbantio was easily persuaded by Iago on playing on his fears of his daughters safety. Shakespeare uses Barbantio as a foolish and easily persuasive character in order to establish a conflict.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare masterfully puts into use figurative language to illustrate the Duke's pragmatism and amicability. In the beginning of the scene, Brabantio spouts his standard racist rhetoric, describing Othello as a dark magician and abuser. The Duke calmly responds with, "To vouch this is no proof / Without more wider and more overt test / Than these thin habits and poor likelihoods / Of modern seeming do prefer against him" (1.3.125-128). Essentially, the Duke is calling out Brabantio for his unsubstantiated accusations. The Duke uses "thin habits," or light clothing. to describe Brabantio's poorly crafted arguments. This is an accurate use of figurative language, as Brabantio is using thinly-veiled concepts to propagate his racist ideas. This demonstrates the Duke's perceptiveness and ability to remain clear headed in times of distress. Also, as Brabantio brings about wild claims against Othello's humanity, the Duke remains calm and collected as he carefully assesses the situation. Indeed, he attempts to dissuade any more of Brabantio's absurd remarks by saying, "Good Brabantio, / Take up this mangled matter at the best" (1.3.198-199). The Duke describes the situation as "mangled," meaning the conversation has already become quite awkward and illogical as a result of Brabantio's offensive remarks. He points out the extent Brabantio has selfishly changed the conversation and advises him to stop. Even though Brabantio continues on, these statements show the Duke's keen ability to evaluate situations at hand and respond accordingly.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare depicts Brabantio using figurative language as oblivious and ignorant many times throughout the book Othello. This characterization of Brabantio is first introduced in the very beginning of the book when Iago first tries to convince him that Othello is animalistic. Iago started the conversation with Brabantio by saying, "Are your doors locked?" (1.1.92) signifying that Othello was so dangerous and animalistic that Brabantio needed to lock his doors to prevent Othello from getting in. As Iago speaks to Brabantio, he presents the animalistic side of Othello as if it were fact, even though he has no real evidence. Brabantio should see through this since there is no actual reason he should believe it, after all, blackness meant virtue at the time. This characterizes Brabantio specifically because it shows how oblivious and ignorant he is to the fact the Iago is not telling the truth. Iago reals Brabantio in even more by victimizing Brabantio, saying, "Sir, you're robbed...Your heart is burst. You have lost half of your soul." (1.1.94,95,96) Brabantio slowly falls into Iago's trap, and we soon see Brabantio confronting Othello himself, presenting the same false accusations about Othello that he heard from Iago. "She is abused, stol'n from me, and corrupted by spells and medicines bought of mountebanks' for nature so prepost'rously to err- being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense- sans witchcraft could not." Brabantio is inflicting the hurtful stereotypes he obtained from Iago onto Othello by saying the only way Desdemona could love him is from witchcraft.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare uses figurative language to establish Brabantino as a protective father and unaware of when he is being manipulated. "What is the reason of this terrible summons? What is the matter there?" (Act 1 Scene 1, reading my book online until my book comes tomorrow, so I don't know which line.) Brabantio walks into situations unconscious of what is happening, and this is how he is easily mainpulated. He will not wait for evidence of a claim he has, rather goes ahead and acts as if it must be true. We see this in Act 1 Scene 1, when Brabantio says "If she be in her chamber or your house, Let loose on me the justice of the state." He is gullible and assumes things without proper investigation.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare uses figurative language to show how easily Brabantio's opinion can change. In act 1 scene 1 we hear Iago telling Brabantio that, "an old black ram is tupping your white ewe." (1,1,97) to which he replies, "have you lost your wits?" (1,1,102) Though, not long after do we see Brabantio approach the Duke and say to him that his, "particular grief is of so floodgate and o'erbearing nature that it engluts and swallows other sorrows and it is still itself." (1,3,65). He also accuses Othello of taking his daughter and having her, "abused, stol'n from me, and corrupted by spells and medicines bought of Mountebanks." (1,3,73) These all show that in the beginning, Brabantio had nothing against Othello, but was easily persuaded to have a racist and illogical mindset against Othello by Iago. One reason his gullibility is so apparent is because his mindset changed from thinking of this idea as preposterous to thinking it was utterly undeniable truth. The conclusion that can be drawn by the figurative language in this book is that Brabantio is a gullible fool.
ReplyDeleteIn Othello, the author, Shakespeare, uses figurative language to express Brabantio's gullible habits and easily swayed opinions. In Act I Scene I of Othello, this characterstic is clearly depicted throughout one conversation between Iago and Brabantio. "'...an old black ram is tupping your white ewe.' '...have you lost your wit?'" In this quote, Iago is telling Brabantio that Othello is with his daughter, but Brabantio replies as if that's impossible. Despite his firm belief, by the end of that conversation, Brabantio is fully on Iago's side. "'It is too true an evil. Gone she is, and what's to come of my despisèd time...'" The author, in figurative language, clearly shows Brabantio being swayed from one thought, to a polar opposite one after just one conversation with Iago. Furthermore, Iago fails to provide legitimate evidence to support his claim, which takes it a step further in depicting Brabantio's easily swayed opinions. After reading this, the conclusion that can be drawn is that Brabantio is undoubtably gullible and has an opinion that is easily swayed.
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