‘Othello’ Essay plans
Contents
Explore how Shakespeare uses the plays structure in ‘Othello’ ______________________________ 2
Explore how Shakespeare presents human weakness in ‘Othello’ ____________________________ 4
Explore how Shakespeare presents justice in ‘Othello’ ____________________________________ 6
Explore how Shakespeare presents inequality in ‘Othello’__________________________________ 7
Explore how Shakespeare presents shifting moods _______________________________________ 9
Imagery and symbols _____________________________________________________________ 10
How are outsider characters presented _______________________________________________ 10
How are destructive relationships presented ___________________________________________ 11
How is madness presented _________________________________________________________ 12
How is control presented __________________________________________________________ 13
How is loyalty presented ___________________________________________________________ 14
How are clash of cultures presented _________________________________________________ 15
How is heroism presented _________________________________________________________ 16
How is suffering presented _________________________________________________________ 17
How is suffering presented in ‘Othello’? – Example paragraph _____________________________ 18
How is power presented ___________________________________________________________ 19
How does the play explore challenging authority _______________________________________ 19
How is the plays ending presented ___________________________________________________ 20
Explore how social class/status is presented ___________________________________________ 22
Deception – Plan 1 _______________________________________________________________ 23
Deception – plan 2 _______________________________________________________________ 24
Female characters – Plan 1 _________________________________________________________ 25
Female characters – Plan 2 _________________________________________________________ 26
Explore how gender roles are presented ______________________________________________ 27
How is death presented ___________________________________________________________ 29
How is the relationship between Othello and Desdemona presented? _______________________ 30
How is the relationship between Iago and Emilia explored? _______________________________ 32
Marriage – plan 1 ________________________________________________________________ 32
Marriage- plan 2 _________________________________________________________________ 33
Presentation of minor characters ____________________________________________________ 34
Presentation of the relationships between women ______________________________________ 35
Explore the presentation of Othello’s contradictions _____________________________________ 37
How is Iago presented? ____________________________________________________________ 37
1
,Explore how Shakespeare uses the plays structure in ‘Othello’
LOA: In ‘Othello’ Shakespeare creates an imbalance of control over the play’s structure as a mirror for
the injustices of Elizabethan society. Iago’s dominance over the play’s structure elevates him to the
position of the protagonist, instead of Othello. However, arguably, this shift in structural authority also
facilitates Iago’s corruption. Thus, through a battle of control over the play’s structure, Shakespeare
critiques the exaltation of the white hegemonic masculine class, and its consequent toxic treatment
towards “Women and blacks [who] were seen as the other,” (Loomba).
1. A01: Iago’s complete control over the plays structure; symbolic of society exalting the white
hegemonic class.
A02: He possesses control over all the soliloquies – a lot more time allocated to him, 31% lines
compared Othello 21%. Iago has 7 soliloquies vs Othello only has 2.
A02: Dictates the narrative of events through this control- colour symbolism, foreshadowing, iambic
pentameter, rhyming couplet “hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to light,” – reveals his
plans are final.
A02: “Honest Iago,” - the power society grants him. Epithet
A05: Honningman “godly sense of power,” O’Toole “there is no Othello without Iago,”
A03: Reforms Cinthio’s short stories Hecathomitthi (the book Shakespeare based the ideas for Othello
from). In Othello, the ensign (Iago) has a lot more time than Hecathomitthi and is represented as far
more ambitious and blood thirsty. The reason for this is to exaggerate the level of control given to a
figure of the white hegemonic class.
A01: However, in this control, Iago corrupts and manipulates.
A02: Duplicity and dramatic irony. His ability to transition his speech between blank verse and prose
(prose makes him seem more equal with Roderigo, but he has carefully plotted individually in blank
verse) shows his ability to manipulate and be corruptive.
A03: Origins of Iago’s name – surname Matamoros, Shakespeare depicting a corruptive
character. Shakespeare choice villain name Iago in his play. Santiago is Spanish for James or Jacob. St.
James (Santiago) is the patron saint of Spain. St. James of Spain’s surname Matamors means killer of
the Moors as the saint often led military campaigns against those people..
A05: Argue against Coleridge who says “Othello is a being next to the devil,”- the devil is actually Iago.
A01: Thus, through the play’s structure, Shakespeare critiques societal structures that provide
supreme control and trust in these individuals merely due to their status. Shakespeare shows how
an individuals mere social identity, being a white male, does not capture the truth of them.
2. A01: Because Iago possesses the main control over the play’s structure, Othello, the
protagonist, consequently has a lack of control over the play’s structure.
2
,A02: Othello tries to justify his views but there is a constant interjection of Iago in Act 3 Scene
3 symbolising his failures to gain control over the narrative.
A02: Othello has a lack of soliloquies emblematic of his lack of control.
A02: His anagnorisis comes at the wrong time, since it becomes too early this catalyses the destruction
of the play. Othello has a lack of control over his anagnorisis and consequently the plays structure.
A05: Bradley argues Othello has a “power which appears to smile on him for a while then strike him
down in his pride,” but arguably in terms of the play’s structure, Othello has no power, therefore this
disagrees with the critic.
A01: Further, from a post-colonial reading, Othello has a lack of control due to his outsider status.
A05: Loomba “Moors were usually typed as godless, bestial, fit only to be saved,” revealing the views
of his outsider status
A05: Cowhig “an alien in a white society,”
A03: Moors/ Aaron from Titus Andronicus.
A02: Society imposes this view of him being a metaphorical “wheeling stranger,” they deny him any
true control. Arguably, this is the reason Othello has a lack of control over the structure – society exalts
the white masculine male (Iago) not Othello, even though Othello is supposed to be the protagonist.
A01: But these societal views, which deny him control over the plays structure are profoundly
wrong, and it is by failing to offer Othello control over the structure, that disorder happens, not
because of his status.
A05: As Loomba notes Othello “reshapes available images of blackamoors,”
A02/A05: His descent from blank verse to prose, is not because of his characteristics and
geohumourism, but rather, as Phillips recognises, “because Othello feels constantly threatened and
profoundly insecure,”
Lack of control, and removal of him from society, causes tragedy, not the stereotypes that society
believes uphold order.
A01: Thus, Shakespeare showing the absurdity of latent racism. If Othello had control over the play’s
structure, as the true protagonist, catastrophe may never have happened.
3. A01: Women try and gain control over the play’s structure- hope that society can shift away
from these hierarchies.
A02: Emilia, speaking as “liberal as the north,” shows attempts that society can transcend the toxicity
and control of Iago. Symbolic of female attempts to gain control.
A03 Subverts expectations of women. Women usually would be punished with the metal device of
the brank if they spoke out. 2626 pamphlets released during 17th century advocating six heavenly
virtues of women including the virtue to be obedient and not speak their view – contradicting Emilias
actions
3
, A05 In critique of Neeley who argues “Emilia acts accordingly to wifely virtues of silence,
obedience,” Emilia does speak out and is not silent.
A01 The fact Emilia does speak out and does not conform to societal expectations shows attempts for
her to break from these constraints and gain control over the narrative/plays structure.
A01 Albeit Iago does not allow female attempts to take over control of the plays structure. He
maintains control by murdering Emilia and then refusing to speak any more.
A05 Kastan: Iago’s control is in the “uncertainty,” which he brings “reticence about who or what is
responsible for the dire change of fortune,”
A05 As Jardine argues Emilia becomes “suffering martyr,”
A05 Vanita “Emilia is Desdemona’s only ally, but Emilia is a powerless wife herself,” She is ‘powerless’
because her attempts to gain control over the narrative fail.
A02 Willow song – cyclical – mournful ballad. This is symbolic of how Emilia fails to transcend female
expectations.
A01 Thus, female attempts to maintain control are futile and fail to eventuate. The cyclical
continuation of Iago obtaining control over the play’s structure shows the current frameworks of
society are not accepting of a shift in hierarchies.
Explore how Shakespeare presents human weakness in ‘Othello’
LOA: Shakespeare presents how destructive human weaknesses derive not merely from individual
faults, but products from a deeply flawed societal structure.
1. A01 Othello’s greatest weakness lies in how quickly he becomes susceptible to jealousy, and
subverts stereotypical views of Moors.
A02/A05 So rapidly, Othello juxtaposes his characterisation from blank verse (representing his high
status and nobility) and a subversion of stereotypes (remaining calm and prudent in “put up your
swords for the dew will rust them”, to transitioning to violence and graphic prose. Othello, as Loomba
notes once “yokes together and reshapes available images of blackamoors,” but his weakness lies in
the fact that he becomes, as Coleridge notes “a being next to the devil,”
A05 As Tyan notes “Othello is the most easily jealous man anybody’s ever written about,”
A03 Context: Moors/ Aaron from Titus Andronicus / geohumourism – Othello conforms to these
stereotypes
A01 But, arguably this weakness is not a personal failure of his. Instead, this weakness has been
derived from internalising the prejudices, thus a societal consequence. From a post-colonial view,
Othello has been treated as ‘the other’ and his weakness is a consequence of this
A05 Phillips “Othello is constantly threatened and profoundly insecure,”
4
Contents
Explore how Shakespeare uses the plays structure in ‘Othello’ ______________________________ 2
Explore how Shakespeare presents human weakness in ‘Othello’ ____________________________ 4
Explore how Shakespeare presents justice in ‘Othello’ ____________________________________ 6
Explore how Shakespeare presents inequality in ‘Othello’__________________________________ 7
Explore how Shakespeare presents shifting moods _______________________________________ 9
Imagery and symbols _____________________________________________________________ 10
How are outsider characters presented _______________________________________________ 10
How are destructive relationships presented ___________________________________________ 11
How is madness presented _________________________________________________________ 12
How is control presented __________________________________________________________ 13
How is loyalty presented ___________________________________________________________ 14
How are clash of cultures presented _________________________________________________ 15
How is heroism presented _________________________________________________________ 16
How is suffering presented _________________________________________________________ 17
How is suffering presented in ‘Othello’? – Example paragraph _____________________________ 18
How is power presented ___________________________________________________________ 19
How does the play explore challenging authority _______________________________________ 19
How is the plays ending presented ___________________________________________________ 20
Explore how social class/status is presented ___________________________________________ 22
Deception – Plan 1 _______________________________________________________________ 23
Deception – plan 2 _______________________________________________________________ 24
Female characters – Plan 1 _________________________________________________________ 25
Female characters – Plan 2 _________________________________________________________ 26
Explore how gender roles are presented ______________________________________________ 27
How is death presented ___________________________________________________________ 29
How is the relationship between Othello and Desdemona presented? _______________________ 30
How is the relationship between Iago and Emilia explored? _______________________________ 32
Marriage – plan 1 ________________________________________________________________ 32
Marriage- plan 2 _________________________________________________________________ 33
Presentation of minor characters ____________________________________________________ 34
Presentation of the relationships between women ______________________________________ 35
Explore the presentation of Othello’s contradictions _____________________________________ 37
How is Iago presented? ____________________________________________________________ 37
1
,Explore how Shakespeare uses the plays structure in ‘Othello’
LOA: In ‘Othello’ Shakespeare creates an imbalance of control over the play’s structure as a mirror for
the injustices of Elizabethan society. Iago’s dominance over the play’s structure elevates him to the
position of the protagonist, instead of Othello. However, arguably, this shift in structural authority also
facilitates Iago’s corruption. Thus, through a battle of control over the play’s structure, Shakespeare
critiques the exaltation of the white hegemonic masculine class, and its consequent toxic treatment
towards “Women and blacks [who] were seen as the other,” (Loomba).
1. A01: Iago’s complete control over the plays structure; symbolic of society exalting the white
hegemonic class.
A02: He possesses control over all the soliloquies – a lot more time allocated to him, 31% lines
compared Othello 21%. Iago has 7 soliloquies vs Othello only has 2.
A02: Dictates the narrative of events through this control- colour symbolism, foreshadowing, iambic
pentameter, rhyming couplet “hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to light,” – reveals his
plans are final.
A02: “Honest Iago,” - the power society grants him. Epithet
A05: Honningman “godly sense of power,” O’Toole “there is no Othello without Iago,”
A03: Reforms Cinthio’s short stories Hecathomitthi (the book Shakespeare based the ideas for Othello
from). In Othello, the ensign (Iago) has a lot more time than Hecathomitthi and is represented as far
more ambitious and blood thirsty. The reason for this is to exaggerate the level of control given to a
figure of the white hegemonic class.
A01: However, in this control, Iago corrupts and manipulates.
A02: Duplicity and dramatic irony. His ability to transition his speech between blank verse and prose
(prose makes him seem more equal with Roderigo, but he has carefully plotted individually in blank
verse) shows his ability to manipulate and be corruptive.
A03: Origins of Iago’s name – surname Matamoros, Shakespeare depicting a corruptive
character. Shakespeare choice villain name Iago in his play. Santiago is Spanish for James or Jacob. St.
James (Santiago) is the patron saint of Spain. St. James of Spain’s surname Matamors means killer of
the Moors as the saint often led military campaigns against those people..
A05: Argue against Coleridge who says “Othello is a being next to the devil,”- the devil is actually Iago.
A01: Thus, through the play’s structure, Shakespeare critiques societal structures that provide
supreme control and trust in these individuals merely due to their status. Shakespeare shows how
an individuals mere social identity, being a white male, does not capture the truth of them.
2. A01: Because Iago possesses the main control over the play’s structure, Othello, the
protagonist, consequently has a lack of control over the play’s structure.
2
,A02: Othello tries to justify his views but there is a constant interjection of Iago in Act 3 Scene
3 symbolising his failures to gain control over the narrative.
A02: Othello has a lack of soliloquies emblematic of his lack of control.
A02: His anagnorisis comes at the wrong time, since it becomes too early this catalyses the destruction
of the play. Othello has a lack of control over his anagnorisis and consequently the plays structure.
A05: Bradley argues Othello has a “power which appears to smile on him for a while then strike him
down in his pride,” but arguably in terms of the play’s structure, Othello has no power, therefore this
disagrees with the critic.
A01: Further, from a post-colonial reading, Othello has a lack of control due to his outsider status.
A05: Loomba “Moors were usually typed as godless, bestial, fit only to be saved,” revealing the views
of his outsider status
A05: Cowhig “an alien in a white society,”
A03: Moors/ Aaron from Titus Andronicus.
A02: Society imposes this view of him being a metaphorical “wheeling stranger,” they deny him any
true control. Arguably, this is the reason Othello has a lack of control over the structure – society exalts
the white masculine male (Iago) not Othello, even though Othello is supposed to be the protagonist.
A01: But these societal views, which deny him control over the plays structure are profoundly
wrong, and it is by failing to offer Othello control over the structure, that disorder happens, not
because of his status.
A05: As Loomba notes Othello “reshapes available images of blackamoors,”
A02/A05: His descent from blank verse to prose, is not because of his characteristics and
geohumourism, but rather, as Phillips recognises, “because Othello feels constantly threatened and
profoundly insecure,”
Lack of control, and removal of him from society, causes tragedy, not the stereotypes that society
believes uphold order.
A01: Thus, Shakespeare showing the absurdity of latent racism. If Othello had control over the play’s
structure, as the true protagonist, catastrophe may never have happened.
3. A01: Women try and gain control over the play’s structure- hope that society can shift away
from these hierarchies.
A02: Emilia, speaking as “liberal as the north,” shows attempts that society can transcend the toxicity
and control of Iago. Symbolic of female attempts to gain control.
A03 Subverts expectations of women. Women usually would be punished with the metal device of
the brank if they spoke out. 2626 pamphlets released during 17th century advocating six heavenly
virtues of women including the virtue to be obedient and not speak their view – contradicting Emilias
actions
3
, A05 In critique of Neeley who argues “Emilia acts accordingly to wifely virtues of silence,
obedience,” Emilia does speak out and is not silent.
A01 The fact Emilia does speak out and does not conform to societal expectations shows attempts for
her to break from these constraints and gain control over the narrative/plays structure.
A01 Albeit Iago does not allow female attempts to take over control of the plays structure. He
maintains control by murdering Emilia and then refusing to speak any more.
A05 Kastan: Iago’s control is in the “uncertainty,” which he brings “reticence about who or what is
responsible for the dire change of fortune,”
A05 As Jardine argues Emilia becomes “suffering martyr,”
A05 Vanita “Emilia is Desdemona’s only ally, but Emilia is a powerless wife herself,” She is ‘powerless’
because her attempts to gain control over the narrative fail.
A02 Willow song – cyclical – mournful ballad. This is symbolic of how Emilia fails to transcend female
expectations.
A01 Thus, female attempts to maintain control are futile and fail to eventuate. The cyclical
continuation of Iago obtaining control over the play’s structure shows the current frameworks of
society are not accepting of a shift in hierarchies.
Explore how Shakespeare presents human weakness in ‘Othello’
LOA: Shakespeare presents how destructive human weaknesses derive not merely from individual
faults, but products from a deeply flawed societal structure.
1. A01 Othello’s greatest weakness lies in how quickly he becomes susceptible to jealousy, and
subverts stereotypical views of Moors.
A02/A05 So rapidly, Othello juxtaposes his characterisation from blank verse (representing his high
status and nobility) and a subversion of stereotypes (remaining calm and prudent in “put up your
swords for the dew will rust them”, to transitioning to violence and graphic prose. Othello, as Loomba
notes once “yokes together and reshapes available images of blackamoors,” but his weakness lies in
the fact that he becomes, as Coleridge notes “a being next to the devil,”
A05 As Tyan notes “Othello is the most easily jealous man anybody’s ever written about,”
A03 Context: Moors/ Aaron from Titus Andronicus / geohumourism – Othello conforms to these
stereotypes
A01 But, arguably this weakness is not a personal failure of his. Instead, this weakness has been
derived from internalising the prejudices, thus a societal consequence. From a post-colonial view,
Othello has been treated as ‘the other’ and his weakness is a consequence of this
A05 Phillips “Othello is constantly threatened and profoundly insecure,”
4
