Literature

Lorenzo Salvadore

Hannah Hornung

HUMN142

Essay 3

October 12, 2014

Othello and Krogstad

Othello is a compelling story which tells the tale of a Moorish warrior who is promoted to be a general for the ruler of Venice. He falls in love with a beautiful woman, Desdemona whose father disapproves of the union. Throughout the story, the two are faced with external conflicts which plague their relationship. Additionally, there are malicious forces who are plotting against them in order to, ultimately, destroy Othello. Iago is the antagonist who manipulates Othello’s emotions so he can cause uncertainty and breed contempt within Othello’s relationship with Desdemona and his character can be compared to Krogstad from A Doll’s house because his selfishness spurs on his instigation. ("Othello by William Shakespeare") This theme of uncertainty is also apparent in Oedipus Rex although in a different manner. In Oedipus the King, the self-doubt that is the downfall of the hero occurs when the king realizes that he is not as great as he believed himself to be. The effects of this damaging quality are brought on by those outside influences, by internal struggles already present and cause discord and strife that result in the demise of the hero.

Othello is a self-assured Moor that, through his heroic efforts, rises to the top of the Venetian military. Because of this unprecedented turn of events, Othello makes enemies who want to see him fall from glory. Iago is once such enemy who cloaks his devious intentions by pretending to be an ally while secretly planting the seeds of discontent and doubt that will destroy Othello. Othello’s love for Desdemona causes its own strife within her family and sparks hatred within Roderigo who was courting her prior to their love affair. Iago uses Roderigo’s distaste for Othello to begin his plot to remove Othello from power. Since Othello is unaware of all of the secret agendas of the people who have entered into his life, he unfortunately...