The True Beast in Othello Essay -- Othello essays

The True Beast in Othello What is left when honor is lost? This maxim from first century BC plays a glacial role in Shakespeares play Othello. The question serves as a basis for the struggle between Othello and Iago. Both men are engaged in a battle over Othellos honor. Iago is intent on destroying Othellos sense of honor and reducing him to a bestial state. Iago views Othello as a animate being masquerading in warriors dress. He wants to return Othello to what he believes to be his natural bestial state, and he realizes that to achieve this goal he must dupe Othello into violating his work out of honor. Ironically, as Iago tries to unmask Othellos bestiality, it is the beast within Iago that is exposed. From the beginning of the play, Iagos view of Othello as a beast is obvious. Iago repeatedly describes Othello in terms of wolfs. When Iago attempts to vex Brabantios anger, he does so by referring to Othello in vulgar, bestial terms. He says to Brabantio, Even now, now, very now, an old black ram / Is tuping your white ewe (1.1.89-90). He continues with, youll fool your daughter coverd with a Barbary horse / youll have your nephews neigh to you / youll have coursers for cousins and gennets for germans (1.1.110-114). He even exclaims to Brabantio that your daughter and the Moor are now do the beast with two backs (1.1.117-118). Each of these animalistic phrases could be viewed only as Iagos attempt to anger Brabantio if it were not for the fact that Iago also refers to Othello as an animal when he is alone. In his soliloquy at the end of Act 1, Iago says that Othello will as tenderly be led by thnose / As asses are (1.3.395-936). He again refers to Othello as an ass in Act 2 Make the Mo... ...question, What is left when honor is lost? His answer comes from the mouth of Cassio Reputation, personality, reputation / O, I have lost my reputation I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial (2.3.254-256). whole kit and boodle Cit ed Bandello, Matteo. Certaine Tragicall Discourses of Bandello. Trans. Geoffrey Fenton. Narrative and Dramatic Sources of Shakespeare. Ed. Geoffrey Bullough. Vol. 7. newfangled York Columbia UP, 1973. Cinthio, Giovanni. Gli Hecatommithi. Narrative and Dramatic Sources of Shakespeare. Ed. Geoffrey Bullough. Vol. 7. New York Columbia UP, 1973. Physiologus. The Book of Beasts Being a Translation From a Latin Bestiary of the Twelfth Century. Ed. T. H. White. London Jonathan Cape, 1954. Shakespeare, William. Othello. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. London Collins, 1951.