Analysis of Othello by Shakespeare

Othello, written by William Shakespeare, is a play that explores themes of jealousy, betrayal, and deception. The play delves into its characters' inner thoughts and motivations through dramatic irony and soliloquies, ultimately leading to a tragic conclusion. The play can be analyzed through various frameworks, such as Aristotelian tragedy, naturalism, and in-yer-face theatre.

One concept that can be used to analyze Othello is the Aristotelian tragedy. Aristotle defines tragedy as a play in which a noble protagonist falls from a high status due to a tragic flaw, or hamartia. In Othello, the protagonist, Othello, is a respected and admired general, but his tragic flaw is his jealousy, which ultimately leads to his downfall. Iago's manipulations first spark Othello's jealousy, but as the play progresses, Othello becomes more and more consumed by his jealousy, leading to the play's tragic events. Additionally, Aristotle's concept of anagnorisis, or the moment of recognition, can be seen in Othello's realization of his actions and their consequences. In the final scene, Othello realizes that he has killed the woman he loves and has been deceived by Iago. This realization leads to Othello's suicide, highlighting the tragic consequences of his actions.

Another concept that can be used to analyze Othello is naturalism, a theatrical aesthetic that focuses on the realistic portrayal of characters and their environment. Othello is set in Venice, a city known for its political and military power, and the characters are depicted as soldiers and politicians with their agendas. The play also explores themes such as jealousy and betrayal, which are universal human experiences. The characters in Othello, like Desdemona, Othello, and Iago, are also depicted as complex and multi-faceted individuals who have their motivations and desires. For example, Iago's motivations for his actions are not entirely clear, and the audience is left to interpret his actions for themselves. This realism and complexity in the character's portrayal add to the play's naturalistic aesthetic.

Othello can also be analyzed through the lens of the "in-yer-face" theatrical aesthetic. In-yer-face theatre is characterized by its use of explicit and disturbing themes, often dealing with violence and sexuality. Othello deals with themes of jealousy and betrayal, and the play is filled with scenes of violence and tension. The play begins with the mention of a previous act of violence, Roderigo's attempted murder of Cassio, and the tension between the characters only increases as the play progresses. The final scene, in which Othello strangles Desdemona, is particularly disturbing and violent. Additionally, the play has a strong sense of physicality, as the characters often express their emotions through physical actions, such as Othello's strangling of Desdemona. This physicality adds to the play's in-yer-face aesthetic, and the audience is left feeling a sense of discomfort and unease.

The play also has a significant racial element, Othello being a black man in a white society, which adds to the play's in-yer-face aesthetic. Othello's race is often used as a tool for manipulation by Iago and is a source of prejudice and racism towards Othello by other characters in the play. Othello is often referred to as "the Moor" and is met with suspicion and mistrust by other characters, highlighting the racial prejudice of the time.

Comedy of manners is a genre of theater that makes fun of the manners and opinions of contemporary society, often represented by characters from the upper classes. Theatre of the Absurd is a drama genre that uses illogical, non-realistic, and illusory elements to challenge the audience's perceptions of reality. Brechtian Epic theatre breaks the fourth wall, emphasizing the artificiality of the stage and encouraging the audience to engage in critical thinking and reflection. On the other hand, Othello is a tragedy written by Shakespeare that deals with the themes of jealousy, betrayal, and racism. Othello is a character study that explores its characters' psychological and emotional states, whereas the other genres focus more on social and cultural issues.

In my opinion, Othello is a classic tragedy with gruesome events. Because it is a tragedy, it shows no aspects of Breachtian epic theatre as well as absurd comedy and comedy of manners. However, even though it does not belong to the in-yer-face theatre, the final scenes where almost everyone was killed were particularly disturbing. Additionally, in the play Ankara Devlet Tiyatroları, Othello is not a black man. Though this aspect was not reflected in the play, racism played a significant part between Iago and Othello.

In conclusion, Othello is a complex play that can be analyzed through various frameworks. The play explores jealousy, betrayal, and racism, and the characters are depicted as soldiers and politicians with their agendas.