Othello extract question

Read the extract below and then answer the question. Explore the significance of this extract in relation to the tragedy of the play as a whole. Remember to include in your answer relevant analysis of Shakespeare dramatic methods. 25 marks.

The extract can be viewed as both significant and non-significant due to contrasting ideas surrounding this extract. The contrast in ideas include whether Othello his naivety, ignorance and tragic flaw (hubris) is in build or Iago manipulates and controls Othello's mind through his deceiving and arguable impressive intelligence that allows him to manipulate a great war hero. Arguable though if Othello is a true tragic hero that conforms to Aristotle’s classic tragedy unities the an ending that has catharsis would be included but Othello discovers his hubris to late and is devoured by his hamartia leading the audience to question how great Othello actually is. 

This extract is significant as it reveals Iago's devious and Machiavellian characteristics through his extensive plotting. People that argue that Iago is responsible for Othello's downfall fully support this interpretation of the extract. Shakespeare uses a dramatic technique where Iago is seen on stage taking part in an aside meaning it is only Iago. Sean McEvoy argues that 'Othello's tragedy that he lives according to a set of stories through which he interprets the world- an ideology- but it is a world that has been suspended. He cannot see that this is so, and the contradictions within his ideology destroy him. He is living the life of a chivalric warrior in a world run by money and self-interest. McEvoy's interpretation is relevant to Shakespeare dramatic technique of Iago being aside as Iago is planning how he will control and manipulate Othello's mind through false stories that Othello interprets to be true. Othello cannot see the truth and lives by these fake ideologies. However the audience who know better realise Iago's intention and qualities. Iago is a "moor", in the Elizabethan era the word "moor" possessed the connotations of 'physiologically weaker and unstable' but physically strong due to Othello being raised in Africa where he would be uneducated. This means Iago living as a chivalric warrior in modern, civilized Venice that is obsessed with money and self interest as shown by Iago who is only interested in himself by exploiting Roderigo for money is only going to end badly as Venetarian society do not share the same qualities and values as Othello does. Shakespeare's dramatic technique means only the audience can hear what he Iago is saying to educate the audience on Iago's evil nature, meaning they are aware of Othello's tragic end before Othello is. Shakespeare purposely did not choose a soliloquy to ensure characters on stage cannot hear Iago's plan and can not future events from unfolding. Iago evil nature is reinforced by him speaking of his plan to metaphorically trap Michael Cassio in "little a web" that "will ensnare as great a fly as Cassio." Iagos first interest is Michael Cassio though which Iago wishes to achieve Othello's downfall  (hamartia) through stripping Cassio of his "lieutenantry" to subvert the social order. However like Iago's two faced character, this extract also has two interpretations how significant it actually is.

People who believe Othello's downfall to be self caused and un-influenced by Iago would argue this extract is not significant to the tragedy on a whole because even without Iago's contributions, Othello still possesses his tragic flaw meaning Othello's fait is inevitable and ending in disaster. Thus meaning Iago's plotting and manipulation only increased and encourages the acceleration of Othello's tragic downfall meaning it would of happened with or with Iago. 

The extracts scene is based in Cyprus where Othello has just docked. The scene is outside where Othello and Desdemona are reunited after travelling from Venice to Cyprus to go to war. The change in location is significant because Othello now possesses all authority and power due to being a general. The council in which ordered Othello to go to war is in Venice and after Othello’s victory and conquering Cyprus he now hold the highest authority in the land with only civilians and his army around him in which he controls showing his power. The extract clearly displays and shows off that Othello is man of great magnitude and importance. We learn this through Iago saying "The moor" and "his trumpet". This conforms to Aristotle's unities of what makes a tragic hero. In Aristotle's poetics, Aristotle says that a tragic hero must be high born and important with great powers. Othello is not high born but has great power therefore partly meeting Aristotle's criteria for what makes a classic tragedy. Linking to the play after the extract the audience can predict that Othello's downfall is going to bigger then himself. Thus meaning the situation is uncontrollable for even such a powerful figure to control. In metaphorical terms Othello is going to fall from a great height and will no longer be a great figure of power as shown in this extract. 

Prior to the extract, Othello is presented as a respected general; the council summons him and sends three search parties out to find Othello, which shows his importance to the war effort; the respect he receives from other people. This is reinforced from Othello's behaviour in this extract as he speaks a great speech when docking in Cyprus and they are victorious and that "wars are done; the Turks are drowned" showing how powerful and important he is as the tragic hero. Contrastingly Othello's behaviour and character is also represented through his love and compassion for Desdemona. We learn this through the speech Othello and Desdemona partake in. Othello describes Desdemona as "o my fair warrior" and she responds with "My dear Othello". This demonstrates Othello's emotional and compassionate side and is further shown through Shakespeare use of iambic pentameter to show they are as one and deeply in love. The audience would react to Othello's compassionate side with great passion and emotion. This extract clearly shows Othello's and Desdemona's love for each other which only makes the tragic ending more sorrowful and unforgettable when Othello finally kills Desdemona. This correlates again to another of Sean McEvoy's  critical interpretation of the “audience" becoming more involved in Imagoes vengeful plotting " and becoming involved with Othello's downfall. The audience have now experienced both sides of Othello and in my opinion subconsciously wanting Othello's tragic ending as much as Iago due to the understanding of human beings existing with original sin. 

Iago's role is significant in the extract as we learn about his aggressive hatred for Michael Cassio and his rude, misogynistic, and sexual attitude towards women. Iago speaks aside to the audience and is in prose compared to speech making it significant. Throughout his speech his motives constantly move around and change. Shakespeare purposely has Iago communication to himself to enlighten the audience into his Machiavellian mind. Iago starts by discussing Cassio and how he will "strip you out of your lieutenantry" meaning he has no social ambitions to climb up the social order/ ranks but just subverts social order for his own personal enjoyment. This relates to tragedy as it contributes to Othello the tragic hero's downfall as Cassio is drawn closer to Desdemona to regain his social status once Iago has stripped him of it without taken an active part which makes Othello suspicious. Iago's sexual imagery and personality is shown through his obsessive references to sex, he persists to make simple actions un-regarded by ordinary people as un-sexual to become sexual: "Very good; well kiss'd" he commentates on Cassio's actions, sexualising them and degrading Desdemona and showing his lack of respect for women making feminists in the audience despise him.

Othello, whom is the dominant character in this extract, creates the mood and atmosphere of the extract. His mood is positive due to his victory and safe voyage to Cyprus. He mood is also recognised as positive due to being reunited with his wife, Desdemona. Othello displays his mood in the extract to the audience through declaring his unconditional love for Desdemona. Othello would travel the ocean to "Olympus- high and such again as hells from heaven" for Desdemona. Showing his compassion and positive attitude which helps to create a loving atmosphere around him. The compassionate atmosphere is shown through Desdemona when she continues to say "Thee heavens forbid But that over our loves and comforts should increase Even as our days do grow!" At face the characters build a positive atmosphere on stage. However the line from Desdemona holds dramatic irony within the core and it is something that the audience are aware of due to Shakespeare dramatic technique of Iago's a side. The audience knows that as the days continue Desdemona's and Othello's love only decreased with Iago's poison dripping in Othello's ear, which leads to the untimely tragic ending.