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How do Othello and Iago's stories in Othello reflect the contemporary world and the power of storytelling?

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Othello and Iago's narratives in Othello mirror contemporary issues and illustrate the power of storytelling by exploring themes of race, insecurity, ambition, and jealousy. Othello's struggle against racial prejudice and Iago's envious ambition reflect real-world human experiences. The play's setting amidst a larger conflict, while focusing on personal vendettas, highlights how individual stories can resonate with broader societal issues, engaging audiences in both Shakespeare's time and today.

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Stories and their characters often help us better understand our world and ourselves, and this is true of Shakespeare's Othello. You are being asked to discuss Othello, Iago, and a female character as imaginative rehearsals of the contemporary world to show how Shakespeare represents the world through story. Let's look at some ways you might do this to help you get started.

We will start with Othello. Think about what he represents. He is a Moor—a black man—and a famous general, yet because of his race, he still faces a great deal of prejudice alongside the praise he has received for his military prowess. His marriage to Desdemona makes her father furious, and it is only the support of the Duke that keeps Othello from major trouble. Othello, therefore, is always striving to prove himself, and he is somewhat insecure. It may be this insecurity that leads to his...

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extreme jealousy over Desdemona and to the tragic events that unfold because of it.

As we turn our attention to Iago, we first notice how he represents ambition and envy. He is filled with hatred toward Othello, partly because of Othello's race and partly because he believes that Othello has deprived him of something he deserved by giving his desired position to Cassio instead. Iago means to take his anger out on Othello, but he does not mind if Cassio and Desdemona are hurt in the process.

As for a female character, you might choose Desdemona. She is a person who looks beyond race and falls in love with Othello, and she will protect him at any cost, even her own life. Desdemona, therefore, represents a deep love, but she ends up the victim of her husband's insecurity and Iago's envy. Consider what this says about the vulnerability of women.

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In Othello, how do Othello's and Iago's actions reflect real human stories?

In Shakespeare's Othello, Othello and Iago do indeed imaginatively rehearse the situations and stories of real life so that readers may enter into them and reflect on how they might respond in such circumstances. Let's take a closer look at this.

First, let's think about how the characters' actions and situations reflect a rehearsal of real human stories. You might concentrate on Othello's struggle against prejudice and discrimination. He may be a military hero, but he is still a “Moor,” and this affects how people view and respond to him. Iago holds Othello's race against him, but so does Desdemona's father. You may also consider Othello's jealousy, as it may arise, at least in part, from his insecurity due to racial issues.

Iago, too, rehearses some very human stories in his words and deeds. His pride has been wounded, for Othello has named someone else for the position he wants. Therefore, he decides to get even and vows to bring down both Othello and Cassio in his jealousy and ambition. We can all probably think of people like this in the real world. They become so angry with others that they fail to see themselves clearly.

The second part of your question is about contemporary audiences and contexts. The play is set in the midst of a conflict between Venice and the Ottoman Empire. We have a war going on, and in the midst of it, Othello and Iago play out their petty squabbles. In the context of this larger conflict, their fight is less important than the overarching conflict that is set to determine the welfare of the people of Venice. Yet it is interrupted by one man's ambition and another man's jealousy, and tragedy ensues. The text reveals such levels of conflict to both the original audience and to the contemporary audience, drawing them in and helping them connect with and identify their own circumstances and motivations. Think about how these kinds of situations might mirror those of the modern world.

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