Act One Of Othello Essay -- essays research papers

What Is ShakespearesAchievement In Act I Of Othello?Shakespeares sustain personal aim was not to write a social and political reflection of his era, as many contemporary lectors believe, it was purely and simply, to entertain his earshot. This does not fuddled that there can be no social and political reflections within Othello, it means that the reflections are there, not for the pastime of social and political commentary, but for the sake of entertainment and pleasure. Aristotle explained in Poetics that the audiences pleasure consists not merely in observing the play, but criticizing, evaluating and making comparisons. These activities produce pleasure, thus it is not a mindless pleasure. There must be intellectual and emotional engagement on the spectators part. According to Aristotle, to stimulate the intellectual engagement of the audience and thus take in this pleasure in the spectator, a masterful piece of art or literature must contain a degree of equivocalness in its ideas. This is the reason for the social commentaries that Shakespeare includes in his workThe play commences with two characters apparently arguing over money. Shakespeare immediately sets the mood of conflict for the remainder of the play, it is of the essence(p) because the reader at the outset is given a choice who to believe and who is right. Shakespeare instantly sets about creating the mood of ambiguity which will result in the reader contemplating and analyzing the situation in hand. This will, according to Aristotle, create pleasure for the audience.As with all Shakespeares plays, Othello is written (for the very vast majority) in a form of rhythm and with a definite rhythm. This helps the general flow of the text, and when the rhythm is broken, we are alerted to a significant event or to a particular trait in a character. When Iago tries to insult and animalize the Barbary horse Othello, to Brabantio (line 108), verse reverts to prose and we are alerted to the evils beh ind Iagos deeds. Shakespeare, so far, is strictly adhering to Aristotles guidelines and certain(prenominal)ly understands the essential qualities of art itself. In Poetics it is explained that voice communication into which enter rhythm, harmony and song will create each kind of artistic ornament necessary to imitate an action that is serious, complete and of a certain magnitude (Aristotles description of tragedy).In the... ...r and battle against the Turks, and heeds Othello to prepare to depart for Cyprus. Brabantio, before his depature, turns to Othello and warns him against trusting Desdemona, for she has deceived her father and may thee. The subconscious seeds of mistrust have been deep-rooted in Othellos mind by Brabantio, this is dramatic irony and warns the audience that the future of the marriage will not be as smooth as the nave lovers expect.In the act finishes with the almost satanic Iago warning of his deception to come, he shows us that the Barbarian and a super-su btle Venetian will not experience calmly. If the audience is in any doubt as to Iagos feelings for the Moor, he explains I hate the Moor. He goes on to outhline the plan of double dishonesty that he shall use to split the lovers in an act of serious deception.The first act of Othello signals to the audience the coming themes of love and war, deception and trust and arguably stereotypes. The issues Shakespeare brings to light, create thought and internal debate, this leads to the pleasure that Aristotle described and achieves Shakespeares primary aim to entertain.