Othello A Moor (an African), a general in the defense forces of the city state of Venice. Othello is the story of a noble military general who has enjoyed many successes on the battlefield, but because of mistakes of judgment and his outsider status in his society, sabotages his most intimate relationship and himself.The play begins on the grand scale of a military romance unfolding on the Mediterranean Sea. General, or commander, was a high ranking officer who commanded a large force of lower ranked It is an organized way of leveling the officers, starting from the higher ranks towards the lower ranks. Elizabethan and Jacobean dramatists used language to establish and build dramatic atmosphere, to define time, place and character. Othello (The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1603.It is one of Shakespeare's greatest plays. Othello’s anxious masculinity is the seed of tragedy in Shakespeare’s Othello” fed by the penetrating lies of the not-so-honest Iago to reveal the hideous nature of patriarchy and the masculine principle. In a hierarchy like the military, in which only one man can get to the top, there is a recognised truism: every career bar one ends in failure. In telling the story of how he was passed over for promotion to lieutenant, Iago says that three influential men approached Othello on Iago's behalf, "But he, as loving his own pride and purposes, / Evades them, with a bombast circumstance / Horribly stuff'd with epithets of war" (1.1.12-14). These achievements were received without question; similar to the reception of Benedick in Othello’s tragedy is that his love, which could have co-existed peacefully with his military career (the state seems to accept this when they allow Othello and Desdemona to go to Cyprus together) is destroyed by the masculine code of one of its basest elements. Role of Women in Shakespeare’s Othello In Shakespeare’s Othello, the role of women is greatly emphasized. Given the clear hierarchy of command in the Venetian army, Othello also had an obvious right to appoint whomever he chose as his lieutenant, valuing Cassio for his loyalty, discretion and superior education. The simple answer is yes, there was a hierarchy and it was a complex one similar to the militaries of today. This consequently becomes the cause for what Kastan believes is the ‘inescapable trajectory of the tragic action’ that typically pervades Shakespearean tragedy. the dramatist ignore important offices, but he badly confuses ranks in Othello, where the Moor might be either captain or general. Military rank hierarchy can be referred to as a hierarchical system in which the relationships between the various personnel are being demonstrated. This tender side of Othello can be seen right until he kills Desdemona, even wavering at the last minute after kissing her tenderly. Within ‘Othello’, Shakespeare’s portrayal of the fragility of power and hierarchy is exposed through the downfall of individual characters who have a desire and need to maintain status. Social Hierarchy • Othello, like the rest of Shakespeare's plays, was written in a very hierarchical age. He says “the justice of it pleases me”, chillingly suggesting that strangling her is the moral and honourable thing to do. Brabantio immediately ... about his foreignness within the military hierarchy … Othello ‘falls’ because he believes a man whose every utterance is deceptive. Othello was written in 1603, at this time the European armies were out of the fuedal era and were mostly professional armies with officers leading them. Fearful of vesting military power in one of its own citizens, Venice’s republican government contracted with foreign mercenaries who could easily be dismissed once the crisis was over (as Othello is in Act 5). Joining the military was a common thing for young men to do at the time, as it was honorable to do. These women each have an obligation to remain loyal and respect their husband's wishes, especially Desdemona and Emilia. Othello is a respected general, but his being a Moor makes him an undesirable son-in-law for the arrogant senator. Though in today's military, a lieutenant is at or near the bottom of the officer rank structure, in the Venetian army Shakespeare is portraying, the lieutenant is the general's second in command, the vice commander. The play takes place in a military setting: a patriarchal structure in itself – military is glorified in the text: “feats of broil and battle”2. Jan. 26, 2021. The official authority in Venice, the duke has great respect for Othello as a public and military servant. His primary role within the play is to reconcile Othello and Brabanzio in Act I, scene iii, and then to send Othello to Cyprus. Montano The governor of Cyprus before Othello. On the contrary, Iago understands the world from a Darwinian point of view, aware that only the fittest can survive society’s wrath. His idealistic view of the world show him to be both naive, and in many ways foolish because he views Venetian society as innately morale. What is the climax of Othello? 9 Oct. 2012. Iago is Othello's ensign.Iago maliciously goads Othello's jealousy until Othello kills Desdemona. Hierarchy examples include the human body, military and political systems, and human needs. Venetian military hierarchy explains the ranks of Venetian military in a specified ladder on the basis of authority provided to each rank. 1 decade ago What were the military duties of ranked military officers in the 16th and 17th centuries? “A Brief Summary of Othello by William Shakespeare.” Write Writing. However, the decision enraged Iago, who believed he should have had the promotion because of his proven experience in the field. On thread topic: Othello's political position at the top of the military ranks (as General) has fatal ramifications. The military hierarchy in William Shakespeare's “Othello” consists of Othello as the top-ranking officer, or general, Cassio as the second in rank, or lieutenant, and Iago as the third-ranking officer, the ancient. The play is surmounted across male and female characters and determines how the females in the play became victims in the hand of the men determining social organization. The important characters of the play, Othello, Iago, and Cassio, each have a women that stands behind him. He is different from those around him, due to his origins and his life history, but he shares their religion, values, and patriotism to Venice. Othello’s confidence in his peers seal his fate because he trusts his fellow Venetians without question. The climax of Othello is when Othello goes into Desdemona's room to kill her. Five strategies to maximize your sales kickoff; Jan. 26, 2021. Othello’s jealousy is sourced from his belief that Desdemona has tarnished his honour by having an affair with Cassio4. But in Othello, language is not simply the medium by which the drama is conveyed: in this play language is action. We see him first in Act II, as he recounts the status of the war and awaits the Venetian ships. The masculine hierarchy has lost Desdemona and her valiant husband, who were its jewels, both personally and professionally. Cultural Context of Othello by Elizabeth, Lauren, Katie, Siobhan, and Sean In the military, there were mercenaries, or hired professional soldiers, along with other regular soldiers. N.p., 2 July 2011. Othello’s speech to the Duke of Venice and nobles strongly pushed the fact of his military achievements. Engage students in your virtual classroom with Prezi Video for Google Workspace He did not abide to the dominant hegemony or stereotypical viewpoint of the Vietian society at that time; the view being total and utter white superiority. Othello’s brutal sense of honour is also demonstrated in a scene crucial to the tragedy when Othello decides to murder Desdemona. He leads an intense life, swinging between triumph and dread. This purpose of this research paper is to determine the role of gender in the Shakespeare’s play ‘Othello’. Othello was appointed by the Duke of Venice to be the general of the city’s military, a role which holds honour and prestige. Due to the time period and military duties at the time, the soldiers served the king and fought for him. Plant, David. What were the military duties of ranked officers in Othello? Othello is an outsider who is intelligent and confident in military matters but socially insecure. I'm reading Shakespeare's Othello and was looking for some context information. Military Obedience One of the things that makes the military different from other organizations is an oath of loyalty and obedience. Venetian Hierarchy Venetian Military Hierarchy consisted of four Corps, Corps consisted of Five Divisions, Divisions consisted of five Regiments, Regiment consisted of two Battalions, Battalion consisted of five companies, Companies incorporated four Platoons Platoon consisted of