Name : Jhankhanaba Gohil

Course: T.Y B.A (sem-5 , english literature)

UNIT 1 — OTHELLO

William Shakespeare

Home Assignment

Question: How does Iago use Othello's trust against him?

About the Author

William Shakespeare is one of the most famous writers in English literature. He was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He was a poet, playwright and actor. He wrote many plays, poems and sonnets.

Shakespeare wrote different types of plays such as tragedies, comedies and historical plays. Some of his famous plays are Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet and Othello.

His plays are still popular because they deal with human feelings and problems. Love, jealousy, anger, ambition, revenge and betrayal are some common subjects in his works.

Othello is one of his important tragedies. It shows how jealousy and false information can destroy a person's life.

Introduction

Othello is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. The main characters of the play are Othello, Desdemona, Iago, Cassio and Emilia.

Othello is a brave and successful general in the Venetian army. He is respected by many people. He loves Desdemona and marries her. Desdemona also loves Othello sincerely.

However, Iago, who is Othello's soldier and friend, does not like him. Iago is angry because Othello has given an important position to Cassio instead of him. Because of this, Iago decides to take revenge on Othello.

Iago's main weapon is not a sword. His main weapon is his words.

He knows that Othello trusts him. Therefore, he uses this trust to put doubt into Othello's mind about Desdemona.

Main Answer

Iago pretends to be an honest friend

(Iago uses Othello's trust to put doubts into his mind. )

At the beginning of the play, Othello believes that Iago is an honest and trustworthy person. Iago has a good position in Othello's army, so Othello does not think that he can harm him.

Iago uses this situation very carefully.

He acts like a person who is trying to help Othello. He does not immediately tell Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful. Instead, he slowly creates doubt.

This makes his plan more successful.

Iago understsands Othello's weakness

Iago knows that Othello loves Desdemona deeply. He also knows that Othello is worried about losing her.

Therefore, Iago chooses Desdemona as the main subject of his plan.

He starts talking about Cassio and Desdemona. He gives small hints and asks questions.

For example, instead of directly saying that Desdemona is cheating on Othello, Iago makes Othello think about the possibility.

This is important because Othello starts creating doubts in his own mind.

Othello trusts Iago more than he should

Othello believes Iago because he thinks that Iago is an honest man.

Whenever Iago says something about Desdemona, Othello listens to him seriously.

At first, Othello does not want to believe that Desdemona could betray him. But after hearing Iago's words again and again, he becomes confused.

His trust in Iago becomes one of the main reasons for his downfall.

Iago uses Cassio

Iago makes Othello suspect a relationship between Desdemona and Cassio.

Cassio is another important part of Iago's plan.

Iago knows that Othello may become jealous if he thinks that Desdemona has a relationship with Cassio.

Therefore, Iago creates situations that make their relationship look suspicious.

Cassio and Desdemona are not actually having an affair, but Iago makes Othello believe that they are.

Othello does not know the real truth.

The handkerchief

The handkerchief is also used by Iago in his plan.

It is an important object because it becomes false evidence against Desdemona.

Iago uses it to make Othello believe that Desdemona has given it to Cassio.

Othello sees the handkerchief as proof of Desdemona's betrayal.

But the truth is completely different.

This shows how Iago can turn a simple object into something that changes Othello's whole thinking.

Othello becomes jealous

Slowly, Othello's feelings change.

In the beginning, he is a loving husband. He trusts Desdemona and is happy with her.

After Iago's influence, he becomes doubtful.

Then he becomes jealous.

After that, his jealousy becomes very strong.

Othello starts thinking more about Desdemona's supposed betrayal than about her love for him.

His mind is no longer peaceful.

Iago's words become more powerful than Desdemona's words

One of the saddest parts of the play is that Othello begins to believe Iago more than Desdemona.

Desdemona is innocent, but Othello does not properly listen to her.

Iago has already created such a strong doubt in Othello's mind that even Desdemona's innocent behaviour appears suspicious to him.

This shows the power of false information.

When a person already has doubt in his mind, even a small thing can look like proof.

Othello changes because of Iago

Othello is introduced as a brave and respected man.

He is strong in war and has achieved an important position through his ability.

But he becomes weak when jealousy enters his mind.

Iago takes advantage of this weakness.

Othello becomes angry, impatient and violent. He starts believing that Desdemona deserves punishment.

This is very different from the loving husband we see at the beginning of the play.

Iago's false honesty

The most dangerous thing about Iago is that he looks honest.

Other characters also believe that Iago is an honest man.

Othello trusts him because of this image.

But the audience knows that Iago is actually planning everything.

This creates an important difference between appearance and reality in the play.

Iago appears to be Othello's friend, but he is actually his enemy.

Desdemona appears guilty to Othello, but she is actually innocent.

Therefore, Shakespeare shows that people should not always believe what they see or hear.

Trust becomes the reason for tragedy

Iago's lies finally lead Othello towards the tragic ending.

Othello's trust in Iago is not bad by itself. Trust is normally a good quality.

The problem is that Othello gives his trust to the wrong person.

Iago takes advantage of it.

He knows that Othello will believe his words, so he uses those words to control Othello's thoughts.

In this way, Iago does not need to fight Othello physically.

He defeats him by changing the way Othello thinks.

The final result

At the end of the play, Othello becomes completely convinced that Desdemona has betrayed him.

He kills Desdemona because he believes that he is punishing an unfaithful wife.

But later, the truth comes out.

Othello discovers that Desdemona was innocent and that Iago had lied to him.

Othello understands his terrible mistake.

He is filled with guilt and finally kills himself.

Thus, Iago's plan succeeds because he uses Othello's trust, love and jealousy against him.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Iago uses Othello's trust very cleverly. He first makes himself look like an honest friend. Then he slowly puts doubts into Othello's mind about Desdemona.

He uses Cassio, the handkerchief and false information to make Othello believe that Desdemona is unfaithful.

Othello's trust in Iago becomes stronger than his trust in his own wife.

The tragedy shows that trusting the wrong person can have serious results. Iago's words change Othello's feelings and finally destroy his marriage and his life.

Therefore, Iago is able to defeat Othello not by physical power, but by using trust, doubt and jealousy.

ESSAY — UNIT 2

Question: Explain the title A Doll's House. Why does Ibsen call the play by this name?

1. About the Author

Henrik Ibsen was a famous Norwegian dramatist. He was born in 1828. He is known as one of the important writers of modern drama.His plays often question social rules and family relationships.A Doll's House is his most famous play. It was first published in 1879.

2. Introduction

The title A Doll's House is very meaningful. The word “doll” is connected with Nora's life.Nora lives in a beautiful house, but she does not have complete freedom. She is treated more like a doll than an independent woman.

3. Main Answer

In the play, Nora is first controlled by her father. After her marriage, Torvald also controls many parts of her life.

Torvald uses loving names for Nora, but his behaviour shows that he does not treat her as an equal.

He expects her to behave like a good wife and stay within the role that society has given to her.This is why the house can be compared with a doll's house.

Nora looks happy from outside. She has a husband, children and a comfortable home.

But inside, she feels that she cannot make important decisions for herself.

Her secret loan shows that Nora is actually capable of taking responsibility. She does something important to save Torvald's life.

But Torvald does not understand her sacrifice.After this experience, Nora starts thinking about her life.

She understands that she has spent many years trying to please other people.

At the end, she decides to leave the house.

This shows that she does not want to remain a “doll” anymore. She wants to become an independent person.

4. Conclusion

Thus, the title A Doll's House is suitable for the play because Nora's home looks comfortable from outside, but she is not truly free inside it.

The title also shows the main idea of the play: a person should have the freedom to make their own choices and understand their own identity.