Othello Vs Henry V Essay Research Paper

Othello Vs. Henry V Essay, Research Paper

Many consider William Shakespeare England s foremost dramatic poet. William Shakespeare used existing stories as a basis for many of his plays. For example Shakespeare s Othello was based on a tale in Cinthio s Hecatommithi UN Captitano Moro. In Shakespeare s version of this play he stressed the drama in many ways. Shakespeare also significantly changed the story s ending from the original. He emphasized the qualities of love, revenge, and despair.

William Shakespeare s Henry V was not considered to be one of his better plays; it actually was the final installment of three preceding plays. Richard II and Henry IV, parts I and II all lead the reader to the plot of Henry V. Henry V was first performed in 1599 at the Globe Theater. William Shakespeare had already written, Richard II (1593), Richard III (1594) and Henry IV, in three parts, (1597-1958). Henry V completed a series of plays that covered English political history from 1398 to 1485. The preceding plays showed Henry when he was young. They portrayed how members of the lower class always accompanied him. Richard II and Henry IV depicted Henry as he learned to understand his common subjects and found his own sense of worth. Many scenes from Henry V show Henry s merciful nature and his personal beliefs on religion and justice.

In many of William Shakespeare s works he used analogous plot structure. This technique involves placing two characters is the same situation, but each character makes a different decision about the situation. An example of analogous plot structure in Othello occurs when Iago lies to both Othello and Desdemona. Iago, in his anger for being passed up for promotion, plans to destroy Othello s relationship with Desdemona. He does this by telling Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him with Cassio. In accordance with this technique Othello becomes very distant from Desdemona after hearing these lies while remains calm and denies the false accusations. Othello, known for his bad temper, ultimately becomes insanely mad at Desdemona and kills her in a fit of anger. Othello and Desdemona were both put in a situation that could have been resolved with patience and time, but where Desdemona made the correct decision of remaining calm, Othello lost his temper. After Othello murders his wife, he finds out that she was never unfaithful to him. Othello then kills himself and falls into the bed beside his wife.

Analogous plot structure creates more drama and surprise in the play. In most situations, one character is placed in a situation and makes the correct decision, while another character makes the wrong decision. An example of analogous plot structure in Henry V is when King Henry disguises himself as a soldier and meets with three men including Michael Williams the night before the Battle of Agincourt. King Henry puts himself in the situation of a soldier, to see what his men thought of him. King Henry talks to Michael Williams, and Williams questions why the King would wage this war. Michael Williams never doubts his own obedience to the crown yet he wonders if the King feels any sorrow for the soldiers who are about to die in battle. King Henry, in disguise, listens to Williams very carefully and suggests that they fight after the battle so they exchange gloves this way they would recognize each other. When Michael Williams realizes that the man he was supposed to fight was actually the King, he defends himself honestly. King Henry rewards the honest soldier with the glove, which he filled with money. King Henry was honored to see that his soldiers were loyal to him. This is in direct contrast to Lord Scroop, The Earl of Cambridge, and Sir Thomas Grey, who were the King s friends until the French secretly offered them money to assassinate the king. They would have killed Henry if they were not caught. Instead the traitors were charged with treason and killed. These men caused King Henry to wonder who he could trust. In this example of analogous plot structure the King is placed in two separate situations – one of being proud because of his loyal soldiers and one of betrayal from his friends.

William Shakespeare s writings show how jealousy respect, power, glory, and honor can create a better life or destroy a person completely. There are many unexpected consequences, which are brought about by honor and glory. Shakespeare is known for his ability to create a mood or setting where as the reader can actually put themselves in the position of the character. Being able to understand a character s emotion helps the reader or audience to see the character differently in his or her own mind.

Othello is a drama about a noble black Arab general, Othello. Othello falls in love with and marries Desdemona. Desdemona is the young white daughter of a senator. Desdemona s father hates Othello and discourages her from seeing him.

The character of Othello has certain traits that can make him seem naive and of a lower class than others he is accompanied with. During the first scenes of the play, Othello is shown as a hero of war and as a man of great honor and glory. Other characters of the play all form various opinions of Othello. Iago, the soldier who got passed over for promotion to lieutenant by Othello, explains his dislike for the general. Throughout Othello, many characters are refered to symbollicaly as animals. O