Othello :: essays research papers fc

Elliot, T.S. The Hero Cheering Himself Up. Shakespeare and the Stoicism of Seneca. ED. Leonard F. Dean, Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1961. 153-155In T.S. Elliots essay, The Hero Cheering Himself Up, he takes the viewpoint that Othello is both influenced by and influences Seneca, the Roman philosopher and author of tragedies. It is not the Attitude of Seneca save i is derived from Seneca(153). He also compares Shakespeare to other authors such as Chapman and Marston, who he says were quite influenced by Seneca. The main thing that he says they have in common is the centering that the heroes of their plays are dramaticized at the height of the tragedy. He does, however, state that it is his opinion that Shakespeare does this overmuch better. He works it in to fit naturally with the human record of his characters. Elliot states that the final speech of Othello is the most terrible exposure of human weakness- of universal proposition weakness(153. He says that this speech is usually read quite superficially, but when one looks deeper, he can see that Othello is trying to cheer himself up. He wants to escape reality and think only of himself. He does this because thinking intelligent of yourself, in Elliots opinion, is one of the easiest things to do. Elliot also compares the death of Othello to the deaths of some Shakespeares other heroes- mainly Antony and Coriolanus. H believes that these deaths were also strongly influenced by Seneca.Gray, Garry Iagos Metamorphosis Iago. Ed. Harold Bloom, Chelsea House, 1992. 212-218Garry Grays essay, Iagos Metamorphosis, is based on the ruling that society does not allow for or encourage personal individualization. He states that Shakespeares Othello is concerned with this issue. This is mainly expressed through the character of Iago. he goes through a metabolic process in the play. He starts out beingness socially dominated, and ends up being in a state of numerate psychological freedom. Grays opinion is that this allo ws him the opportunity to victimize and effort others. Gray also believes that Shakespeare is attempting to express his own opinion that one has to conform to a socially accepted behavior in order to prepare a goal, such as when Iago wanted a promotion. Gray points out, however, that conformist to these socially accepted rules for behavior does not always result in achievement of a goal. He therefore believes that the reason for Iagos metamorphosis was bitterness and frustration.