The Use Of Animal Imagery In Othello Essay -- William Shakespeare

In William Shakespeare’s play â€Å"Othello† the use of animal imagery was evident throughout the telling of the story. Shakespeare explained several characters actions by comparing them to similarities in animals. The characters in â€Å"Othello† were often depicted as having animal-like characteristics. Some characters were even compared to animals by other characters in the play. By defining characters in terms of these characteristics one can get a clear description of what the character is doing or saying as compared to certain animals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In this paper I hope to give examples of animal imagery used in â€Å"Othello† that assist in explaining the play. The specific examples I present will describe a character either as seen by himself or by a fellow character.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first use of animal imagery I noted occurred came in Act One when Iago, Othello’s standard bearer, has awaken Brabantio, who was a Venetian senator and the father of Desdemona, to tell him that Othello has taken his daughter Desdemona, and as they speak is making love to her. Iago was attempting to instigate a fight between Othello and Brabantio, using Desdemona as the bait. Iago stated, â€Å"Your heart is burst. You have lost half your soul. Even now, now, very now, and old black ram is tupping your white ewe† (p. 13). In that statement Iago was comparing Othello to an old black ram by comparing Othello’s skin color to that of the black ram’s, and the white ewe, a young female sheep, to Desdemona. Shakespeare was trying to illustrate in his writing the act of and old black man making love to a young white woman. The use of a black ram and a white ewe to compare Othello and Desdemona helped in the visualization of their affair.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Shakespeare displayed animal imagery again in Act Two when Cassio was explaining to Iago that if he had as many mouths as Hydra, a many headed monster slain by Hercules, he could silence the many questions asked of him. In this Shakespeare presented Cassio as being burdened by many questions that he could not answer all at once, but if he had as many mouths as Hydra it would be more accessible for him to do so. Cassio said, â€Å"I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me I am a drunkard! Has I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all† (p.101). Cassio was explaining to Iago that if he went to Othello now... ...eceptive tears. Desdemona, in the eyes of Othello, was not sorry, but was rather hiding something from him. Shakespeare’s use of animal imagery here was similar to his earlier uses. Shakespeare was trying to display a woman, who in the mind of her husband, was crying tears of deception. Othello had let his mind be so altered by Iago’s lies, that he had even began to believe everything he said. This action of Othello was fueled by his earlier animal-like change caused by Iago.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In conclusion, Shakespeare’s use of animal imagery in â€Å"Othello† was crucial to the description of the story. In â€Å"Othello† certain scenes would have been harder to understand or relate to if it was not for the animal imagery related to it. Shakespeare’s comparison of characters to certain animals is unlike any other’s. Shakespeare’s portray of a character’s emotions and thoughts through animal imagery helped in the understanding of that particular scene. Lastly, without the vivid comparisons of animals and characters, this play would undoubtedly have been more complicated to both interpret and understand. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Othello. Toronto: Pocket Books, 2008.