The Use Of Animal Imagery In Othello — страница 2

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Shakespeare?s depiction of a man changing from good to evil provided a very vivid description of animal imagery. One can only imagine Othello, who is generally of calm and collective nature, turning into this ravaging beast. Finally, in Act Four Othello slapped Desdemona because he felt that she had wronged him. Desdemona began to explain to Othello that she had not wronged him and thus does not deserve this treatment. Othello nevertheless, yelled at her and continued to call her the devil. Othello believes that her tears are not of true nature, and that she is only crying to cover something up. He believes that she was crying to make him feel that she was truly sorry, or that she had not done anything wrong. Othello proclaimed, ?O, devil, devil! If that the earth could teem with

woman?s tears, Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile? (p. 189). The crocodile was a creature thought to shed hypocritical tears. This statement that Othello made referring to a crocodile meant that the tears she shed were deceptive 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. In conclusion, Shakespeare?s use of animal imagery in ?Othello? was crucial to

the description of the story. In ?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.