Conflict in Othello

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Othello is a play which contains many conflicts between the characters. The main conflicts in ‘Othello’ are between friends and foes. Othello’s inner conflict, cultural and racial differences which lead to racial judgement and discrimination, to express these conflicts; Shakespeare uses many techniques such as soliloquies, dramatic irony, imagery foreshadowing and symbolism.

Amongst the main characters there are many conflicts, however the main reason for most of the conflict if Iago and Shakespeare use the techniques to show us how Iago causes the conflicts. This also analyzes Othello’s pride, his self conscious nature, his jealousy and his rash behaviour.

Conflict between the characters especially Iago and Othello is partly …show more content…

Until the end of the play, Othello trust Iago and therefore does not realize the conflict of which he is in.

PERSONAL/INNER CONFLICT
OTHELLO
Othello takes an emotional plunge from a valiant, respected military general, whose love for Desdemona runs deeps and true to a jealous husband who becomes emotionally distressed. Othello becomes metaphorically poisoned by Iago. The conflict arises from the insecurities that Othello faces, he so easily doubts the love of Desdemona as he could never truly grasp why she loved him. These insecurities as well as the self-ignorance lead Othello to his personal conflict.
At the end of the play Othello deludes himself into believing that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him to protect himself from the inner conflict and agony of doubt. However, at the very end Othello finally discovers the truth that comes to an understanding of how he has been used by the evil Iago and murdered his innocent wife. Othello finally redeems himself for his wrongdoings by taking his own life.

EXTERNAL CONFLICT
SEX/GENDER
Shakespearean responders were controlled by the dominant patriarchy. They believed that women were the cause of the man’s degradation and fall from grace. A feminist reading of the play would see Shakespeare’s test as the misogynistic attitude of a society that defined women as seductively responsible for the corruption of man’s higher reasoning faculties. Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca are all passive characters

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