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Figurative Language In Othello

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In Othello by William Shakespeare, Othello opens with beautiful, eloquent language. He speaks in long monologues full of figurative language as he expresses his deep love for Desdemona. Desdemona claims that she originally fell in love with Othello because of his eloquent speech and mannerisms. However, when Iago uses the power of language to convince Othello of Desdemona’s infidelity, Othello looses his beautiful way of speech. When Othello looses his language he also looses his power over himself, and over others. This loss marks a huge shift in Othello and Iago’s relationship as Iago becomes more dominant and controlling over Othello. However, the final shift in Othello’s character is revealed in his last monologue in which we see again …show more content…

Othello is portrayed as confident as well as having a deep and impenetrable love for Desdemona. As Iago warns Othello about Brabantio’s anger, Othello shows no fear or concern for the impendent conflict. When justifying his love for Desdemona Othello says, “But that I love the gentle Desdemona,/I would not my unhouséd free condition/Put into circumscription and confine/For the sea’s worth” (I.II.27-31). Here Othello uses the epithet “gentle Desdemona” to express his love for her, while simultaneously displaying his eloquent and expressive language. His unwavering diction of “not” show that at this point Othello has not been exposed to Iago’s poisonous and persuasive thoughts. He also displays his you of figurative language in comparing his love and freedom to all the treasure of the sea. After passing through a violent storm Othello is reunited with Desdemona and says, “If after every tempest come such calms, may the winds blow till they have wakened death” (II.I.201-202). This passage is extremely ironic because here Othello is welcoming storms and war, expecting there always to be a calm after the storm. However, he is not aware of Iago’s malicious plan and feigning Desdemona’s infidelity. Othello expresses his great love for Desdemona, by showing that his emotions have no bounds. Othello’s beautiful use of figurative language displays his unwavering love and determination towards

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