How Does Shakespeare Create Tension In Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf

Within Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee and Othello by William Shakespeare, the juxtaposition between concealment and revelation functions as a tool to create and further the dramatic tension that exists within each play. Both plays use moments of concealment and revelation to further the dramatic atmosphere toward a climactic revelation of self-understanding and human condition. The contrast between both actions is evident in the creation of dramatic irony through the revelation of facts to the audience, while concealed from the characters, and similarly through the revelation of facts to one character yet withheld from another to create tension and doubt. The presence of character’s self-denial of reality and withholding of

Within Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Nick and Martha’s romantic tension is ultimately realized by a kiss initiated by Martha’s initial encouragement. In the midst of their romantic encounter, George “enters…stops…watches a moment…smiles…laughs silently, nods his head, turns, exits, without being noticed”. Albee’s use of dramatic irony provides the audience with knowledge of George’s entrance and observance resulting in a deeper understanding of the imperfect marriage and disturbed private life between George and Martha. The dramatic irony serves to escalate the play’s dramatic tension in that it evokes emotion among the audience as they realize that George and Martha’s marriage is archaic and approaching an

In Othello, the villain, Iago, consistently manipulates the other characters to act in accordance with his ultimate plan to get revenge for Othello’s choice of lieutenant and to pay Othello back for supposedly sleeping with his wife. As the action of the play unfolds, Iago delivers a solliloquoy describing his devious plan: “After some time, to abuse Othello's ear/That he is too familiar with his wife./He hath a person and a smooth dispose…And will as tenderly be led by the nose/As asses are.” Shakespeare’s use of dramatic irony in exposing Iago’s plan to the audience serves to build interest among the audience within the completion of the plot. Observers in the play become fully invested in understanding if another character discovers Iago’s plan or if Iago completes his revenge. Since the audience’s emotions are highly invested in the storyline, the climactic ending and ultimate reveal of Iago’s actions is much more dramatically tense. Additionally, dramatic irony is used within the relationship between Othello and Desdemona, in which lack of communication results in their demise. Iago’s manipulations cause Othello to unjustly doubt his wife’s loyalty resulting in foolish actions and brash decisions, while the audience are the only