Othello vs. Twelfth Night

A detailed Summary of Othello vs. Twelfth Night

"She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd, and I loved her that she did pity them" (Othello, I.iii 166-167). William Shakespeare's tragedy "Othello," is pervaded by a dominant theme, one of love. Othello, the Moor of Venice falls madly in love with a woman named Desdemona. They marry and are very happy together. Othello and Desdemona face many trials during the course of their nine-month marriage. The most notable one occurs when Barbanzio, Desdemona's father accuses Othello of getting his daughter with witchcraft. During a court hearing, Desdemona confesses her love for Othello and Barbanzio is forced to let her go.

"I am hitherto your daughter: but here's my

husband, and so much duty as my mother

show'd to you, preferring you before her

father, so much I challenge that I may profess

due to the Moor my lord" (Othello, I.iii 184-188)

As the course of events shift, Othello and Desdemona end up in Cyprus together. Iago, ensign to Othello, in his lust for power, tricks Othello into believing that Desdemona has had an affair. Othello is overcome by jealousy, the "green eyed monster."

"O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on..." (Othello, III.ii

Viola's, one of a shipwreck's survivors love for Orsino is a great example of true love. Although she is pretending to be a man and is virtually unknown in Illyria, she hopes to win the Duke's heart. Viola eventually let's out her true feelings for Orsino. "Yet a barful strife! Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife (Twelfth Night, I.iv 41-42)." That statement becomes true when Viola reveals her true identity. Viola and Orsino were close friends, and making the switch to husband and wife was easy. Viola was caught up in another true love scenario, only this time she was on the receiving end, and things didn't work out as well. During her attempts to court Olivia for Orsino, Olivia grew to love Cesario who was in fact Viola posing as a boy. Viola was now caught in a terrible situation and there was only one way out, but that would jeopardize her chances with Orsino. In scenes where feelings are intense, such as Olivia declaration of love for Cesario, Shakespeare balances this seriousness and lightens the atmosphere with rhyming couplets. "I love thee so, that, maugre all thy pride, nor wit nor reason can my passion hide." (Twelfth Night, III.i 142-143.) The pain Olivia is obviously feeling balances the iro

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Approximate Word count = 827
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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