Power and Hierarchy in the Opening of Othello Anonymous 12th Grade

In the play ‘Othello’, William Shakespeare portrays power and hierarchy as fragile, and it is this fragility that creates the tragedy within the play, catalyzing the ‘fall from prosperity to wretchedness’ in Kastan’s view. Taking on Nuttall’s argument, it is this ‘fall’ in power and the ‘disturbance’ in the play that provides ‘pleasure’ for the audience watching. Shakespeare tracks the power changes occurring during the 17th century and with the shift in monarchs, from Elizabeth I to James I, highlights the ways in which status and power can be manipulated and changed easily.

Through Cassio’s descent down the social ladder, Shakespeare emphasizes the fall of status and the transient nature of power. Initially, the character of Cassio is portrayed as noble and a ‘great arithmetician’. Cassio’s high status is identified from the start of the play and sets up a more tragic downfall as the descent in status is much greater. In scene one of the play, Iago informs the audience that the newly appointed lieutenant is a ‘Florentine’, and with the Italian city known as a place of education, it elevates his status as a man of great knowledge and power. This high status is emphasized during scene one of act two, where Cassio states that ‘...