Citations Literary Archetypes The Legend of Sleepy Hollow The Loved One The Magus The Making of Americans The Man in the High Castle The Mayor of Casterbridge The Member of the Wedding The Metamorphosis The Natural The Plague The Plot Against America The Portrait of a Lady The Power of Sympathy The Red Badge of Courage The Road The Road from Coorain edmonton oilers jokes archetypal criticism in othello archetypal criticism in othello. Here are some examples of archetype in Shakespearean works: Lover: Romeo ("Romeo and Juliet"), Juliet ("Romeo and Juliet"), Antony ("Antony and Cleopatra") Hero: Othello ("Othello"), Hamlet . He ends up killing her out of jealousy; when she does not deserve it. An archetype is recurrent. He is the general of the Venetian army and a well respected man by the towns noble men. His expression of his jealousy quickly devolves from the conventional"Farewell the tranquil mind"to the absurd: Farewell the plum'd troops and the big wars. (V.2.320-322) Giving up is hardly Othello's style, but this is how a noble and true man should react when he has mistakenly killed his wife. One excellent example of such an approach, G. M. Matthews's 'Othello and the Dignity of Man', has been referred to at the end of the section devoted to historical and social criticism. No single motive is relied on for long, and the gap between cause and effect, between the pettiness of Iagos grudges and the monstrousness of his behavior, prompted Samuel Taylor Coleridge in a memorable phrase to characterize Iagos motiveless malignity. There is in Iago a zest for villainy and a delight in destruction, driven more by his hatred and contempt for any who oppose his conception of jungle law than by a conventional naturalistic explanation based on jealousy or envy. New theoretical approaches appear to legitimize orthodox Jungian ways of reading, sanction Jungs range of literary preferences from She to Faust, and support his highly affective reaction to Ulysses, which he himself identified (positively) as a subjective confession (i5:io9n). An archetypal critic would also say that the recurring patterns in literature prove that there are universal With some of its advocates supported through early publication of their work in the journal Spring, feminist archetypal theory and criticism of literature and the arts emerged fullblown in three texts: Annis Pratts Archetypal Patterns in Womens Fiction (1981), which self-consciously evoked and critiqued Maud Bodkins 1934 text; Estella Lauters Women as Mythmakers: Poetry and Visual Art by Twentieth Century Women (1984); and Estella Lauter and Carol Schreier Rupprechts Feminist Archetypal Theory: Interdisciplinary Re-Visions of Jungian Thought (1985). The direction of Othello criticism will also be affected as literary criticism's longstanding commitment to cultural historicism comes under pressure from those who argue that explorations of context often come at the expense of literature's formal properties and affective registers, and as developments in the digital humanities enable fresh Did you find something inaccurate, misleading, abusive, or otherwise problematic in this essay example? I am hitherto your daughter. "Othello is essentially an noble character, flawed by insecurity and a nature that is naive and unsophisticated". The three fundamental qualities of an archetype are: An archetype is a preconscious, instinctual expression of man's basic nature. The men of the play manipulate her image of a naive lover to being a strumpet! (V.ii.94). Othello: I greet thy love, "Othello is like a hero of the ancient world in that he is not a man like us, but a man recognized as extraordinary". The Moor is eventually captured, tortured, and slain by Disdemonas relatives, while the ensign dies during torture for another crime. Further, myth critics, aligned with writers in comparative anthropology and philosophy, are said to include Frazer, Jessie Weston, Leslie Fiedler, Ernst Cassirer, Claude Lvi-Strauss, Richard Chase, Joseph Campbell, Philip Wheelwright, and Francis Fergusson. Iagos motivation is anything but explainable in conventional terms. After the. Cultural criticism is exploring or examining the relationship of dominant role based on ethnicity, and sexual identity of person, also a great understanding of yourself. When he realizes the grave mistake he had made by taking an honest Desdemona's life he can no longer live with himself. Archetypal Literary Criticism. The young Venetian noblewoman, Desdemona, has eloped with the middle-aged Othello, the military commander of the armed forces of Venice. 1: 67), of the archetypes, which he described as patterns of psychic energy originating in the collective unconscious and finding their most common and most normal manifestation in dreams (8:287). Such characters can be found in works of fiction, long or short, and in more poetic works. Unlike the other Shakespeare tragedies, which follow the common ideas for Shakespearean tragedy, Othello includes some of the ideas from classical tragedies. Frazers and Jungs texts formed the basis of two allied but ultimately different courses of influence on literary history. What bloody business ever. In addition, he modified and extended his concept over the many decades of his professional life, often insisting that archetype named a process, a perspective, and not a content, although this flexibility was lost through the codifying, nominalizing tendencies of his followers. A tragic hero is a hero nonetheless, but it all comes down to how they hold themselves together in the face of. In-text citation: As Iago asserts to Roderigo, Virtue? As hells from heaven. This explains his fascination with a text like Rider Haggards novel She: The History of an Adventure (1886-87), with its unmediated representation of the anima. As Jung himself noted: Literary products of highly dubious merit are often of the greatest interest to the psychologist (Collected 15:87-88). In his play, he portrays Othello like a tragic hero, a type of literary character. 1. Northrop Frye has been the most influential of those critics who have argued that archetypal patterns underlie the modes, plots and genres of literary works. These archetypalists, focusing on the imaginaland making central the concept that in English they call soul, assert their kinship with Semiotics and Structuralism but maintain an insistent focus on psychoid phenomena, which they characterize as meaningful. Patterns originate from the writer's . First Cassio lands to deliver the news of Othellos marriage and, like the best man, supplies glowing praise for the groom and his bride; next Desdemona, accompanied by Iago and his wife, Emilia, enters but must await news of the fate of Othellos ship. The storm that divides the Venetian fleet also disperses the Turkish threat and clears the way for the lovers happy reunion and peaceful enjoyment of their married state. The intensity and focus of Othello is unalleviated by subplots, comic relief, or any mitigation or consolation for the deterioration of the noble Moor and his collapse into murder and suicide. Othello is decisive, confident, and secure in his identity, duty, and place in the world. But Wheelwright, for example, barely mentions Jung (The Burning Fountain, 1954), and he, Fergusson, and others often owe more to Sigmund Freud, Ernest Jones, Oedipus Rex, and the Oedipus complex than to anything taken from Jung. Desdemona is oblivious to what is going on around her and stays loyal to her morals but Iagos rumours lure Othello to thinking otherwise. to view the complete essay. "He is, in a sense, a 'self made man', the . An archetypal critic would suggest that all human experience is linked through literature and that this experience is expressed again and again using the same patterns throughout time and space. Othello assumes that Emilia is helping Desdemona in her infidelity. Othello accused her of being unfaithful, when she never was. Seeing her dying, Emilia asks who would do this. As the play progresses, and Iagos plan culminates, Othellos good fortune begins to turn. Just another site. How to respect you; you are the lord of duty; These patterns and themes, often referred to as archetypes, are believed to be present in the collective unconscious of all human beings . Between William Shakespeares most expansive and philosophical tragediesHamlet and King Learis Othello, his most constricted and heart-breaking play. . At the center of the plays intrigue is Shakespeares most sinister and formidable conceptions of evil in Iago, whose motives and the wellspring of his villainy continue to haunt audiences and critics alike. And concomitantly, on which of these levels was the reader affected? Iago replies: Demand me nothing; what you know, you know: / From this time forth I never will speak word. By Iagos exiting the stage, closing access to his motives, the focus remains firmly on Othello, not as Iagos victim, but as his own. 2. Literary Theory from 1900 to 1966: A-Z A Alexander Chirila First published: 24 December 2010 https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444337839.wbelctv1a009 Read the full text PDF Tools Share Abstract Archetypal criticism is a form of analysis based on the identification and study of recurring symbolic and mythic patterns. Indeed, myth criticism seems singularly unaffected by any of the archetypal theorists who have remained faithful to the origins and traditions of depth, especially analytical, psychologyJames Hillman, Henri Corbin, Gilbert Durand, Rafael Lopez-Pedraza, Evangelos Christou. From the theorists, dissertations, articles, and books, often traditionally academic in orientation, appeared; the productions of the practitioners are chronicled and critiqued in van Meurss bibliography. In. The patterns are the major intrinsic aspects of a work. This article, then, treats the only form of literary theory and criticism consistent with and derived directly from the psychological principles advanced by Jung. But the great literary text for Jungs life and work was Johann Wolfgang von Goethes Faust, not because of its literary qualities but because he sensed that the drama expressed his own personal myth (Letters 1:309-10). Othello must now face the realization of what he has done. Speak of me as I am. Archetypal criticism proceeds from the initial assumption that every work of literature can be categorized and fitted into a large framework that encompasses all literature. Some of these include the downfall from high position Othello goes from being the general, to being convicted of being a murderer. while we are reading any of [Shakespeare's] great criminal characters - we think not so much of the crimes which they commit, as of the ambition, the aspiring spirit, the intellectual activity which prompts them to . Othello is the most painfully exciting and the most terrible. His destruction is essentially precipitated by his own actions, as well as by the actions of the characters surrounding him. Desdemona finally, dramatically appears before the senate to support Othellos account of their courtship and to balance her obligation to her father and now to her husband based on the claims of love: My noble father, The archetypal characteris a simple character template recognizable to all readers. Home Drama Criticism Analysis of William Shakespeares Othello, By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on July 25, 2020 ( 0 ). Desdemona replies that it was her fault: Nobody I myself. Eliot, Samuel Taylor) characterize themselves as realists, pragmatic, practical, eschewing the supporters of the so-called weaker Othello, who conversely tend to describe themselves as somehow morally elevated, more empathetic. An archetype criticism of othello, a play by william shakespeare. Desperate to cling to the security of his former identity as a soldier while his current identity as a lover crumbles, Othello begins to confuse the one with the other. Shakespeare derived his plot from Giraldi Cinthios Tale of the Moor, in the story collection Hecatommithi (1565), reshaping Cinthios sensational tale of jealousy, intrigue, and murder in several key ways. Looking at William Shakespeare's Othello The Moor Of Venice, the central character, Othello is revered as the tragic hero. Comparing the amount written about the two plays, people find Hamlet more interesting to discuss. An archetype criticism of othello, a play by william shakespeare. A general in the army, Othello holds a distinguished place in the Duke's court due to his victories in battle, but not an equal one. While acknowledging the grave weaknesses of much Jungian writing on literature as unsubtle and rigid application of preconceived psychological notions and schemes resulting in particularly ill-judged or distorted readings, van Meurs still finds that sensitively, flexibly and cautiously used, Jungian psychological theory may stimulate illuminating literary interpretations (14-15). Even when Desdemona was found after Othello strangles her, she still believed that her death was not the fault of Othello. I pray you, in your letters, : Feminist: Ex. "Who can control his fate?" The romantic climax comes in the trial scene of act 1, in which Othello success-fully defends himself before the Venetian senate against Brabantios charge that Othello has beguiled his daughter, stoln from me, and corrupted / By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks. Calmly and courteously Othello recounts how, despite the differences of age, race, and background, he won Desdemonas heart by recounting the stories of his exotic life and adventures: She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them. Wonder at Othellos heroic adventures and compassion for her sympathy have brought the two opposites togetherthe young, inexperienced Venetian woman and the brave, experienced outsider. Ignoring her appeals for mercy and avowals of innocence, Othello smothers her moments before Emilia arrives with the proof of Desdemonas innocence and Iagos villainy. That such a man should fall so far and so fast gives the play an almost unbearable momentum. However, these fields of study contributed a lot to the development of archetypal criticism through the characters of Sir James Frazer and Carl Jung. Each literary theory will examine the text through different lenses, resulting in different interpretations. Othello demonstrates all of these characteristics in the play, proving him to be a tragic hero. FREE Archetype Essay Essay - Example Essays This recurring idea of an evil witch is extremely common and archetypal. Archetypal criticism is a literary approach that analyzes works of literature based on the idea that there are universal, timeless patterns and themes that recur across all cultures and throughout history. Aristotle believed that the plot is the most important element in a play and that plot also clearly points out the problem of any characters to be solved. By trying to hide the fact that Othello had murdered her, Desdemona has chosen to put the honor of their love above honesty. Iago's intelligence and wit allows him to make good sport of the protagonists of the play, sending Othello to his doom and that of his family. OTHELLO: My name, that was as fresh. Archetypal Criticism Archetypal theory and criticism, although often used synonymously with Myth theory and crticism, has a distinct history and process. Unfortunately, this got the ball rolling for Othello's inevitable downfall. Vindicated by the duke of Venice and the senate, Othello, accompanied by Desdemona, takes up his military duties in the face of a threatened Turkish invasion, and the lovers are given a triumphal wedding-like procession and marriage ceremony when they disembark on Cyprus. Written in 2001, this piece of British metafiction tells a brilliant story of love, war, mistakes, forgiveness, and, of course, atonement. Othello is a Moorish (African) general in the Venetian army and an eloquent storyteller who is respected, but often treated as an outsider. What makes you cringe? reflects the archetypal villain" (Sen, ). An equal case can be made that Iago here completes his role as Vice, borrowed from the medieval morality plays, sealing the Faustian bargain for Othellos soul in this mock or black marriage scene. What makes Othello so unique structurally (and painful to witness) is that it is a tragedy built on a comic foundation. Archetypal theory then took shape principally in the multidisciplinary journal refounded by Hillman in 1970 in Zurich, Spring: An Annual of Archetypal Psychology and Jungian Thought. : 2022625 : archetypal criticism in othello An archetype is the original pattern or . Kibin, 2023. http://www.kibin.com/essay-examples/an-archetype-criticism-of-othello-a-play-by-william-shakespeare-yJF4zltX. Othello is a complex play that deals with issues such as jealousy, gender, and race. Iago reviews Othellos performance as a lover by stating, O, you are well tuned now, / But Ill set down the pegs that make this music. Iago will now orchestrate discord and disharmony based on a life philosophy totally opposed to the ennobling and selfless concept of love demonstrated by the newlyweds. In Othello, the plot meets the definition of both Aristotle and Shakespeare on a tragedy. Toril Moi, trans. The formerly self-sufficient Othello has now staked his life to his faith in Desdemona and their union, and she has done the same. A archethpes symbol or myth leads to the establishment of a general truth. From the moment when the temptation of the hero begins, the readers heart and mind are held in a vice, experiencing the extremes of pity and fear, sympathy and repulsion, sickening hope and dreadful expectation. Bibliography And it is thought abroad that twixt my sheets Hes done my office. As the story unfolds Othellos character evolves in an extremely tragic way as Iago manipulates him and leaves him to rot in his misery. The critic is at the center of interpretive activity, and the critic functions as teacher, interpreter, priest, seer. In the essay Frye critically analyses literature against the backdrop of rituals and myths. The Women of Othello There are only three female characters in Othello, and each plays a critical role in Shakespeare's artfully crafted plot of jealousy and retribution. Carl Jungs Contribution to Psychoanalytic Theory. (2.1.191-93) Setting the scene. O, farewell! Desdemona on her deathbed, still defends her Lords actions. Mythological Criticism and Archetypes BY: TO: AYTEKIN ALIYEVA Prof. SHAHIN KHALILLI. It is in Act 3 Scene 3 where Othello takes on a new persona, where his confidence and happiness is tragically replaced with jealousy and rage. The major work of Frye's to deal with archetypes is Anatomy of Criticism but his essay The Archetypes of Literature is a precursor to the book. Thus criticism evolving from his work is more accurately named archetypal and is quite distinct from myth criticism. Not only does she try to protect Othellos reputation by blaming herself, Desdemona tells Emilia to remind Othello about her showing that she stills respects Othello. Succeeds in unknown fate. Nothing extenuate, O, farewell! (5. This assignment is intended to encourage you, and require you . (And nope, we don't source our examples from our editing service! "Now will I question assio of ianca, As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad; . Aristotles theory is not the final word on tragedy, however it can support in pinpointing the pivotal traits in. Come, go with me apart. Egypt) and titles (e.g. Despite naively playing into Iago's hands earlier by giving him the handkerchief, Emilia shows her earnest loyalty to Desdemona. He carries out his own execution for a violation that threatens social and psychic order. However, in William Shakespeare's Othello, Emilia's character portrays three completely different archetypes and they all come through in strategical places. OTHELLO: Iago critics. The key to extremely detrimental jealousy lies within one's ability to recognize it or deny it. I know not ift be true; But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do as if for surety (2.1. In archetypal criticism, under the reductive method of analysis, a critic, while elucidating a text, moves from the particular truth to the general truth. Aristotles second requirement for a tragedy is that the tragic hero must have a reversal of fortune. Archetypes Archetypal criticism focuses on patterns in a literary work that commonly occur in other literary works. This scene has suggested to some critics that Iagos true motivation for destroying the marriage of Desdemona and Othello is a repressed homosexual love for Othello. To date, the British Journal of Analytical Psychology and the retitled American Spring: A Journal of Archetype and Culture are the best resources for archetypal criticism of literature and the arts even though only a small percentage of their published articles treat such topics.