Othello- Act 5 Scene 1

How does Shakespeare create a sense of fear and confusion in Act 5 Scene 1?

Shakespeare starts by creating a sense of fear with the setting. This scene is set at night, this creates fear as it made unknown to the audience about what is going to happen as you are not able to see anything. This is shown through Iago stating 'Kill men i' th' dark! Where be these bloody thieves' This here shows the duplicity of Iago as he is the one planning and committing these murders and then blaming the act on someone else. The setting also creates a sense of confusion due to the fact that the audience does not know who is killing who and what everyone is planning because it is being done in the darkness.

Furthermore, the sense of fear and confusion is also made through language. The language used by the characters in this scene is made so it is very fast paced, this is used so that audience sees the action that is going on, which then creates tension. This is shown through Roderigo thrusting his sword at Cassio but then instead Cassio wounds Roderigo. This makes the audience feel catharsis, this is when they feel pity or fear, they could be feeling both at this point. Fear of Cassio as he wounds Roderigo and pity for Roderigo because he did not want to commit this act. The audience feeling this way creates atmosphere which is effective for when there is a play being performed.

Throughout this scene, Iago is shown to be conniving and evil through his plans but yet portrays himself to be a man who helps people and is all good. This is shown when he is making plans with Roderigo, 'Here, stand behind this bulk, straight will he come.

Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home.' His duplicity is also portrayed when he states 'Oh, me, lieutenant! What villains have done this?' This creates a sense of confusion here as he is depicted as two different people. His evil plans are the bulk of this tragedy so therefore Iago's character here creates fear as he orders Roderigo to stab Cassio, this here makes the audience believe that Iago is capable of many things.

Othello's character is also illustrated as the opposite to how he was in Venice, an eloquent speaking man who 'loves the gentle Desdemona.' But in this scene in Cyprus, due to Iago dripping poison in his ear and filling him with jealousy, Othello turns into a completely different man. Othello also expresses how Iago is an honest man, showing how Iago's brainwashing had actually worked. 'Tis he. Oh, brave Iago, honest and just,

That hast such noble sense of thy friend’s wrong!'